The Play's the Thing: 65 Years of the Utah Shakespeare Festival

The Utah Shakespeare Festival was the dream of Fred Adams, whose vision was rooted in a profound belief in the power of theater to positively transform the campus of Southern Utah University, the community of Cedar City, and generations of audience and actor participants. And it all started in 1962 with the tragic story of a vengeful Danish prince, played by a college student.

The Play’s the Thing exhibition celebrates the Festival’s landmark 65th Anniversary through its productions of Hamlet—memories captured and history plotted by props and costumes, programs and photos, as well as other mementos from six decades of plays. First in 1962 and now in 2026, Hamlet continues to showcase the importance of Shakespeare’s language combined with the intimacy of live theatre and embedded in the star-filled sky of a Cedar City night, just as Fred envisioned.

Special thanks to Gary and Ann Crocker, Crocker Catalyst, and the Sorenson Legacy Foundation for making this exhibition possible.

Curated by Dr. Rebecca Bloom, with Professor Ryan Paul, Propmaster Ben Hohman, and Special Collections Coordinator Sally McDonald