May 22, 2025… The Stratford Festival’s 74th season launches officially next week with the opening of the first seven of 2026’s 12 productions. The excitement gets underway on Monday, May 25, with the opening of Shakespeare’s The Tempest at the Festival Theatre. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday evening sees the opening of the musical Guys and Dolls at the Festival Theatre. On Wednesday the Tom Patterson Theatre officially opens for the season with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, followed by Thursday’s official season opening of the Avon Theatre with Death of a Salesman. The musical Something Rotten! opens at the Festival Theatre on Friday. Closing out opening week on Saturday is a matinee of The Hobbit at the Avon Theatre, followed by an evening performance of Waiting for Godot at the Festival Theatre.
Five more shows will open later in the season: The Importance of Being Earnest, Othello, The Tao of the World, The King James Bible Play and Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
Further details of Opening Week are below, along with a link to production photos.
Monday, May 25
7.30 p.m. The Tempest
Festival Theatre, 55 Queen Street
Run Time: 2:33
Red carpet timing:
6:00 p.m. Red Carpet begins
6:05 p.m. Interview with Antoni Cimolino
6:20 p.m. Interview with Donna Feore
6:30 p.m. Stratford Police Pipes and Drums parade to the Festival Theatre
6:40 p.m. Interview with Dan Chameroy
6:50 p.m. Shooting craps and champagne popping with musical ensemble
10:30 p.m. After party in the Festival Theatre lobby
Tuesday, May 26
8 p.m. Guys and Dolls
Festival Theatre, 55 Queen Street
Run Time 2:35
Wednesday, May 27
8 p.m. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Tom Patterson Theatre, 111 Lakeside Drive
Run Time: 2:53
Thursday, May 28
8 p.m. Death of a Salesman
Avon Theatre, 99 Downie Street
Run Time: 2:57
Friday, May 29
8 p.m. Something Rotten!
Festival Theatre, 55 Queen Street
Run Time: 2:44
Saturday, May 30
2 p.m. The Hobbit
Avon Theatre, 99 Downie Street
Run Time 2:15
Saturday May 30
8 p.m. Waiting for Godot
Festival Theatre, 55 Queen Street
Run Time: 2:32
