With three plays by Shakespeare, a musical based on Shakespeare, a classic British comedy, and two plays for children, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival celebrated 25 seasons, and set attendance and ticket revenue records for the second year in a row.

The 2016 PSF season’s estimated 39,750 patrons and $1.2 million in ticket revenues topped 2015’s 38,567 patrons and $1.1 million in ticket revenues, a 3 percent and 4 percent increase, respectively.

The season’s opening “Luminosity Gala” also set records in attendance: 514 people, and revenue: $150,000-plus.

“West Side Story” was the second most attended production in PSF’s history, just 1 percent less than the record holder, last season’s “Les Misérables.” “The Little Mermaid” set an attendance record for a children’s show, at more than 9,700.

“Julius Caesar” played to more than 90 percent capacity.

PSF employed a record 44 members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional stage actors and stage managers. After nearly 150 performances in just under 10 weeks, the season closed Aug. 7.

“The numbers tell only part of the story,” said Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy. “To me, the real story is that all those 39,750 patrons chose to spend their precious time, energy and dollars in a particular way. They chose to engage with the arts, in this case professional theater.”

The season was dedicated to the memory of PSF founder, Rev. Gerard J. Schubert, O.S.F.S., who died in December 2015, and his life’s work was celebrated and recognized at each performance and at several special events during the 2015 season.

Kathleen Kund Nolan and Timothy E. Nolan were season sponsors for the third time in the PSF’s 25-year history. Associate season sponsors were the Harry C. Trexler Trust, Linda Lapos and Paul Wirth, Dr. James and Penny Pantano, and the Szarko Family. The season media sponsor was The Morning Call.

PSF is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theater, and a member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the Shakespeare Theatre Association, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council, and Discover Lehigh Valley.