Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

From its beginnings in 1973 as an amateur company, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks has become nationally recognized for its extensive touring to remote and underserved areas. The company offers productions of Shakespeare and other classics at a reasonable cost to communities in Montana, northern Wyoming, eastern Idaho, and western North Dakota, with an emphasis on underserved rural areas that would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend live theater. All performances are free and available to everyone. The tour runs for 10 weeks and serve 30,000 people every summer. The company's education outreach program, Montana Shakespeare in the Schools, has presented 673 performances to more than 180,000 students since 1993. Designed to enhance the educational experience for high-school students by taking Shakespeare out of the textbook and to life onstage, the program includes a 75-minute version of the play with a cast of professional actors, a rotating repertory of workshops, and post-performance discussions.

As part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will tour a production of As You Like It as part of the Montana Shakespeare in the Schools program. The majority of the schools will be located in rural, underserved communities, including five Native American reservations across Montana and northern Wyoming. This theatrical outreach will include study guides and up to four workshops written by Bobbi McKean, a drama education specialist at the University of Arizona and former company actor, and will directly relate to the themes of the play. These workshops will include stage combat, improvisation, verse, and student relevance which will emphasis identity issues in the play and the student's life today. The company's artistic director or community relations director will conduct up to five site visits to the schools on the tour to evaluate the program and see the audiences' response.