Spotlight on a New Generation: 2006-2007 Season

Indiana Repertory Theatre

Twelfth Night

Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT), named Theatre Laureate for the state of Indiana, is one of a distinguished group of theater companies to have participated in Shakespeare for a New Generation since its inception. As a participant of Phase Four (2006-2007) of Shakespeare for a New Generation, IRT produced Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. This production was presented on their Upperstage Theatre as part of their Discovery Series from January 24 to March 3, 2007. The Discovery Series consists of fully produced, 90-minute adaptations of text-based literature classics and newer works chosen for their direct link to Indiana school curricula. The Twelfth Night student matinees served more than 6,000 students from 110 Indiana public, parochial, and home schools. These student matinees were augmented by post-show discussions with cast members and extensive study guides for teachers. In addition, 15 schools were involved in the interactive artists-in-the-classroom program “Exploring Shakespeare.”

"I absolutely loved the play. It was my first play that I have ever seen, and it opened my world to theater." - Student Feedback

IRT conceived and executed the Twelfth Night specifically for a new generation. The length was specifically trimmed to focus on bringing the action to the foreground and making the text clear and understandable without losing Shakespeare’s poetry. Featuring modern music and pirate themes, the production was designed to appeal to young audiences while remaining true to Shakespeare.

The schools that benefited from IRT's performances, all of which have limited arts programming and access to high-quality theater, are from the following Indiana communities:

Anderson, Avon, Bloomington, Brazil, Brownsburg, Carmel, Centerville, Clayton, Clinton, Columbus, Converse, Elwood, Fishers, Fort Wayne, Frankton, Goshen, Greenfield, Greensburg, Greenwood, Hagerstown, Indianapolis, Knightstown, Kokomo, Lafayette, Lapel, Lizton, Logansport, Marion, Marshall, Martinsville, Middletown, Monrovia, Moorsville, Muncie, Nashville, New Carlisle, New Castle, Paoli, Plainfield, Richmond, Selma, Shelbyville, Sheridan, Shoals, Spencer, Terre Haute, Thorntown, Trafalgar, Union City, Vincennes, Waldron, West Lafayette, Winchester, Yorktown, and Zionsville.

"Twelfth Night was an outstanding play. With being able to read it in class to watching it in the theater, and then rewriting a few scenes out at school, I understood the play very well." - Student Feedback

IRT's education programs are developed by their artistic and education staff with input from a Teacher Advisory Committee composed of teachers throughout Central Indiana. Teachers received the Twelfth Night study guide, which provided discussion questions, Jacobean historical and social context information, Shakespeare theater background, and insight into the design development process undertaken by the production creative team. The “Exploring Shakespeare” program inspired students to learn through an interactive program with professionally trained artists who visited the classroom in person or through videoconferencing. The students that were involved in this program instinctively connected with the artists who visited their classrooms. Thanks to IRT, Shakespeare came alive in a personal way.

PHOTO GALLERY
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Photos courtesy of Indiana Repertory Theatre