Austin Shakespeare
The Bard Is only the beginning
Lear image.png

2026-Lear

Austin Shakespeare will present a staged reading of LEAR, one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, in the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center. Franchelle Stewart Dorn leads the cast as Lear, with her own daughters, Amani Dorn and Mary Dorn, playing Lear’s daughters Goneril and Regan…telling the story of a powerful aging monarch who divides her kingdom among her three daughters and triggers a surprising tragedy for herself and her world.

WHERE
Rollins Studio Theatre
The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 W. Riverside Drive
Austin, Texas 78704

WHEN
Saturday, November 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. 
Saturday, November 22, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

TICKETS
On sale starting October 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and start at $28.
Special ticket prices are available for students.

Purchase Tickets

LEAR

Directed by Ann CiccolellA

Austin Shakespeare presents a staged reading of Lear, one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies staring Franchelle (Fran) Stewart Dorn leading the cast as Lear, with her own daughters, Amani Dorn and Mary Dorn, playing Lear’s daughters Goneril and Regan

Lear tells the story of a powerful aging monarch who divides her kingdom among her three daughters and triggers a surprising tragedy for herself and her world.

Fran Dorn returns to Austin Shakespeare after playing the title role in the company’s production of Medea and Amanda in its staged reading of The Glass Menagerie.

“We are so fortunate to have Franchelle Stewart Dorn take a fresh approach to the iconic Lear, She and the cast surrounding her are among the best actors in Austin.” -Ann Ciccolella, Artistic Director

The performances are a fundraiser for Austin Shakespeare, presented through Actors’ Equity Theatre Authority.

CAST

Helen Merino plays Cordelia, Lear’s youngest daughter, and Marc Pouhé plays the Fool. Several out-of-town guest artists join the company. Ray Schultz, who played the title role in Austin Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in Zilker Park in 2025, plays Gloucester. Gwendolyn Kelso, who has performed numerous roles with the company, travels from Pittsburgh where she teaches at Carnegie Mellon University to play Edmund, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester. The cast also includes Samuel Grimes, Meredith O’Brien, Kirk Barbera and Ev Lunning, and Peter Shine.

Creative Team

The design team includes resident lighting designer Patrick W. Anthony, projection designer Lowell Bartholomee and costume designer Aaron Kubacak, whose costumes combine contemporary clothing with medieval touches.