This April, The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck will reach a milestone event with 20 years of the annual Sam Scripps Shakespeare Festival. In 2026, the festival not only celebrates its longevity, but recommits to the accessibility and reinvention that have shaped the festival for two decades. The festival is named in honor of Samuel H. Scripps, a philanthropist and artist whose influence on The CENTER extends beyond patronage.

At the heart of the festival’s legacy is The CENTER’s replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. This set was conceived and constructed through the contributions of Scripps and the leadership of Lou Trapani, Richard Prouse, and Andy Weintraub. The set is reconstructed for performances every year and inspired by the historic Globe Theatre in London, created with firsthand study and research.

*Model of Globe Set created by Richard Prouse*

*The replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre*

*Image from Romeo and Juliet, one of the first productions on the Globe*

In addition to being a central force behind The CENTER, Scripps was also one of the major contributors in the establishment of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London today. Scripps’ spirit of generosity, community, and artistry is present in this year’s festival, which includes bold reinterpretations, new work, youth performance, and community-centered storytelling.

The CENTER’s former Managing Director, Lou Trapani, who passed away in July 2024 described Scripps:

“Sam was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts, ran his own stage lighting company, and became my "go to" lighting designer for nearly a dozen plays that I directed. I tried to get him on stage but the closest he would come was two seats in the front row, house left, and he occupied these (along with his wife, Lulu) for each and every opening night of a CENTER show. Truly our patron and without him, The CENTER would not have been.”

This year’s main stage event is a striking new staging of Othello, directed by longtime CENTER artists Michael Juzwak and Emily DePew, running April 10-19. Performed on the Globe set, this production honors the festival’s origins while also reflecting current times.

Set in a modern context, the play’s enduring themes of racism, patriarchy, and the destructive force of jealousy are all visible through a new artistic lens: an all-woman cast. By removing traditional expectations of gender on stage, the production examines power structures through a perspective that encourages the audience to confront the systems in place that drive the tragedy. In the spirit of accessibility and education, Othello will have two free-of-charge in-house field trip performances for local schools.

At the center of the story is the title character played by Chantez Engeleit, a respected general undone by manipulation and internalized doubt. Opposite Othello is Iago, played by Melissa Matthews, one of Shakespeare’s most chilling antagonists, whose talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of others makes for both a powerful and a compelling villain. The cast includes a mix of seasoned Shakespearean performers, longtime CENTER staples, and actors new to The CENTER and Shakespeare, creating a dynamic company full of both experience and discovery.

While Othello anchors the festival, the lineup of shows and related events reflects the range and accessibility:

Stars (April 3 - 4): a contemporary musical inspired by Twelfth Night, opening the festival in the Black Box with a genre-blending, concert-style presentation developed by local emerging artists and Bard students.
The Merry Wives of Windsor (April 24 & 26): presented by Livingroom Shakespeare, a company founded during COVID known for community participation, returns with an intimate staged reading that invites audiences directly into the play.
Macbeth (April 25 - 26): performed by Kids on Stage, introduces younger audiences to Shakespeare through a dynamic, accessible retelling as part of the Saturday Morning Family Series.
The Bard’s Birthday Bash (April 25): a fundraiser celebrating what would have been Shakespeare’s 462nd Birthday. Fun, games, cake, snacks, drink, and dancing!

Tickets to all events are available on our website at centerforperformingarts.org

Featured