Shakespeare Takes Center Stage at CBU's Summer Festival

California Baptist University's Wallace Theatre will present the Courtyard Shakespeare Festival this summer, featuring two Shakespeare productions designed to entertain both seasoned theater enthusiasts and newcomers to the Bard's work.

The festival showcases The Comedy of Errors and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again] across multiple performances from June 13–22. In an article on calbaptist.edu, The Comedy of Errors promises “double the twins, double the trouble” as mistaken identities create chaos in this “high-energy farce about two sets of identical twins separated at birth.”

The second production takes a dramatically different approach. In the same article, it’s described as a show where “three actors barrel through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays (plus a few sonnets!) in just 97 uproarious minutes.” The updated version of this long-running theatrical hit incorporates “irreverent humor, modern twists, and audience participation.”

CBU positions The Comedy of Errors as “perfect for families and first-time Shakespeare-goers,” while the abridged complete works serves as what the university calls “a fast-paced, side-splitting love letter to the Bard.”

The festival offers 10 total performances, with The Complete Works running Friday through Sunday evenings and Sunday matinees, while The Comedy of Errors features Saturday and Sunday shows plus Friday evening performances. Both productions aim to deliver what CBU promises will be “an unforgettable summer” of theatrical entertainment.

Tickets are available through the university's online ticketing system.