Great River Shakespeare Festival

TO CREATE DYNAMIC, CLEARLY-SPOKEN PRODUCTIONS OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS TO ENRICH PEOPLE'S LIVES. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION, GRSF ENGAGES AND SUSTAINS A HIGHLY-SKILLED COMPANY OF THEATER PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING EQUITY ACTORS.

CREATION OF ART: IN THE 2022 SEASON, GRSF PRODUCTIONS RETURNED INDOORS WITH INCREASED COVID-19 TESTING, ISOLATION, AND WORK STOPPAGES. PRODUCTIONS CREATED FOR A LIVE IN-PERSON AUDIENCE INCLUDED SHAKESPEARE'S TWELFTH NIGHT, CARLYLE BROWN'S THE AFRICAN COMPANY PRESENTS RICHARD III, AND TED SWINDLEY'S ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE. A PLANNED PRODUCTION OF A CROSS-GENDERED AND MULTI-RACIAL THE TAMING OF THE SHREW WAS CANCELED DURING REHEARSALS AND REPLACED WITH ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE. ADDITIONALLY, A COMMUNITY-ENGAGED THEATER PROJECT, ALL THE TOWN'S A STAGE: A WINONA STORY, WAS CREATED, REHEARSED, AND PERFORMED BY A MIX OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ATTENDANCE ACROSS ALL EVENTS WAS APPROXIMATELY 5800 (ABOUT 1/2 THE SIZE OF PRE-PANDEMIC AUDIENCES). THE COMPANY ALSO RECORDED A RADIO-DRAMA-STYLE PODCAST OF ROMEO AND JULIET WHICH WILL BE RELEASED IN 2023.

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES RETURNED IN-PERSON IN 2022 FOLLOWING COVID RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE BY THE ACTORS UNION. THESE EVENTS PROVIDED ENRICHMENT BEYOND THE EXPERIENCE OF A PARTICULAR PLAY AND INCLUDED A SYMPOSIUM ON TWELFTH NIGHT, A PRESENTATION ON MENTAL HEALTH IN THE THEATER INDUSTRY AND THE BODY'S RESPONSE TO STRESS, CREATING COMMUNITY ENGAGED THEATER, A CONVERSATION WITH THE PLAYWRIGHT CARLYLE BROWN AND THE COMPANY OF THE AFRICAN COMPANY PRESENTS RICHARD III, AND AN ONLINE PRESENTATION OF WINNING POEMS FROM THE 2022 MARIA W. FAUST SONNET CONTEST HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH RIVER ARTS ALLIANCE. MULTIPLE COMPANY CONVERSATIONS FEATURING MEMBERS OF THE ACTING AND PRODUCTION TEAMS WERE HELD DURING THE FESTIVAL, AND NEW YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF SHAKESPEARE'S TEST KITCHEN AND SHAKESPEARE'S HAPPY HOUR WERE ENJOYED BY THOUSANDS ONLINE.

EDUCATION: FOR THE SUMMER OF 2022, THE PROFESSIONAL ACTOR TRAINING PROGRAM (PTP) AND THE TECHNICAL THEATER AND MANAGEMENT APPRENTICE PROGRAMS PROVIDED PRACTICAL LEARNING FOR 24 COLLEGE STUDENTS AND EARLY-CAREER ARTISTS. PTP STUDENTS UNDERSTUDIED MAINSTAGE ROLES AND CREATED THEIR OWN GREEN SHOW PRODUCTION WHICH PERFORMED OUTSIDE THE THEATER PRIOR TO EVERY PROFESSIONAL SHOW OF THE FESTIVAL. THE APPRENTICES HELPED CREATE AND MAINTAIN THE MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS ALONGSIDE THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF. ADDITIONALLY, 5 COURSES OF YOUTH INSTRUCTION WERE OFFERED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE AREAS OF ACTING, DESIGN, AND FILMMAKING. EACH YOUTH PROGRAM CULMINATED IN A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE/PRESENTATION/SCREENING. SEVENTY-FOUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 2022. ADDITIONALLY, GRSF OFFERED A COLLEGIUM PROGRAM TO STUDY THE TWO SHAKESPEARE PLAYS PLANNED FOR THE SEASON (ENROLLMENT OF 27 ADULTS).