Idaho Shakespeare Festival celebrates 50th season

“It’s a huge deal to be celebrating our 50th season. It isn’t easy to have a successful arts organization and it’s not a given that the community is going to accept it. You weather hard moments — whether it’s a recession or a pandemic — you hang in there through it all,” Bruner said.

Bruner has served as producing director since 2024, though her roots with the festival go back to high school, where she began her career as a professional actor — which she has pursued for over 25 years.

The 50-acre amphitheater on the banks of the Boise River adds a one-of-a-kind element to each performance.

“Sometimes in the middle of a Shakespeare play, the cottonwoods will slowly start snowing on the theater or a skunk walks across the stage. It’s fun and different every night because nature wins out there and we’re always operating in relationship to that,” Bruner said.

The venue seats up to 770 guests, offering table, auditorium and lawn seating. ISF is one of the few theaters in town that allows audiences to bring in their own food and beverages — including booze.

The 2026 season lineup features five mainstage productions: “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare; “Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson — Apt. 2B” by Kate Hamill; “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” adapted by Christopher Bond with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; “The Winter’s Tale” by Shakespeare; and “The Heart of Robin Hood” by David Farr.

“This season in particular is a blockbuster lineup. Usually if I’m steering someone for the first time I have two that I recommend, but this summer, any of them are worth seeing,” said Hannah Read Newbill, Director of Marketing for ISF.

Some shows have age restrictions and feature dark themes, which organizers encourage attendees to review bios before purchasing tickets. Programming decisions are based on community feedback and ticket data. Bruner said the theater is not elitist, it is for everyone, which is why the team uses tools to help bridge the gap between the stage and audience. Shakespeare productions are adapted through editorial decisions — adjusting language, society references, design and casting for the modern age.