Festival 56

Festival 56

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Small Town, Big Drama. Offering Princeton IL summers of professional plays, musicals and Shakespeare!

Festival 56 is a year-round theater festival located in historic Princeton, Illinois. Committed to championing the American theater as an art form by presenting a wide array of repertoire theater that includes free, outdoor Shakespeare, classic & contemporary plays & popular musicals. Festival 56 brings the professional performing arts to rural Illinois by assembling a cast & staff of artists from across the country.

06/06/2026

Two sets of twins. One city. Zero idea who's who. πŸ˜‚

Shakespeare's wildest comedy is coming to Festival 56 this summer. The Comedy of Errors opens June 28 β€” and chaos has never been this much fun.

Tickets on sale now: https://bit.ly/4dOI0nn

06/04/2026

Happy World Bicycle Day! 🚲

This one is for The B Store - Bike Place in Princeton. Every summer, this incredible local nonprofit lends our Festival 56 company bikes to use all season long, completely free of charge. Our cast and crew pedaling around Princeton has become one of our favorite summer traditions, and it would not be possible without them.

If you have not checked out , go show them some love. They are the kind of neighbor that makes this community special.

Photos from Festival 56's post 06/02/2026

We hear the train a-comin’!
The first day of rehearsal for Ring of Fire is exactly ONE WEEK AWAY!
We’re excited to welcome these folks to Princeton.

Ring of Fire opens June 19th, with performances until June 28th. Get your tickets now!

Photos from Festival 56's post 06/02/2026

We hear the train a-comin’!
The first day of rehearsal for Ring of Fire is exactly ONE WEEK AWAY!
We’re excited to welcome these folks to Princeton.

Ring of Fire open June 19th, with performances until June 28th. Get your tickets now!

06/02/2026

Before there was rock 'n' roll, there was the sound of the American heartland β€” and Johnny Cash captured it like no one else.

This week we're diving into the roots of the music you'll hear in Ring of Fire. From gospel to country to rockabilly, Cash drew from every corner of American life.

Which era of Cash's music speaks to you most? Drop it in the comments. πŸ‘‡

05/31/2026

Summer days of theatre are almost here. HUZZAH! 🌿

Outdoor performances, warm evenings, and Shakespeare's funniest play coming to Festival 56 this June. The Comedy of Errors opens June 28 and we cannot wait to share it with you.

Start making your plans now: bit.ly/4dOI0nn

Photos from Festival 56's post 05/28/2026

Ring of Fire wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. πŸ™

A heartfelt thank you to:
πŸ’› Heartland Bank and Trust
πŸ’› Langhenry, Gillen, Lundquist, & Johnson LLC
πŸ’› Arukah
πŸ’› Hornbaker Gardens

These businesses believe in the power of live theatre in our community and we are so grateful. Please consider supporting them as they support us.

05/27/2026

Something special is coming to Princeton this June. 🎀

Ring of Fire, our journey through the world of Johnny Cash, opens June 19 at Festival 56. From the railroads to Folsom Prison to the love of June Carter, this show brings Cash's legendary story to life on stage.

Grab your tickets early and let us know in the comments: what's your all-time favorite Johnny Cash song?

Click here to get your tickets today: https://bit.ly/4dOI0nn

05/25/2026

The show begins with the first click! Check out the Cabarets 2026 website for a taste of what's coming. ⁣
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/festival-56/69c1edf936c14a2da8c10585/tickets?ots-cmpgn-refer=SOCIAL4W&utm_source=OnTheStage&utm_medium=ayrshare&utm_campaign=SOCIAL4W

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316 S Main Street (Located 3 Miles South Of I-80 On The Right)
Princeton, IL
61356

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 2pm
Tuesday 11am - 2pm
Wednesday 11am - 2pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm