The Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival (NDSF) announced an expanded 2015 “Beyond the Stage” series this week. Featuring backstage access and conversations with Festival artists, NDSF’s “Beyond the Stage” events offer guests a behind-the-scenes look at the 2015 titles before they see the performances.

The series kicks off with Explore Love’s Labor’s Lost. Join director West Hyler (Broadway, Cirque du Soleil) and members of the NDSF Young Company for a glimpse at their touring Young Company show, Love’s Labor’s Lost. Following a conversation with Hyler, enjoy highlights from the production performed by members of the Young Company. The evening concludes with an audience Q&A.

• Wednesday, July 8 at 7:30pm | Philbin Studio Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center | Tickets: $10 | CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

Next, enjoy An Evening with Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor. Two of theatre’s greatest comedians, Martin and Tichenor are the writer-director team behind this summer’s brand-new comedy, William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged). Their irreverent abridgments have been performed on five continents, at the White House, The Kennedy Center, and as part of China’s Wuzhen International Theater Festival. With their new comedy, the “bad boys of abridgment” return to Shakespeare for the first time in over 27 years. Don’t miss your chance to meet Martin and Tichenor before you see their play.

• Wednesday, July 29 at 7:29pm | Philbin Studio Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center | Tickets: $10 | CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

Finally, Explore The Winter’s Tale with director Drew Fracher. Guests will tour behind-the-scenes, see how the magic is made, and meet the teams making it happen. This hour-long event begins with Fracher, in conversation with 2015 NDSF actor Wendy Robie. Fracher has worked throughout the Midwest’s most prominent regional theaters and on Broadway. Robie is perhaps best known as Nadine (with her eye patch) in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. Guests will then see the set, visit the costume shop, and learn about the creative process directly from The Winter’s Tale designers and production staff.

• Wednesday, August 8 | Tours at 6pm, 6:30pm, and 7pm | DeBartolo Performing Arts Center | Tickets: $10 (limited to 25 for each tour) | CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

Purchase tickets for “Beyond the Stage” events and learn all about the 2015 NDSF productions at shakespeare.nd.edu. For interviews and/or media requests, contact Audience Development Manager Aaron Nichols at aanichols@nd.edu or (574) 631-3777.