Shakespeare Dallas

The mission of Shakespeare Dallas is to create exemplary cultural programs for North Texas that are affordable and accessible to the community, inspired by the quality and standards found in the works of William Shakespeare. Robert “Bob” Glenn started Shakespeare Dallas in 1971 as a free summer Shakespeare festival. Today, the company celebrates 41 years as one of North Texas’ most treasured cultural institutions and the area’s producer of an education program focused on teaching Shakespeare. Shakespeare Dallas encompasses three cultural programs that reach North Texas citizens of all ages and backgrounds. These programs offer audiences the opportunities to dig deep into Shakespeare’s works, understand iambic pentameter, or simply be inspired by the Bard’s beautiful verse. Shakespeare on the Go! is Shakespeare Dallas’ educational program and is an arts education program that brings Shakespeare’s works directly to the classroom through age-specific tours, complementary masterclasses, and teacher trainings. Shakespeare Unplugged encompasses several outreach and educational efforts including stage notes, actor and community trainings, and reading series. Through year-round programming, Shakespeare Dallas aims to bring a sense of artistic purpose and cultural richness to North Texas communities.

As part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, Shakespeare Dallas presented evening performances of Macbeth directed by Stefan Novinski, as part of their Shakespeare on the Go! educational program. In addition, the company provided pre-performance talkbacks, workshops, study guides for teachers, and bus subsidy for schools. A total of 12 performances and 21 educational activities benefitted more than 1,600 middle- and high-school students from 35 schools located in Texas.

A comment from Director Stefan Novinski:
This was my first production with Shakespeare Dallas. I was immediately impressed by their commitment to both the artistic process and audience experience. I gave the play a modern setting inspired by the violence of Mexico and the Arab Spring. The set was a massive raked façade that the actors could run down, topped by a political billboard of King Duncan which had been partially destroyed by the rebellion which starts the play.