All patrons 22 and under may attend Twelfth Night and Hamlet free of charge this summer
LENOX, Mass. – Thanks to a gift from the Virginia & Harvey Kimmel Family Fund of the Philadelphia Foundation, Shakespeare & Company is offering free tickets to patrons 22 and under to see Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Hamlet this summer.
The Budding Bards program soft-launched last season, offering free tickets to patrons 18 and under for a portion of Shakespeare & Company’s outdoor production of Romeo and Juliet. This year, Budding Bards has expanded its age range and its offerings to include free tickets to either Shakespeare production for the entirety of its run.
Sunie Gorey, Shakespeare & Company’s Director of Development, said the gift is a major step toward offering more accessible, inclusive theater to both Berkshires residents and visitors year-round.
“We are overjoyed by this gift from the Kimmels, which aligns with our desire to make Shakespeare accessible to all ages and allows families to come together to experience Shakespeare’s words and live theater,” she said.
Harvey Kimmel said the Kimmel Family are pleased with the response Budding Bards received last season, which led the foundation to make an even greater commitment this year.
“We believe the arts are critical for students’ overall growth, helping them to learn and mature,” he said. “Specifically, we think the opportunity to see a live performance can help with the understanding and appreciation of the great storyteller.”
Twelfth Night, directed by Kate Kohler Amory, will be staged outdoors at the Arthur S. Waldstein Amphitheatre July 4 through 26, while Hamlet, directed by Ariel Bock, runs August 13 through 30 at the Tina Packer Playhouse.
To redeem the offer, patrons may use this link for Twelfth Night tickets and this link for Hamlet tickets, enter the code BUDDINGBARDS at checkout when purchasing tickets online, or mention it when calling the Box Office at 413.637.3353.
About Shakespeare & Company
Shakespeare & Company was founded in 1978 by Tina Packer. Located in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Company offers performance, education, and actor-training opportunities year-round, and attracts more than 40,000 patrons annually with a core of more than 150 artists. In 2025 it ranked sixth on Newsweek’s list of Top 10 Outdoor Performance venues. For more information, visit shakespeare.org or 413.637.3353.
