It Takes a Village to Build a Dream

Since our founding in 2015, the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival in Arizona has been a “gypsy” company without a home of its own. Like the troupes that performed in the inn yards of Shakespeare’s day, we’ve had to partner with local venues to survive. We’re not complaining. This process has made FlagShakes a nimble company with a time-tested devotion to Original Staging Practices. Now, we’re happy to announce that we have finally scored a home of our own! Following a soft opening in January, FlagShakes will host a grand opening for our new Beaver Street Theatre on April 23, 2025.

What It’s Taken to Get Here
The partnerships we’ve built over the past ten years were essential as we searched for a space and worked with business leaders and property owners to secure it. We also partnered with another arts nonprofit, Interference Series, to finance the project. Community ties are now helping us transform this former storage hall into a theatre. We’ve had workdays filled with artists and volunteers rolling up their sleeves, donating funds and goods and rallying community support. It’s taking a village to bring this dream to life.

How This Changes Our Season
FlagShakes has a strong partnership with nearby Lowell Observatory, where summer performances under our festival tent regularly sell out. But having a dedicated indoor space for rehearsals and performances expands our possibilities. No more performances at the mercy of our mountain town’s unpredictable spring and fall weather. No more scrambling for rehearsal venues. This stability allows us to fully invest in our productions and artists.

Growing Collaborations and Strengthening the Bottom Line
The Beaver Street Theatre is a flexible performance venue that can seat about 50 patrons. It will be a hub for an artistic community in desperate need of rehearsal and performance space. We’re already collaborating with the local arts community to bring in diverse voices and creative energy. Shared events and space rentals will create sustainable revenue streams so we can support our mission
while maintaining financial stability.

Looking Ahead
As we settle into our new theatre, we dream of expanding educational programs, deepening community engagement, and making this venue a true arts destination. In January, we hosted a sold-out production of Coriolanus with a Phoenix-based theatre company called Ronin. The show’s success showcased the potential of this venue. We can use it to bring in unique projects from around the state, feeding our town’s appetite for high-quality, actor-driven productions. In February, FlagShakes presented Shakespeare on Pluto, a lively opening act to what we hope will be a very long run in our new home.

Executive Director Dawn Tucker, Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival and Julie Hammonds, Founding Board President and current member of the Artistic Committee.