BOISE, IDAHO: Idaho Shakespeare Festival has named Sara Bruner their next producing artistic director. Bruner will serve as producing artistic director of three organizations — Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival in Incline Village, Nev. — when current producing artistic director Charles Fee retires at the end of the 2025-26 season.
“I am overjoyed by the decision to appoint Sara as my successor,” Fee said in a statement. “It has been clear to me for many years that Sara has the skills, the passion, the creativity, and the grit necessary to take on leadership at the highest level of our companies. Her appetite to learn and embrace our unique producing model has been voracious during her tenure as associate artistic director. I have no doubt that the future of our companies will be in secure hands moving forward.”
Bruner has acted in and directed productions at all three companies and previously served as an artistic associate before becoming associate artistic director. She was a company member at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for six years, where she directed the American premiere of The Children’s Monologues. Her other directing credits include the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Arizona Theatre Company. Her acting credits include Arena Stage and Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Bruner is a 2018 Princess Grace Award winner and holds an MBA from Boise State University.
“I am truly humbled and thrilled to assume this new role,” Bruner said in a statement. “I have a profound admiration for these organizations and have personally witnessed their tremendous impact on their communities. Together with Charlie and the incredible support of our boards, staff, and artists, I am eagerly looking forward to shaping the future of our companies with joy and intentionality.”
Bruner will collaborate with Fee to steer the organizations over the next two years before taking the helm.
Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s mission is to produce great theatre, develop an artistic home for theatre artists, educate, promote cultural understanding, and illuminate human nature through a repertory of plays, including those of Shakespeare. As of 2022, the theatre had a budget of approximately $4.9 million.
