The 2016 Fargo Winter Arts Festival is celebrating the renowned work and life of William Shakespeare. Shakespearefest will be a monthlong artistic outpouring of music, drama, film, art, food and more. The entire month of February is filled with events to honor the timeless work of the Bard.

ShakespeareFest Kick-off Event

4 p.m. Saturday, Fargo Theatre

This free event starts the month long Shakespeare festivities off with a bang. With both adults and kids in mind, there is something for everyone, whether it is meeting Shakespeare himself or watching some of the screened short films.

Romeo & Juliet x3

7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Festival Concert Hall

Playing magnificent music inspired by the Bard’s classic romance, the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony is presenting Romeo & Juliet in three versions. Each different musical take on the beloved story complement each other for a cohesive auditory experience.

NDSU College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences events

Throughout the duration of Shakespearefest, NDSU’s College of AHSS will host a variety of seminars and talks, ranging in topics from racism, adapting Shakespeare’s work and Shakespeare’s influence around the world. These events are free and open to the public.

ShakesBeer Fest Happy Hour

5-7 p.m. every Thursday in February

At various local brewing companies throughout the month, enjoy the music of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony with locally brewed beer. With featured brews every Thursday, one can expect many a Shakespeare pun and good old communal fun.

Equivocation 

February 5 – February 28, Theatre B

In this play written by Bill Cain, an ensemble of six players inhabits more than forty other characters. “Equivocation” tells the story of Shakespeare as he is commissioned by the king to rewrite the history of the gunpowder plot in this comedic political thriller. Tickets are available through the Theatre B website.

Hamlet

2 p.m. Feb. 7, Downtown Fargo Public Library

Watch the most critically acclaimed and award-winning take of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” on film as part of the Fargo Public Library’s Shakespeare on Film series. Along with the movie screening and free popcorn, film historians Tony McRae and Matt Olien will discuss the adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy.

I Hate Hamlet

February 12 – 21, The Stage at Island Park

Paul Rudnik’s play, “I Hate Hamlet,” follows the trials and tribulations of a television actor Andrew Rally when he moves to New York City and is offered the chance to play Hamlet, whom he hates. Rally then encounters the ghost of the famous Hamlet actor John Barrymore making for a very interesting dynamic and conflict. Tickets are available at the FMCT website.

Shakespeare Sampler

2 p.m., Feb. 20, Theatre B

The 16 young members of the FM Homeschool Shakespeareans will be performing a series of vignettes from a variety of Shakespeare’s work, including “The Merchant of Venice,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Twelfth Night.”

Shakespeare Up Close

2 p.m. Feb. 21, Bluestem Center for the Arts

In this collaboration between the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony and Theatre B, one is able to listen to the music of Shakespeare’s time. The second half of the event pairs excerpts of Shakespeare’s written work from his plays and sonnets with a nine movement cello solo. Tickets are available at the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony website.

Romeo & Juliet

7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 – 27, March 2 – 5, Askanase Auditorium

The classic Shakespearean romantic tragedy is reimagined by Theatre NDSU. The tale of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet find love in the midst of a familial vendetta that only complicates their potential future together. Tickets are available of Theatre NDSU’s website.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit winterartsfest.org.