ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY PRESENTS
THE HILARIOUSLY UNHINGED
SH!T-FACED SHAKESPEARE®: HAMLET,
MARCH 20 – 21, 2026
Shakespeare’s greatest work comes up against Boston’s tipsiest cutting-edge theatre troupe
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 26, 2026) – Ensemble Arts Philly welcomes the hilarious Sh!t-faced Shakespeare® company back to the Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts for two shows of Hamlet on March 20 and 21, 2026. This wildly unpredictable production blends brilliant classical acting with sidesplitting improvised mayhem, guaranteeing a night of laughter, chaos, and unforgettable theater.
Is it the murder of a king? A hasty incestuous marriage? A prince bent on revenge? Or maybe just a gassy Polonius full of beer! Shakespeare's greatest work gets the full boozy treatment. This timeless examination of the nature of humanity is performed under two hours, so "To be or not to be" gets answered, and you shan't need a nap! Grab a cocktail and enjoy as the company proves that though this be madness, yet there is a method in 't – helped with a bit of wine!
The 2025-2026 season marks Sh!t-faced Shakespeare’s 10th year in the United States and there could be no better way to celebrate than with a faithful, earnest retelling of Shakespeare’s examination of the purpose of man. But that wouldn’t be Sh!t-faced Shakespeare now, would it? Expect a cast of the most adorable thespians, gorgeous costumes, period dances, breath-taking sword fights, and the most irreverent, side-splitting Hamlet you have ever seen. A different drinker every night, a different show every night.
“From Broadway to ballet to comedy, it all happens under our roofs, including ‘something rotten in the state of Denmark’ with this brilliantly unhinged comedic spectacle from Sh!t-faced Shakespeare,” said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations. “Proving there really is nothing like a live performance, Hamlet celebrates the brilliance of the Bard, while acknowledging the beauty of not taking him – or ourselves – too seriously. We are excited to welcome this hilarious ensemble back to the Perelman Theater for another irreverent take on one of Shakespeare's classics.”
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare has delighted audiences from Boston to Austin and all over the States with their highfalutin cocktail of traditional Elizabethan theater and balls-to-the-wall drunken shenanigans. Accept no poor relations, pale imitations, or paltry recreations; see the authentic Sh!t-faced Shakespeare show which started it all. Featuring a revolving cast of the finest actors, the choicest cuts of Shakespearean classics, and more inebriated antics than you can violently shake a thespian at, Sh!t-faced Shakespeare is the unique theatrical experience that has left audiences roaring in the aisles in the world over.
Hamlet does engage flashing lights and loud noises. Also, for those choosing to sit close to the stage, there is the possibility of splashing beer and being a part of the show. The show also features murder, treason, war, violence (personal, sexual, and national), suicide, regicide, incest, and blasphemy – and that is just the Shakespeare! The drinker has been known to contribute profanity and the occasionally bare butt-cheek. If any of this puts you off, maybe another show is more your speed.
Other featured upcoming performances include Ali Siddiq: In the Shadows Tour (February 21, 2026, Marian Anderson Hall inside the Kimmel Center); Blue Man Group (February 24–March 1, 2026, Miller Theater); Kurt Elling: Wildflowers (February 27, 2026, Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center); David Nihill: Taking Tangents Tour (March 8, 2026, Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center); Emmet Cohen: Miles and Coltrane at 100 (March 20, 2026, Miller Theater); and Mae Martin: The Possum (March 27, 2026, Miller Theater).
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org. In-person ticket sales can be conducted daily from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See www.ensembleartsphilly.org for more information.
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare: Hamlet
Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, 7:30 p.m.
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ABOUT ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY
For more information about ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.
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