The annual Alumni Night at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival has been scheduled for Friday, July 29.

The theatre will be reserved for alumni and their guests, who will enjoy a performance of Romeo and Juliet. One of the most well-known of Shakespeare’s works, Romeo and Juliet focuses on the story of two young and reckless lovers torn apart by rival families. They sacrifice everything for their love—family, friends, and even their lives.

If you have never experienced the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy theater under the stars! Not only will you see one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays, you will also get the “inside scoop” from festival personnel, including a backstage tour and a photo opportunity with some of the actors.

The cocktail hour and theatre tours begin at 5:30 p.m. A buffet dinner will be served on the lawn of Ewing Cultural Center. A program will follow at 6:30 p.m., with remarks by President Al Bowman. The show begins at 8 p.m.

The Alumni Relations office has negotiated discounted prices for alumni for this special evening. Tickets for the show range from $25 to $35 depending on seat preference. Tickets for the buffet dinner only are available for $16. To reserve tickets or request additional Alumni Night information, call Alumni Relations at (309) 438-2586. Tickets are available at Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/shakespeare.

Individuals unable to attend the alumni event may still wish to catch a show during the 2011 season, which includes productions of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) and The Winter’s Tale. The season runs from June 23 through August 6. A special fund-raising night for WGLT with music and a meal is slated for August 7.

In addition to the plays, the festival will once again include preshow entertainment and activities, including jazz in the courtyard and picnic dinners in the beautiful Genevieve Green Gardens.