Celebrating the life and work of Sam Shepard

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Full-Scale Production

Staged Reading

Film Screenings

Discussion Panels

  • ShepardFest 2026 runs July 29th—August 2nd.
    Plan to join us in the heart of summer as ShepardFest 2026 brings five days of bold theatre, film, conversation, and celebration centered on the work and legacy of Sam Shepard. It’s a concentrated, immersive experience designed to gather artists, audiences, and curious newcomers alike for a meaningful cultural moment.

  • ShepardFest 2026 will take place at The Waterworks in St. Augustine.
    This historic and intimate arts venue provides a distinctive setting for gathering, reflection, and bold performance — an ideal backdrop to experience Shepard’s work alongside artists, audiences, and guests from across the region.

 

Our Mission

ShepardFest celebrates the life and work of Sam Shepard by bringing artists, scholars, students, and audiences together through performances, readings, films, music, and conversation. We explore Shepard’s enduring influence on American theatre and culture while creating space for discovery, dialogue, and connection.

Our Vision

We imagine ShepardFest as a living, evolving gathering — where bold storytelling, thoughtful discussion, and community come together. By engaging deeply with Shepard’s work in intimate settings, we aim to spark curiosity, inspire artists, and invite audiences into the questions at the heart of the American experience.

Our Values

These things we hold certain ❊

Bold Artistry
We honor Shepard’s fearless voice by presenting work that is imaginative, challenging, and rooted in artistic integrity.

01

Curiosity & Conversation
We believe great theatre invites questions. ShepardFest encourages dialogue between artists and audiences, scholars and students, past and present.

02

Community
Theatre is a shared experience. We welcome diverse voices and perspectives, creating an open and inclusive space for connection and exchange.

03

Many Ways In
From plays and readings to films, music, and panels, we embrace multiple forms of storytelling as pathways into Shepard’s world.

04

Legacy in Motion
We celebrate Shepard’s legacy not as a fixed monument, but as a living body of work: one that continues to resonate, provoke, and inspire.

05

Questions already?
You must be excited.

Fill out the form with your contact information and let us know how we can help you. We are incredibly grateful for your support and can’t wait to make much of Sam Shepard’s life and legacy with you.