King Lear/The Lucky Chance at Island Shakespeare Festival

A long-time bucket-list production for ISF, we're thrilled to announce King Lear as our 2024 Shakespeare piece, helmed by returning director Terri McMahon (she/her). Terri directed a beautiful production of Othello at ISF in 2018, and we're delighted to bring her artistry back to our stage! Sat. July 27, 2024 - Sat. Sept. 7, 2024
King Lear takes center stage in a world where power, patriarchy, and privilege collide with the pursuit of justice and equity. As Lear's kingdom unravels, his daughters challenge societal expectations, each seeking their own empowerment. Amidst political turmoil, the production delves into the complexities of mental health, offering a poignant reflection on the importance of compassion and empathy in a rapidly changing world. Don't miss this thought-provoking production, that seeks to resonate with contemporary audiences and spark conversations about the enduring relevance of its themes.

Summer 2024 includes our second partnership production with Expand the Canon, featuring Aphra Behn's The Lucky Chance, to be directed by Julie Beckman (she/her)! Julie makes her return to ISF having adapted and directed 2016's audience favorite Jane Eyre, and we're thrilled to welcome her back! Fri. July 19, 2024 - Sun. Sept. 8, 2024

From Expand the Canon: "If you’re looking to gamble on love with this multi-generational comedy featuring headstrong heroines and aging Romeos… consider this raunchy Restoration Comedy about sex, marriage, and consent. The ripened, spry, and sometimes lecherous Sir Cautious Fulbank and Sir Feeble Fainwou’d used their money and status to land young wives. But both wives had young suitors they already loved… who are trying to win them back! While the old men gamble, bribe, and swindle, the young suitors assume double identities, dance with a Devil(!), and put their livelihoods on the line –– with plenty of help from their crafty ladies. Delight in this unapologetic critique of capitalism and patriarchy while asking: are our motives in love and partnership ever truly altruistic?"

Playwright, Aphra Behn, is known as the first woman in the world who made her living solely off of writing. She was a novelist, a playwright, and a spy for the King! Much of Aphra Behn’s early life cannot be known for sure – some believe she obscured the details of her early life intentionally. Her husband passed away in 1665, leaving Behn in need of ways to support herself– so she turned to writing. One of her most notable works was The Rover (1681), which was one of the most successful plays of her time. She passed away in 1689, and is buried in Westminster Abbey. (from Expand the Canon)