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The Oak Park Festival Theatre, Oak Park's premiere Equity theatre and the oldest professional classical theatre in the Midwest, today announced the casts and production teams for its Summer 2026 productions of William Shakespeare's HAMLET and Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Presented in repertory for the first time in company history, the productions run concurrently June 30 – August 15, 2026, at Austin Gardens in downtown Oak Park. 

Though radically different in tone, HAMLET and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST speak to one another in striking and unexpected ways. Together, the productions explore the tension between performance and truth, asking what happens when individuals are forced to navigate the expectations imposed on them by family, society, and power. 

Staged in repertory for the first time in company history, the season invites audiences to experience two master playwrights in conversation across centuries while watching Oak Park Festival Theatre actors tackle radically different worlds of comedy and tragedy throughout the summer. 

Directed by Oak Park Festival Theatre Producing Artistic Director Peter Andersen, HAMLET runs July 1 – August 15, 2026. Called home by his father's sudden death and his mother's swift remarriage, Prince Hamlet finds the court of Denmark transformed–and deeply unsettled. When a ghost appears with a terrible accusation, Hamlet is pulled into a relentless search for truth, testing the limits of loyalty, love, and revenge. 

The cast of HAMLET features Brew Bos (Hamlet), Brenna Distassio (Laertes), Olive Gallagher (Ophelia), Pedro Jimenez (Rosencrantz), Gabriel Armstrong (Guildenstern), Patrice Egleston (Polonius), Jodi Gage (Gertrude), Josh Carpenter** (Claudius), Lucas Prizant (Horatio), and Charls Sedgwick Hall** (Ghost/Player/Gravedigger). 

Directed by Kathryn Walsh in her Oak Park Festival Theatre debut, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST runs June 30 – August 14, 2026. Jack Worthing leads a double life–one in the country, one in the city–while his friend Algernon Moncrieff has troubles of his own. When both men assume the name "Ernest" to win the affections of two very particular women, a web of mistaken identities, secret engagements, and delightful deceptions begins to unravel. 

The cast of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST features August Foreman (Algernon), Chad Bay (Jack), Sonia Goldberg (Gwendolyn), Aurora Pennepacker** (Cecily), Drew Bos (Merriman/Lane), Barbara Zahora** (Lady Bracknell), Gabriel Armstrong (Chausible), and Jodi Gage (Miss Prism). 

The productions share a repertory creative team including Patrick Starner (Production Manager), Andy Cahoon (Technical Director), Devin Cameron (Lighting Director), Evan Frank (Scenic Designer), Duncan Hon (Master Electrician), Sophia De La Torre (Board Mixer), and Jack Short (Box Office Manager). 

Oak Park Festival Theatre's paid Apprenticeship Program, now in its 16th year, provides an educational, inspirational, and career-broadening experience for post-high school and undergraduate students in theatre arts. This season's apprentices are Archer Bart, Karla Valdez, Emily York, Avery Dulak, Anya Moeske, Jo Selmeczy, Jamille Calixte, Evan Ozer, and Ella Boyden. 

Season Pass packages ($70), which include admission to both productions at a discounted rate, are available now at www.oakparkfestival.com. 

HAMLET

Written By: William Shakespeare

Directed By: Peter G. Andersen

Cast: Brew Bos (Hamlet), Brenna Distassio (Laertes), Olive Gallagher (Ophelia), Pedro Jimenez (Rosencrantz), Gabriel Armstrong (Guildenstern), Patrice Egleston (Polonius), Jodi Gage (Gertrude), Josh Carpenter** (Claudius), Lucas Prizant (Horatio), and Charls Sedgwick Hall** (Ghost/Player/Gravedigger)

Understudy Cast: Lucas Prizant (Hamlet), Avery Dulak (Laertes), Anya Moeske (Ophelia), Ben Crane (Rosencrantz/Guildenstern), Julia Rowley (Polonium/Gertrude), August Foreman (Claudius/Ghost/Player/Gravedigger), Jamille Calixte (Horatio).

Production Team: Patrick Starner (Production Manager), Andy Cahoon (Technical Director), Tessa Huber  (Stage Manager), Chrissy Roy (Assistant Stage Manager), Devin Cameron (Lighting Director), Evan Frank (Scenic Designer), Taylor Pfenning (Costume Designer) Duncan Hon (Master Electrician), Trent Jones (Scenic Painter), Sophia De La Torre (Board Mixer), and Jack Short (Box Office Manager).

** Denotes Membership in Actors' Equity Association

Dates: July 1 – August 15, 2026 (previews July 1, July 3)

Press Opening: Sunday, July 5, 2026

Schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Select dates only. See website for complete schedule.

Location: Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

Tickets: General Admission ($40); seniors ($30); students ($15); previews ($20); children under 12 ($5). Group discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Additional booking fees apply. 

Box Office: www.oakparkfestival.com 

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Written By: Oscar Wilde

Directed By: Kathryn Walsh

Cast: August Foreman (Algernon), Chad Bay (Jack), Sonia Goldberg (Gwendolyn), Aurora Pennepacker** (Cecily), Drew Bos (Merriman/Lane), Barbara Zahora** (Lady Bracknell), Gabriel Armstrong (Chausible), and Jodi Gage (Miss Prism). 

Understudy Cast: Gabriel Armstrong (Algernon), Pedro Jimenez (Jack), Olive Gallagher (Gwendolyn/Cecily), Evan Ozer (Merriman/Lane/Chasible), Belinda Bremner (Lady Bracknell), Julia Rowley (Miss Prism).

Production Team: Patrick Starner (Production Manager), Andy Cahoon (Technical Director), Chrissy Roy (Stage Manager), Tessa Huber (Assistant Stage Manager), Devin Cameron (Lighting Director), Evan Frank (Scenic Designer), Phoebe Boynton (Costume Designer) Duncan Hon (Master Electrician), Sophia De La Torre (Board Mixer), and Jack Short (Box Office Manager).

** Denotes Membership in Actors' Equity Association

Dates: June 30 – August 14, 2026 (previews June 30, July 2, July 4)

Press Opening:  Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Select dates only. See website for complete schedule.

Location: Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

Tickets: General Admission ($40); seniors ($30); students ($15); previews ($20); children under 12 ($5). Group discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Additional booking fees apply. 

Box Office: www.oakparkfestival.com