Our Mission

The Freeport Shakespeare Festival organized to inspire, educate and enrich the lives of the residents of Freeport and surrounding communities, was born out of a shared vision to adapt a popular outdoor concert venue into a home for outstanding Shakespeare theater. The organization seeks to enhance the cultural richness of Freeport, Maine by presenting an annual free outdoor Shakespeare production in a central, downtown location for one week in the summer.

The town of Freeport is an ideal location for a professional theater company due to its position as a prime tourist destination. According to the Freeport Economic Development Corporation, Freeport is the number one tourist destination in Maine (for residents and out-of-state tourists) with 3.5 million visitors spending over $300,000,000 annually.

The Freeport Shakespeare Festival will contribute to Maine’s Creative Economy by employing local professional actors, designers and technical staff to bring the festival to life. To quote Governor John Baldacci, "The Creative Economy is a catalyst for the creation of new jobs in Maine communities. People who create jobs want to live in places that have a diverse cultural mix and an innovative and educated workforce. Maine will be competitive economically if we continue to capitalize on the synergies between entrepreneurship, education, the arts and quality of life."

The Freeport Shakespeare Festival will offer free performances to be presented nightly for approximately one week in early August beginning in the summer of 2010. Individuals, groups and families will bring their lawn chairs, picnic hampers and camp blankets to set up a truly hometown experience for an evening of inspiring and educational theatrical entertainment.