Shakespeare performance, training and education in Lenox, MA
Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer’s Women of Will opens tonight! Directed by Eric Tucker, Tina is joined by Nigel Gore on stage in an exploration the feminine spirit in Shakespeare’s plays. Check out the photos from the production, now on stage at Founders’ Theatre.
Audiences have until July 24th to see this overview, before Tina moves on to directing The Taster and then an extremely-limited one-time-only performance of the entire five-part work in the Bernstein Center this August.
William Shakespeare’s masterpiece Julius Caesar: directed by Jonathan Croy and featuring Ryan Winkles (Twelfth Night) and Scott Renzoni (Les Liaisons Dangereuses), Katharine Abbruzzese, Dani Cervone, Sean Kazarian and Andy Talen.
The actors are back home in Lenox for just three more weeks, after almost 60 performances across New England. Check out the photos of the performers in their new home.
Yesterday we were very happy to announce a series of financial breakthroughs—involving a crucial restructuring of debt and the simultaneous out-of-court settlement of a lawsuit pending with a major vendor—that put us on firm footing as we look toward the future. From Artistic Director Tony Simotes:
These days, it’s not easy for anybody—this is still a period of economic anxiety for us, the entire arts community, and many other sectors of the economy. But for our own part, we are on a much healthier financial path, and on good footing to continue implementing the new business plan we began introducing when I arrived a year ago. We’ve needed to shift our business culture while maintaining the quality of our programming—and we have reached another important milestone in that continuing effort.”
The story was picked up by the Berkshire Eagle, Associated Press, Boston Globe, WBUR, and other news outlets.
The Shakespeare in the Courts project was also visited by WBUR 90.9FM this week.
Jesus believes his six-week bout with Shakespeare has affected him. He admits that even earlier this day he punched a locker at Pittsfield High in rage — instead of an antagonistic classmate. But six weeks ago Jesus says, “I would’ve hit him. Boom! Not one word, just hit him.”
Listen to or read the story at wbur.org »
And take a look at the accompanying video:
Shakespeare & Company’s Shakespeare in the Courts program once again gets noticed, this time by the Boston Globe‘s Louise Kennedy. Over the weekend she visited with the group of juveniles as they rehearsed their production of Henry V, which is performing tonight in Founders’ Theatre.
Such lessons can take a while to sink in. “At first, I didn’t want to do it,’’ said Kaitlyn, 17. “But it’s better than actual community service.’’ And it has helped her learn how to “be around other people that I might not like but I kind of have to deal with.’’
That attitude is typical, said Coleman of participants (the Globe is printing only their first names because they are juveniles). He noted that when the teenagers arrive on the first day, they’re angry, impatient, and in shock that they really have to study Shakespeare — or go back to court for resentencing. “Oh my God, they’d rather go to jail,’’ he said. “They find this really bizarre, that they have to do it. ‘This is so unfair.’ ‘I’m not going to do this.’ ‘You can’t make me.’ That lasts into the second week.’’
Read the rest of “Caught in the act: Juveniles sentenced to Shakespeare” in the Boston Globe
In just one week, the New England Tour of Shakespeare takes up residence in the Bernstein Theatre with Shakespeare’s masterpiece Julius Caesar, directed by Jonathan Croy and featuring six talented Education Artists including Ryan Winkles (Twelfth Night) and Scott Renzoni (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) alongside Katharine Abbruzzese, Dani Cervone, Sean Kazarian and Andy Talen.
Check out the photos from the touring production that traveled across New England this winter. And join us in a week to welcome them home—and kick of the Summer of 2010!
WAMC’s Roundtable invited Shakespeare & Company to help them celebrate Shakespeare this past Friday. Tina Packer, Elizabeth Aspenlieder and Jeremy Goodwin spent an entire hour with host Joe Donahue—even performing a bit of Shakespeare for the listening audience! Take a listen below, or at WAMC’s website.
Joe chats with Elizabeth Aspenlieder, Tina Packer and Jeremy Goodwin about this summer (13:20):
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Joe talks with Tina Packer (20:22):
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Finally, Joe, Tina Packer and Elizabeth Aspenlieder perform some Shakespeare from this Summer’s season (8:29):
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