DPS Shakespeare Festival Photo Recap

What is the Denver Public Schools Shakespeare Festival? Hosted by Denver Public Schools (DPS), the festival is a day-long event held in downtown Denver at the Performing Arts Complex in partnership with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) and the DPS Foundation. This year on April 22, thousands of students ages K-12 celebrated the life and legacy of playwright William Shakespeare with performances, costumes, and a parade. Fun fact: The DPS Shakespeare Festival is the oldest and largest student Shakespeare festival in the country! Get a glimpse into this exciting festival with these 2022 DPS Shakespeare Festival highlights! 

A student wearing Renaissance makeup looks off to the side surrounded by people

Students in Renaissance makeup and costumes watch Queen Elizabeth I give her opening speech.

A young actress as Queen Elizabeth I speaks into a microphone

Queen Elizabeth I opening the DPS Shakespeare Festival!

Students cheer in a large crowd

Students cheering. Let the festival COMMENCE!

A group of students march down the street dressed in Renaissance clothing

Queen Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare lead the triumphant parade of students toward the Arts Complex.

An overhead view of the students marching through the Performing Arts Complex
An overhead view of students marching through the Performing Arts Complex

Thousands of students parade through the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

A group of students perform in the Bonfils complex

Elementary students perform excerpts from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Smatterings of people in the park outside the Performing Arts Complex

2022 DPS Shakespeare Festival outside in front of the Denver Performing Arts Complex!