The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is a favorite Treasure Valley destination in the summer. Nestled in its park-like reserve on the edge of the Boise River, the amphitheater is home to four months of engaging theater each summer.

Here’s a season primer — from what you’ll see to what to bring and what goes in to making it all happen.

IT’S BIG

With 92 performances and more than 40 actors in the company, this is the largest season in the festival’s 36-year history.

WHAT’S NEW?

This season, you’ll see more new faces on and back stage than ever before, along with many returning artists. This is a debut season for most of the cast of “Romeo and Juliet,” including Christian Durso and Betsy Mugavero in the title roles, and much of the cast of “The Imaginary Invalid,” including Kimbre Lancaster. She’s a University of Idaho grad who works in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival company.

The season also will be shaped by new creative teams such as Red Bull Theater’s artistic director Jesse Berger, who brings his team Adam Wernick (composer), Brandon Wolcott (sound) and David M. Barber (sets) for “The Winter’s Tale.”

And there are three first-time plays: Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap,” Moliere’s “The Imaginary Invalid” and Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off.”

THE PLAYS

The plays run in repertory through the bulk of the summer.

• ISF producing artistic director Charlie Fee restages his production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” He transplants Shakespeare’s greatest romantic tragedy to a bombed-out Verona circa 1921. Fee directed “R&J” his first season as artistic director in 1992. Dates: June 1-June 30.

• Director Drew Barr returns for his 10th season with ISF to put his thoughtful stamp on Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit “The Mousetrap.” It’s filled with twists and turns as a group of strangers stranded during a snowstorm find a murderer in their midst. Dates: June 8-July 27.

• Director Tracy Young returns after her ISF debut with her wonderfully wacky 1980s “Shrew” last season. She brings her OSF creative team with her for Moliere’s comedy “The Imaginary Invalid” (adapted by Oded Gross and Young) transformed into a musical by composer Paul James Prendergast. Dates: July 6-Aug. 24.

• Red Bull Theater’s artistic director Jesse Berger makes his ISF debut with Shakespeare’s comic romance “The Winter’s Tale.” It’s filled with kings, queens, thieves, clowns, shepherds — and one hungry bear. Dates: Aug. 3-26.

• The season closes with Michael Frayn’s farce “Noises Off,” directed by Boise’s Gordon Reinhart, who has a penchant for wrangling fast-paced, door-slamming comedies. A group of itinerant actors rehearses a play, but the backstage intrigue is more interesting than what’s on stage. Dates: Aug. 31-Sept. 29.

HOW THE SEASON COMES TOGETHER

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival works with its sister company, Cleveland’s Great Lakes Theater, to produce the season.

Two shows are created in Cleveland to open the Boise season; the next two Boise shows are created here and will move to Cleveland in the fall. The September show only is in Boise.

Actors often move from city to city with the shows, and some roles are recast.

ISF also produces at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. This season Tahoe audiences will see “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” July 13-Aug. 26. It originated in Cleveland and opened last season in Boise.

OTHER STUFF TO KNOW

Hours: Ampitheater opens at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 6 p.m. on Sundays June 1-Aug. 26. It opens at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays Sept. 1-29.

Cafe Shakespeare: The festival’s on-site restaurant operated by Lisa Peterson Catering opens at 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. You can pre-order online at IdahoShakespeare.org and by phone at 947-2067.

What’s a Greenshow? The festival’s signature pre-play comedy show is produced, written and performed — with guest actors — by The Fool Squad (Tom Willmorth and Joe Conley Golden). It begins at 7:30 p.m. every show day except Sundays June 1-Aug. 26. No Greenshow in September.

Accessibility: The Festival grounds are wheelchair accessible. You also can reserve an assistive listening system, and there is one performance for each production that will be interpreted through sign language.

Special nights: This year 3 Horse Ranch and Bier:Thirty Bottle & Brew will hold tastings on certain nights. For dates go to IdahoShakespeare.org.