Help

Benjamin Bonenfant in Wittenberg at the 2015 Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Do you have urgent questions about tickets, performances or free events? Chances are you’re not alone! Browse some of our most frequently asked questions below.

Looking for help accessing our digital performances? Visit cupresents.org/videohelp for step-by-step instructions on how to create or log in to your online account and view ticketed streaming events.

Tickets

How do I buy tickets?

You may purchase season tickets or single tickets online!

If you’d like to order tickets over the phone or have more questions, please call the box office at 303-492-8008 or visit us in person at 972 Broadway. We’re available Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Do you offer ticket discounts?

Yes, we offer great discounts as one of the benefits of season tickets.

Single ticket discounts for students, seniors and members of the CU community are also available.

Groups of 10 or more also receive discounts.

Do you charge service fees?

CU Presents charges a 10% service fee for single tickets (or a $10 + 2% fee for season tickets). Group sales are charged a flat $15 fee per order.

Revenue from these fees funds essential operating needs (such as ticketing software, staffing and infrastructure), which allows us to provide patrons with outstanding service.

May I return or exchange my tickets? Are tickets sold by third-party resellers, including brokers or individuals, authentic?

CU Presents cannot guarantee the authenticity of or provide customer service for tickets purchased from third-party resellers, including brokers or individuals. For verified tickets, we recommend purchasing exclusively through cupresents.org or by calling 303-492-8008.

I missed my performance, can I get a ticket for another night?

Unfortunately we are not able to offer exchanges or refunds after the performance.

At the performance

How do I get to my performance?

Please go to the Your visit page and select your event venue for more information including directions, parking, public transportation and more.

Will my event be canceled due to weather?

CU Presents events will be held as scheduled unless the CU Boulder campus is closed. Campus closures will be announced on the CU Boulder website. In the event the campus is closed and an event is canceled, CU Presents will try to reschedule the event and contact ticket purchasers. If the event cannot be rescheduled, ticket holders should call the box office at 303-492-8008 to arrange for ticket credit.

Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre weather policy (Colorado Shakespeare Festival):

The Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre will be closed for renovations in 2024 and 2025. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival performs rain or shine. Come prepared to enjoy the adventure by reviewing our weather policy and attire suggestions.

Decisions on whether to cancel for inclement weather usually are not made until curtain time. Performances will proceed unless weather conditions become threatening to performers or the audience. Because evening weather in the foothills can be somewhat unpredictable, please check the weather report before you come and dress for the forecast.

We recommend that you wear what makes you feel comfortable for the outdoor show-going experience, whether it’s shorts and a t-shirt or a suit and tie. You might want a jacket after sunset or need to bring rain gear. (Umbrellas and other items that might block someone’s view are prohibited. Grab your poncho or rain slicker instead!)

In the event that the entire CU Boulder campus is closed due to weather, CSF will notify patrons via the website and box office telephone and will provide instructions for ticket exchanges.

May I bring my children?

Boulder fire regulations require everyone, regardless of age, to have a ticket in order to enter the auditorium. Please consider the content of the show and use your discretion about whether your child will enjoy a 90+ minute performance without disruption.

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival does not permit children under 5 at any performance.

What accessibility accommodations are available?

Each of our venues has specific accessibility policies, please visit our accessibility page for more information.

Photography

CU Presents does not allow unauthorized photography or recording of any kind at its performances.

Mobile devices and other electronic items

Please silence all mobile devices, watches, etc. before a performance begins. Laptops, tablets, phones and other mobile devices must be switched to silent mode in the hall. All screens must be off when performers are on the stage to avoid disturbing other patrons.

In some venues for some performances, mobile devices can be used for accessibility accommodations. Please visit our accessibility page for more information.

Latecomer seating

Late seating is at the discretion of the house manager based on the performers’ instructions and will occur at an appropriate moment during the performance. Due to the intimate nature of the venues, there is no late seating in the Loft Theatre, Music Theatre or ATLAS Black Box.

What should I wear?

Many people ask us what proper dress is for CU Presents. We recommend that you wear whatever you would feel comfortable in for an evening out at a nice restaurant in Boulder.

Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre (Colorado Shakespeare Festival)

The Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre will be closed for renovations in 2024 and 2025. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival performs rain or shine. While the weather in Boulder is typically warm during CSF’s summer season, evenings can be chilly, and occasional rain showers and thunderstorms occur. We recommend that you wear what makes you feel comfortable for show-going, whether it’s shorts and a t-shirt or a suit and tie. For early shows, we advise light dress and a warmer layer, such as a sweater or wind jacket. We also encourage patrons to prepare for unexpected showers with light rain gear, as open umbrellas are not allowed in the theatre. Open umbrellas, or anything that might block another patron’s view, are prohibited during a performance.

