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Hamlet

July 9 to August 3 | Main Stage

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  • Extras
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  • Reviews
  • Video
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"The time is out of joint….”

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Lindsay Smiling

July 9 to August 3 | Main Stage

Grief twists the mind and conjures ghosts—but when the spirit of Hamlet’s father appears, he speaks not of madness, but of murder. In the shadowed halls of Elsinore, Hamlet grapples with a haunting revelation: his mother has married his uncle, and his father’s death was no accident. As he pulls at the tangled threads of his broken family, a web of deceit and betrayal unravels, leading him into a storm of moral conflict. What follows is a relentless struggle between revenge and redemption, as Hamlet’s pursuit of truth threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.

Shakespeare’s masterpiece delves into the depths of human thought, revealing the darkness that lies beneath loyalty, love, and justice. Experience the pulse-pounding tension and psychological intrigue that have made this play endure for centuries.

Hamlet will play in repertory with Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead.

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission.
Content Advisory: Contains staged violence and mature themes.
Recommended Age: 13+

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Show Extras:

-Opening Night, Friday, July 11: Join the PSF actors and staff for a friendly post-show champagne toast.
-Director’s Dinner- specialty dinner themed to the play with behind-the-scenes insights: Wednesday, July 23, 5:00pm.
-Meet the actors for an informal talk-back after the show: Thursday, July 31.
-Audio Described and Open Captioned performance: Saturday, July 26, 2:00pm.

Reviews

Kathy Lauer-Williams, Lehigh Valley Stage

"outstanding performances"

Jennifer Kramer, PlayShakespeare.com

"theatrical mastery"

Kathy Lauer-Williams, Lehigh Valley Stage

"smart, insightful and passionate."

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Videos

Show Features

From the Director’s Chair: A Conversation with Lindsay Smiling

Directed by Lindsay Smiling, this summer’s Hamlet promises a fresh lens on Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy. In a recent conversation with Artistic Director Jason King Jones, Lindsay shared insights into his thematic focus, creative vision, and casting choices.

Jason King Jones: What drew you to direct Hamlet at PSF?

Lindsay Smiling: I’ve had the pleasure of acting in several productions at PSF over the years, and I’ve genuinely loved every experience. There’s always been such a wide range of approaches to Shakespeare, and a consistent company of talented actors. So, I knew the level of work and artistic integrity would be high—and when I was asked to direct Hamlet, I was thrilled.

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Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead in Rotating Repertory

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival unveils a theatrical event as bold as it is ingenious: Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, performed in rotating repertory by a single powerhouse ensemble. Witness the same actors—and the same world of Elsinore—transform from tragedy’s center stage to comedy’s existential sidelines.

In Hamlet, the prince’s life shatters when his father’s ghost exposes a murderous betrayal: his uncle Claudius has stolen the throne and wed Hamlet’s mother. What follows is a relentless struggle between revenge and redemption, as Hamlet’s pursuit of truth threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.

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