Oct. 17, 2025
VIROQUA, Wis. – Vernon County’s Viroqua Shakespeare Festival is thrilled to announce it has received a $7,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin in advance of its 2026 season.
Now in its fourth year, the festival has brought free, public performances of William Shakespeare’s plays to the Viroqua community, drawing both local and national talent to perform the Bard’s timeless works.
“Three years ago, I took out a personal loan of $2,000 and convinced some actors to rehearse and perform ‘As You Like It’ in under a week,” said Liam McGilligan, a Viroqua resident and co-founder of the festival. “Now, they’ve more than tripled that amount with this donation — and eight months before we’ll even begin rehearsals. You could say I’m feeling pretty satisfied.”
The festival is produced by Thoreau College, a local nonprofit organization that has supported the event since its inception. Each summer, professional actors and theater artists from across the country join local cast and crew members to bring Shakespeare’s drama, comedy and tragedy to life.
Tullan Baird, proprietor of the Liberty Pole Store on Highway 27 and a self-described “local yokel,” performed in the 2023 and 2024 editions of the festival before contributing his woodworking expertise to the stage and set construction for the production of “The Tempest” this past June.
“It’s a pleasure learning from and working with these casts, crews and directors — whether I’m playing a Wall in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ or building them for ‘The Tempest’,” Baird said. “The professionalism and joy of the entire company makes preparing each show a blast, and that excitement shines through in every performance.”
Festival organizers are currently in the process of narrowing down titles for next summer’s show, as well as seeking additional funding and sponsors to ensure a successful festival that remains free to the public.
For more information, to make a donation or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Liam McGilligan at liam@thoreaucollege.org or 608-609-1957.
Future updates and announcements can be found at thoreaucollege.org/viroqua-shakespeare-festival or on the festival’s Facebook page.
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