Shakespeare's 461st Birthday

April 23, 2025: the 461st Birthday of the greatest writer in the English language, William Shakespeare!

Before this campaign ends on June 5, will you help Shakespeare's local company to celebrate this occasion and to reach our spring fundraising goal of $20,000 by offering a “Shakespeare’s Birthday Gift”?

In keeping with the Bard’s age (461 years old) we are asking you to “join Shakespeare’s 461st Birthday Party” as a:

Groundling (with a gift of $46.10)

• Social media announcement: “(Your Name) has joined Shakespeare’s 461st Birthday Party!”
• Recognition in the playbills for The Tempest and Streamers
• A personalized Sonnet emailed to you

Gallery-Dweller (with a gift of $461.00)

• All of the above +
• Recognition on exclusive signage at The Tempest and Streamers
• 5 premium tickets to Streamers

Royal in the Balcony (with a gift of $4,610.00)

• All of the above +
• Recognition as a Season Sponsor on the home page of LancasterShakespeare.org and verbally in each post-show curtain speech through the end of 2026
• An additional 5 tickets to Streamers, plus 10 tickets to each of LST’s productions through the end of 2026
• VIP invitation as guest of honor to each opening night reception (featuring champagne and charcuterie) through 2026

Shakespeare Birthday Gifts in any other amount will also be accepted and appreciated!

This campaign will end on June 5 - opening night of Shakespeare in the Park: The Tempest! However, don’t make this another belated birthday gift! There is no better time to give a birthday gift to Shakespeare than on his birthday — TODAY!

Though LST now produces notable plays by other authors that portray the universal human experience, Shakespeare remains at the core of what LST does. Therefore, your donation will truly be a gift to William Shakespeare and to…

The Second Half of our 2025 Season

The Tempest 

Get ready for a hilariously unhinged take on the Bard’s classic! The Tempest, adapted and directed by Jonathan and Rachel Strayer, crashes into Musser Park on June 5 with a whirlwind of slapstick, sass, and absurdity. Bring a lawn chair, grab some snacks, and prepare to giggle your way through this rowdy reinvention of Prospero’s island.

Streamers by David Rabe

Set in an army barracks in the early days of the Vietnam War, Streamers is an explosive portrayal of a diverse group of soldiers and their fatally intertwined destinies. A classic of the American theatre, Streamers is author David Rabe’s most successful play. Directed by LST Executive Director Jeremiah Miller, it will be performed in October at a location yet to be determined.

What Your “Birthday Gift” Will Support

By “joining Shakespeare’s 461st Birthday Party,” you will be providing funds for both of these productions that help to pay for:

Body Mics

To ensure every word is heard clearly—even in the quietest moments—your support will help us provide high-quality body microphones for all performers.

Comfortable Seating & Good Viewing

For our indoor production of Streamers, we’re committed to offering padded seating and risers so that no part of this riveting drama is lost to bad sight lines or the distraction of an uncomfortable chair.

Costumes

Streamers: Authentic 1960s military uniforms, casual off-duty wear, and subtle period details to ground the realism.

The Tempest: Bold, imaginative, and playful costumes—think bright colors, eccentric accessories, and magical elements with a modern twist to reflect the show’s comedic tone.

Props

Streamers: Period-accurate military props (duffel bags, helmets, cots), all enhancing the emotional intensity.

The Tempest: Whimsical props like enchanted gadgets and quirky potions—bringing the classic into the present day.

Sets

Streamers: A realistic army barracks setting—detailed and immersive to reflect the claustrophobic tension of the play.

The Tempest: A surreal, comedic island landscape with modern set pieces—part beach resort, part tech paradise—with moveable elements to reflect magical transformations.

Actors

We’re casting a talented ensemble of performers, each bringing depth, humor, and heart to these unique roles. Donations help cover their stipends.

Directors

Visionary directors lead our productions—interpreting text, guiding actors, and crafting the visual and emotional storytelling. Funding ensures they have the tools and time they need to elevate the material.

Stage Managers

The unsung heroes! Our stage managers handle everything from organizing rehearsals and cueing lights and sound to keeping each performance running smoothly. Your support helps compensate them fairly and provides essential production tools.

Finally, your gifts help this nomadic company to pay rental fees for performance spaces where we can do our best work with the hope of one day having our own space!

Reaching our spring fundraising goal of $20,000 would be an enormous step — our largest yet — in realizing this company’s potential.

Just think about all LST accomplished in the first half of our season, including sold-out performances and nightly standing ovations for our Shakespeare and non-Shakespeare offerings alike; the innovation of free childcare for audience members at our performances, making theatre more affordable for working families; and numerous education opportunities for both adults and youth.