Wearing perfumes or fragrances

Many people have scent sensitivities or are highly allergic to perfumes. Because a concert experience places people in an enclosed environment, consider avoiding perfumes, cologne, after-shave and scented lotions.

Will food or drinks be available?

Light snacks and beverages are for sale at all Artist Series, Department of Theatre & Dance University Theatre and Macky Eklund Opera events.

Food is not for sale at Takács Quartet and Eklund Opera Music Theatre concerts.

Where to get your CSF Shakes-beer this summer
We are excited to announce the return of Left Hand Brewing Co. beer to CSF’s concession offerings in 2023! Two choices will be available in chilled cans, a Vienna lager and an Irish stout. CSF will also sell water and light refreshments on site.

We will not offer meals or wine at our concession stands. We encourage you to bring your own pre-show picnic to enjoy on the surrounding lawns or to stop by one of the many small businesses in the area that support the festival for a pre- or post-show cocktail. Please remember that private alcohol consumption is not permitted on campus or in CSF’s licensed venues.

Is smoking or vaping allowed?

Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the CU Boulder campus.

General questions

What jobs are available at CU Presents?

CU Presents has openings for staff, student and volunteer positions year-round.

Learn more about CU Presents job opportunities

How do I make a donation?

Your generous support allows CU Presents to stage hundreds of performances each year, to bring some of the world’s best artists to CU Boulder stages and to expand important education and outreach initiatives. Contribute to one of our many series and programs today, or become a corporate sponsor. Your gift of any size helps support the people and activities of CU Presents.

Learn more about donations

What is CU Presents?

CU Presents is the home of performing arts on the beautiful University of Colorado Boulder campus. With hundreds of concerts, plays, recitals and more on our stages each year, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Learn more about CU Presents

Colorado Shakespeare Festival questions

What is a preview performance?

Preview performances afford audiences a reduced ticket price for a “sneak peek” of the completed production. Be the first audience to see the play in its entirety with directors and designers in the house. Preview performances are the night prior to opening night.

How long are CSF plays?

Most CSF plays run between two and three hours, with intermission.

Will I be able to understand the plays?

Most people catch on to the rhythm of the language after five to 10 minutes. A free program contains synopses, character listings and information provided by directors.

How is CSF connected to the University of Colorado?

Colorado Shakespeare Festival is a non-profit, professional theatre company launched by and in association with the University of Colorado Boulder. The university supports the work of CSF in many ways, providing performance and rehearsal space, access to costumes and scene shops, and marketing and box office services.

Is CSF funded by the state of Colorado?

CSF relies in part on state funds. Ticket sales, tax-deductible donations from patrons and educational programs provide 90 percent of the support for CSF. The university provides about 10 percent of the budgeted revenue, in exchange for integration with and support of the academic mission of the CU Boulder College of Arts and Sciences.

Are students featured in CSF productions?

Professional actors, directors, designers and technicians, hired from around the country and overseas, make up the majority of the CSF company. As part of our ongoing commitment to the educational mission of the University of Colorado Boulder, CSF also provides internships and employment experience to CU students in performing arts and other programs, including roles in the productions.

COVID-19 protocols

At this time, we expect to offer all our in-person events at full capacity. We follow event guidelines from public health officials and the university that are in place at the time of performances. Up-to-date campus health and safety policies can be found here.

What safety protocols will be in place at performances?

At this time, we expect to offer all our in-person events at full capacity. CU Boulder does not require proof of vaccination to purchase tickets. At this time the campus is mask-optional.

Our policies follow ongoing guidance from CU Boulder, the CDC and county health officials. Up-to-date campus health and safety policies can be found here.

Will the performers be masked at my performance?

Unless required by CDC guidelines due to a recent COVID infection, performers will be unmasked on stage.

Will I be allowed to exchange or refund my tickets if a performance is canceled?

We’d like to reassure ticket buyers that if an event is canceled by CU Presents, we will reach out to ticket holders to offer refunds and other options.

Will I be allowed to exchange or refund my tickets if I can’t attend the performance due to illness or a need to quarantine?

If you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19, please stay home. Please contact the box office as soon as you are able. We will work with you to find the best option so you don’t lose your purchase.

I'm not ready to return to in-person events. Do you offer virtual or streamed performances?

Yes! Many of our free events, as well as several ticketed events, are available to stream from the comfort and safety of your living room. You can find a schedule of them here.

I have an account credit from a previous COVID-19 cancellation. Can I apply it to this season's purchase?

Yes! Account credits can be applied to your purchase either online, over the phone, or in person. Log in to your online account prior to renewing to apply it during check out, call us at 303-492-8008 to order by phone, or visit us at 972 Broadway, Boulder.

The CU Presents Box Office staff is happy to assist you from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Can't find what you're looking for?

Call our box office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 303-492-8008 or fill out our online contact form.

Contact us about Can't find what you're looking for?