7 Must-See Theater Festivals This Fall: Premier Destinations for Drama Lovers
While all the world's a stage, these seven destinations host some of fall's most acclaimed theater festivals. Each city doubles as a remarkable travel hub, ensuring your cultural immersion extends far beyond the final curtain call.
InFringe Fest; New Orleans
#MisfitsWelcome captures the spirit of New Orleans' vibrant InFringe Fest (Nov. 7-10), a free-spirited event perfectly suited to this eclectic city. Much like its renowned food scene, the festival delivers fresh, bold avant-garde performances across 30 shows, including musicals, comedies, dramas, dance, and burlesque. Highlights feature Bag of Bones, a one-man musical ghost story, and Love Songs from the End of the World, a musical comedy exploring Eve's perspective on the Biblical tale.
Theater Olympics; St. Petersburg, Russia
While the sports Olympics' return to Russia remains uncertain, theater enthusiasts can celebrate the Theater Olympics in Saint Petersburg (through Dec. 12). Originating in Greece in 1995, this prestigious event features performances at the UNESCO-listed Alexandrinsky Theater (black-tie recommended) and venues nationwide. Don't miss The Great Tamer, a wordless Greek exploration of mortality, or the Japanese Cyrano de Bergerac, starring samurai playwright Kyozo.
International Puppet Theater Festival; Rijeka, Croatia
Ideal for families raising globally minded children, the International Puppet Theater Festival in Rijeka (Nov. 4-11), on the Adriatic coast, showcases talent from Finland, Germany, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. Enjoy Clay, Play and Monkeyshines (German, in English), Finland's wordless Invisible Lands, and the classic Pinocchio. Hands-on puppetry workshops add interactive fun.
Kenya International Theatre Festival; Various Cities
Kenya's legendary safaris pair perfectly with culture at the Kenya International Theatre Festival. Phase one unfolds in Nakuru and Mombasa (Nov. 1-3), followed by Nairobi (Nov. 5-10). Key productions include Because I Always Feel Like Running, probing East African running politics; Revolution Ate My Son, a tragicomedy from Mukoma Wa Ngugi's Mrs. Shaw; and Ronald Rand's Let it be Art!. Free workshops with global experts invite participation.
Culturescapes; Basel, Switzerland
Switzerland's Culturescapes dives deep into cultural nuances, spotlighting Poland this year. Basel-centered but nationwide, it spans theater, dance, literature, film, and cuisine. Standouts: Margarete, a woman's life pieced from found film reels, and Cezary Goes To War, a comedic take on patriotism.
Kampala International Theater Festival; Uganda
Uganda's rare mountain gorillas thrill in the wild, but Kampala hosts the rising Kampala International Theater Festival (Nov. 26-30). A collaboration between Sundance Institute East Africa and Bayimba Cultural Foundation since 2014, it draws global talent. Watch My Father and Other Superheroes, a Ugandan-British tale of pop culture and fatherhood, or Hard Stuff: Happiness, a German-Kenyan puppetry piece on joy's realities.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Ashland
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival nears its finale, but tickets remain for Oct. 26's As You Like It starring Rosalind and La Comedia of Errors. Indecent by Pulitzer winner Paula Vogel runs through Oct. 27. Act quickly for this renowned event's last bows.
