Shakespeare Society Inc

THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INCREASING THE ENJOYMENT, UNDERSTANDING, AND APPRECIATION OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S WORKS THROUGH PERFORMANCE, COMMENTARY, AND EDUCATION ACTIVITY.

SHAKESPEARE SOCIETYPUBLIC SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS EVENINGS ARE COMPRISED OF COMPELLING PERFORMANCES FROM ARTISTS OF ALL DISCIPLINES INFUSED WITH COMMENTARY BY LEADING THINKERS AND SCHOLARS, STRIVING TO EXPLORE THE FULL EXTENT OF SHAKESPEARE'S WORK. SOME EVENINGS OF SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS OFFER INSIGHT INTO PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTIONS PERFORMED AT THE PUBLIC THEATER. OTHER EVENINGS HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE WORLD'S MOST PROLIFIC ARTS ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE METROPOLITAN OPERA, THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, THE BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, SHAKESPEARE'S GLOBE, AND THE AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE. OVERALL, THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO INSPIRE CURIOSITY AND ILLUMINATE PRESSING QUESTIONS AND THEMES IN SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS. THE HUNTS POINT CHILDREN'S SHAKESPEARE ENSEMBLE IS A YEAR-LONG AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HUNTS POINT ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN, CULMINATING IN A FULL-SCALE SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION. UP TO THREE AFTERNOONS PER WEEK, A TEAM OF TEACHING ARTISTS GUIDE A GROUP OF 50 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HUNTS POINT AS THEY STUDY A SHAKESPEARE TEXT, LEARN THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE TECHNIQUES, HONE PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS, AND REHEARSE. IN THE FINAL TWO WEEKS OF THE PROGRAM, A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS AND DESIGNERS MOUNT THE SHOW--INCLUDING ORIGINAL SCORING, COSTUMING, AND TECHNICAL ELEMENTS--AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE STUDENTS PRESENT A FULL-SCALE SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND PEERS. SHAKESPEARE WORKS AFFORDS ARTISTS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE DEEPLY WITH THEIR PROJECTS THROUGH RESIDENCIES OR LABS. OVER THE COURSE OF EACH RESIDENCY IN COLLABORATION WITH SHAKESPEARE SCHOLARS, A SMALL CAST OF ACTORS, AND VOICE AND TEXT COACHES DIRECTORS WORK TO DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLAY IN A PURELY EXPERIMENTAL SETTING. THIS EXPLORATORY APPROACH KEEPS THE ARTIST AT THE CENTER OF THE PROCESS, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCOVERY AND CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT AS THE DIRECTOR PREPARES THE PROJECT FOR REHEARSAL AND FULL PRODUCTION. PUBLIC SHAKESPEARE TALKS ARE INTIMATE AND INTERACTIVE ONSTAGE CONVERSATIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND OPEN REHEARSALS WITH LEADING ARTISTS, ACADEMICS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHER EXPERTS. THESE 90-MINUTE EVENTS GIVE AUDIENCES UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO THE ARTISTIC AND INTELLECTUAL PROCESSES OF LEADING SHAKESPEARE PRACTITIONERS WORKING IN THE THEATER, THE HUMANITIES, AND EDUCATION. TEACHING TEACHERS OFFERS A SERIES OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS TO HELP THEM ENLIVEN, ILLUMINATE, AND INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS' CURIOSITY ABOUT WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS. THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED THREE TO FIVE TIMES PER YEAR AND TRAINS TEACHERS IN PROVEN PERFORMANCE-BASED STRATEGIES FOR ENGAGING THEIR STUDENTS WITH SHAKESPEARE'S LANGUAGE, CHARACTERS, AND THEMES.