Austin Shakespeare has been a cornerstone of the city’s performing arts scene for nearly four decades, offering audiences a mix of classical works and bold, contemporary productions. What began as a modest endeavor—a free Shakespeare in the Park series—has blossomed into a dynamic and eclectic theater company with year-round performances, community engagement initiatives, and a reputation for bringing world-class productions to Central Texas.
Anne Ciccolella, the full-time artistic director of Austin Shakespeare, has been leading this creative powerhouse for the past 18 years. Under her leadership, Austin Shakespeare has expanded its reach, attracting a diverse audience and undertaking ambitious productions that have expanded beyond Shakespeare to include works from global literature and contemporary playwrights.
A Season of Spectacle and Substance
Austin Shakespeare’s performance calendar blends tradition and innovation. The company typically produces two full-scale productions at the Rollins Theatre each year—one in the fall and another in the spring—before returning to its roots with free Shakespeare in the Park each May. Additionally, the company organizes a robust series of staged readings and workshops, engaging audiences in theatrical storytelling in an intimate, interactive format.
This season’s offerings demonstrate the company’s commitment to variety and artistic risk-taking.
Bringing an Epic to Life: Mahabharat Tales
One of the company’s most ambitious productions, Mahabharat Tales, runs from February 14 to 23 at the Rollins Theatre. Based on the ancient Indian epic The Mahabharata, the production distills its vast narrative—five times longer than the entire Bible and fifteen times longer than The Iliad and The Odyssey combined—into a two-and-a-half-hour performance.
The story, centered on a fracturing royal family that ultimately descends into civil war, is rich in honor, duty, and destiny themes. The production features Austin Shakespeare’s largest-ever cast of 22 actors and a professional dancer performing Kathak, a classical Indian dance form known for its expressive storytelling.
Ciccolella had been considering Mahabharat Tales for years, but she didn’t feel the timing was right until recently. Austin’s growing Indian community and the company’s past success in incorporating South Asian influences—such as the Bollywood-inspired productions of Twelfth Night—created the perfect environment for such an ambitious undertaking. Extensive workshops, cultural consultants, and a committed cast helped bring the project to life, ensuring it remained authentic and accessible.
Mahabharat Tales, performed in English, is expected to draw a wide audience, including families that have passed down the epic’s stories through generations. The company hosts post-show talkbacks after each performance (except the preview) to deepen audience engagement, allowing attendees to discuss themes, ask questions, and interact with the actors.
Exploring Modern Masterpieces: Leopoldstadt
From Indian mythology to 20th-century Europe, Austin Shakespeare’s spring lineup continues in late March with a staged reading of Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt. A sweeping, deeply personal drama set against the backdrop of Jewish history, Leopoldstadt examines the life of an extended family in Vienna over several generations.
Though presented as a staged reading, this production will be far from minimal. Featuring 35 professional actors in costume, the reading will take place in a three-quarter-round setting at the newly renovated Shalom Jewish Community Center auditorium, allowing for an immersive and intimate experience.
Austin Shakespeare’s staged readings have developed a devoted following due to their high production value, often blurring the line between reading and full performance. This collaboration with the Shalom Jewish Community Center underscores the company’s commitment to storytelling that resonates beyond the stage, engaging with history, identity, and cultural memory.
Reimagining Shakespeare: Julius Caesar
In May, Austin Shakespeare returns to its roots with the beloved Shakespeare in the Park series, offering free performances of Julius Caesar in Zilker Park. This year’s production brings a modern twist: while Caesar remains male, the conspirators are reimagined as women, adding a fresh perspective to the classic political thriller.
The contemporary-dress production aligns with Austin Shakespeare’s tradition of bringing accessible, thought-provoking interpretations of Shakespeare’s works to a broad audience. The free performances, which run from mid-May through the end of the month, attract both locals and tourists, making them one of the company’s most well-attended annual events.
The Power of Intimate Theater and Community Engagement
Though Shakespeare in the Park offers a large-scale theatrical experience, Austin Shakespeare thrives on intimate settings. The Rollins Theatre, with only 136 seats, creates an up-close connection between actors and audience members, enhancing the immediacy of each performance.
Beyond the stage, the company is deeply invested in community outreach. Regular performances at retirement homes, including Westminster and Brookdale, bring theater to audiences who might not otherwise be able to attend live shows. Efforts are also underway to expand into additional senior living facilities.
The Young Shakespeare program provides hands-on theatrical training for younger audiences. It culminates in performances at the Curtin Theater, a faithful replica of the Globe Theater near City Park. This initiative nurtures the next generation of performers while immersing them in classical theater.
The Financial Reality of Artistic Excellence
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Austin Shakespeare has an annual budget of approximately $500,000, which qualifies it as a small professional theater under the Actors’ Equity Association. In contrast, larger institutions like the Zach Theatre have a $20 million budget, making Austin Shakespeare’s accomplishments all the more impressive given its limited resources.
Historically, the organization has relied on city funding and private donations, but recent budget cuts have made financial sustainability increasingly challenging. Individual contributions now play a critical role in ensuring the company can continue producing high-quality theater.
Looking to the Future
As Austin continues to grow and evolve, so does Austin Shakespeare. With an ever-changing audience—where 30% of actors auditioning each year are new to the city—the company remains a vital cultural institution, offering both seasoned theatergoers and newcomers a chance to experience the magic of live performance.
From ancient Indian epics to modern Broadway hits, and from Shakespeare’s timeless tragedies to experimental new works, Austin Shakespeare thrives on its eclecticism. As it faces new challenges and explores new artistic frontiers, the company stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling—and to the passionate community that keeps it alive.
Whether under the intimate lights of the Rollins Theatre or beneath the open sky of Zilker Park, Austin Shakespeare continues to prove that great theater isn’t just about preserving the past—it’s about bringing it vividly into the present.
For more information and tickets, contact: https://www.austinshakespeare.org/