General admission; $30 for a two-show season pass ($20 for one show), Seniors and students; $20 for a two-show season pass ($15 for one show). $5 per show for children 12 and under. Cash and check at the door, credit card purchases on-line. Group rates available: Redfeather@holycross.edu

Macbeth is a terrifying and bloody tale set in a world haunted by witches and evil forces. Much Ado About Nothing is a romantic comedy about young love, sibling treachery, and the battle of wits between the sexes. Both plays are performed in the bucolic outdoor setting of the Memorial Grove Amphitheater, an idyllic location for a picnic and Shakespeare under the stars.

The Worcester Shakespeare Festival is produced by the Redfeather Theatre Company in residence at the College of the Holy Cross. Redfeather is comprised of professional actors, established members of the Worcester theatre community and student interns. Mel Cobb, formerly of the Globe Theatre in London, returns to Redfeather to play the title role in Macbeth. John Keller and Emily Holmes (pictured), who played the roles of Oberon and Titania in last year’s acclaimed production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, appear again along with local stalwarts of the Worcester theatre scene such as Annmarie Shea, Joe Finneral, and Bill Taylor. New additions to the company include Michael Burnet, Jamie Greenland and Doug Seldin, all veterans of Shakespeare and Company. The 2009 Worcester Shakespeare Festival promises a summer of theatrical excitement with sword fighting, singing, dancing, and demons. It will be the premier cultural event this summer in Central Massachusetts.

Bring a picnic basket and a blanket!

Thank you for your attention.

Tracy Kraus