DJ Canaday plays "Ferdinand" and Cadence Lamb plays "Princess of France" in the play "Love's Labour's Lost" which is one of the shows at the Texas Shakespeare Festival in Kilgore. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

The Texas Shakespeare Festival returns to Kilgore College on June 28 for a season that continues through July.

The troupe is made up of actors and technicians from throughout the United States selected through auditions. 

Performances take place in Van Cliburn Auditorium located in Kilgore College’s Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center. 

Ticket prices vary depending on the show and seat location. A season ticket is available. Tickets can be bought at texasshakespeare.com. The box office number is 903-983-8601.

The festival will feature performances of “King John,” “Love’s Labour Lost,” “Tartuffe,” “110 in the Shade,” and the children’s show “The Lovely Stepsister.”

THE SHOWS

“King John,” one of Shakespeare’s historical dramas, deals with the topics of social and political unrest, the consequences of decisions, human shortcomings and royal infighting.

“Love’s Labour’s Lost” is a comedy by Shakespaere about men who vow to give up women for fasting and studying. This version is set in the 1920s and includes music from the the period.

“Tartuffe” is a comedy by Molière that tells what happens when a French aristocrat foolishly lets Tartuffe, a pretentious religious zealot, into his home.

“110 in the Shade” was adapted from Richard Nash’s play “The Rainmaker” into a musical by Meaghan Simpson, associate artistic director. It tells what happens when a traveling conman shows up in a drought-stricken Western town.  

“The Lovely Stepsister,” a children’s show written by company member Grace Abele, tells the story of one of Cinderella’s stepsisters who discovers the true meaning of beauty thanks to other fairy tale characters. 

THE SCHEDULE

June 28

• 7:30 p.m.: “Love’s Labour’s Lost”
• June 29
• 7:30 p.m.: “Tartuffe”

July 1

• 7:30 p.m.: “110 in the Shade”

July 5

• 2 p.m.: “110 in the Shade”
• 7:30 p.m.: “Love’s Labour’s Lost”

July 6

• 2 p.m.: “Tartuffe”
• 7:30 p.m.: “King John”

July 7

• 2 p.m.: “110 in the Shade”
• 7:30 p.m.: “Love’s Labour’s Lost”

July 8

• 2 p.m.: “Tartuffe”
• 7:30 p.m.: “King John”

July 12

• 2 p.m.: “King John”
• 7:30 p.m.: “110 in the Shade”

July 13

• 2 p.m.: “Love’s Labour’s Lost”
• 7:30 p.m.: “Tartuffe”

July 14

• 2 p.m.: “King John”
• 7:30 p.m.: “110 in the Shade”

July 15

• 2 p.m.: “Love’s Labour Lost”
• 7:30 p.m.: “Tartuffe”

July 18

10 a.m.: “The Lovely Stepsister”

July 19

• 10 a.m.: “The Lovely Stepsister”
• 2 p.m.: “Tartuffe”
• 7:30 p.m.: “King John”

July 20

• 10 a.m.: “The Lovely Stepsister”
• 2 p.m.: “110 in the Shade”
• 7:30 p.m.: Love’s Labour’s Lost”

July 21

• 10 a.m.: “The Lovely Stepsister”
• 2 p.m.: “Tartuffe”
• 7:30 p.m.: “King John”

July 22

• 2 p.m.: “110 in the Shade”
• 7:30 p.m.: “Love’s Labour’s Lost”

July 24

• 7:30 p.m.: Chinese Theater Night

July 25

• 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.: Talent Showcase

July 26

• 10 a.m. “The Lovely Stepsister”
• 2 p.m.: “Love’s Labour’s Lost”
• 7:30 p.m.: “Tartuffe”

July 27

• 10 a.m.: “The Lovely Stepsister”
• 2 p.m.: “King John”
• 7:30 p.m.: “110 in the Shade”

July 28

• 10 a.m.: “The Lovely Stepsister”
• 2 p.m.: “Love’s Labour’s Lost”
• 7:30 p.m.: “Tartuffe”

JULY 29

• 2 p.m.: “King John”
• 7:30 p.m.: “110 in the Shade”

The festival also will include performances of the “The Belle of Amherst,” a one-woman show on the life of poet Emily Dickinson as played by Jennifer Burke. These shows are set for 2 p.m. July 7 and July 11 and 7:30 p.m. July 12 and 14 in the smaller upstairs theater at the center. 

On Chinese Theater Night, performers from Chongqing and Shanghai, China, present an original show created for Texas Shakespeare Festival. The Talent Showcase features company members showing their singing, dancing and comedy skills in a variety show.