By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival is returning this summer with two productions that organizers say speak directly to modern audiences while continuing the festival’s tradition of accessible outdoor theater.
This year’s lineup includes Shakespeare’s political tragedy Julius Caesar and the romance The Winter’s Tale. Performances will once again take place outdoors in Albuquerque, where audiences can attend productions free of charge.
The pairing of the two plays was intentional. While Julius Caesar explores power, political conflict and public division, The Winter’s Tale focuses on redemption, forgiveness and reconciliation.
“When I choose the seasons, I look at what themes I want for our productions and find ways of producing shows that have similar themes and ideas, as well as whether they work well together,” says Levi Gore, artistic director of the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival. “This year I wanted to focus on power and passion, the dangers of prolonged power imbalance and corruption, and whether there is any joy that can come from that.”
According to Gore, Julius Caesar examines the downfall and consequences of prolonged power, while The Winter’s Tale explores forgiveness and “the redeeming power of time over tyranny.”
The productions were selected not only for their literary significance, but also for the ways they continue to resonate with contemporary audiences. This year’s interpretation of Julius Caesar is set in 1930s Fascist Italy, highlighting themes that still feel relevant today.
“These are living, breathing, active texts that’s so resonant today because of these themes,” says Gore. “People think Shakespeare is stodgy or something you read in high school. No. These are stories that still connect with audiences.”
While Julius Caesar serves as a cautionary tale about power and corruption, Gore said The Winter’s Tale offers audiences something different.
“It is a story of redemption that no matter how bleak things can be in the beginning, they can always get better,” says Gore.
For festival organizers, one of the most important parts of the experience is making Shakespeare approachable for everyone, including people who may be attending for the first time. Outdoor performances create a more relaxed environment than traditional theater settings, allowing audiences to engage with the productions in a more casual and communal way.
“People bring their picnics, they bring their dogs, and they’re chatting and having a great time,” says Gore. “It is a much different experience. People are there to have fun and watch an engaging show.”
The festival’s outdoor setting also creates a unique dynamic for performers, who must engage larger audiences while adapting to the elements.
The productions are meant to spark conversation long after audiences leave the performance space. Though Shakespeare’s plays were written hundreds of years ago, many of the themes explored in this season’s productions remain familiar to modern audiences.
Questions surrounding leadership, division, trust and forgiveness continue to shape contemporary society, making the works feel surprisingly current despite their age.
Gore explains that the goal is to present stories that feel relevant to both first-time audience members and longtime Shakespeare fans.
“We try to make the productions as relevant as possible so people seeing it for the first time can immediately engage,” says Gore. “And people who have seen it 40 or 50 times may find something brand new they haven’t thought about before.”
The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival has become a longstanding part of Albuquerque’s summer arts scene, drawing audiences from across the city and beyond. For both longtime theatergoers and newcomers, this season offers the chance to experience Shakespeare in a setting that is both accessible and uniquely New Mexican.
“If this is their first time coming, I want them to take away joy from this experience,” says Gore. “I want them to have such an enjoyable time seeing a great show that maybe they will start coming to more theatre.”
Festival organizers say the company continues to grow beyond its summer productions through educational outreach programs, school and library partnerships, and additional performances throughout the year. The New Mexico Shakespeare Festival’s 2026 season featuring productions of Julius Caesar and The Winter’s Tale opens Friday, June 5 and runs through Saturday, July 11 Performances are free and open to the public. Additional information, including performance schedules and locations, can be found through the festival’s official website (nmshakes.org).
If you go…
New Mexico Shakespeare Festival
- Friday, June 5 through Saturday, July 11
- Veteran’s Memorial Park (1100 Louisiana Blvd SE #5009)