Island Shakespeare Festival is a summer of outdoor theatre on Whidbey Island. Featured events:

The Lucky Chance - July 19-September 8
From Expand the Canon: "If you’re looking to gamble on love with this multi-generational comedy featuring headstrong heroines and aging Romeos… consider this raunchy Restoration Comedy about sex, marriage, and consent. The ripened, spry, and sometimes lecherous Sir Cautious Fulbank and Sir Feeble Fainwou’d used their money and status to land young wives. But both wives had young suitors they already loved… who are trying to win them back! While the old men gamble, bribe, and swindle, the young suitors assume double identities, dance with a Devil(!), and put their livelihoods on the line –– with plenty of help from their crafty ladies. Delight in this unapologetic critique of capitalism and patriarchy while asking: are our motives in love and partnership ever truly altruistic?"

William Shakespeare's King Lear - July 27- September 7
King Lear takes center stage in a world where power, patriarchy, and privilege collide with the pursuit of justice and equity. As Lear's kingdom unravels, his daughters challenge societal expectations, each seeking their own empowerment. Amidst political turmoil, the production delves into the complexities of mental health, offering a poignant reflection on the importance of compassion and empathy in a rapidly changing world. Don't miss this thought-provoking production, that seeks to resonate with contemporary audiences and spark conversations about the enduring relevance of its themes.

The Bard's Boutique Artists' Spotlight presents Poetry in the Afternoon. Theme: The Cusp - September 22
Welcome to the Bard’s Boutique Poetry Reading Series to celebrate poetry with island poets during September. Please join us upstairs in the Front Room Gallery at the Bayview Cash Store from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, September 22 as we welcome local poets to be announced.