Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (CSC) is a resident ensemble theater company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages. CSC believes that the classics resonate with universal themes that explore and reveal the timeless aspects of human nature, and it is the company's intent to ensure that these works are preserved and performed for as wide a range of audiences as possible. Each season, CSC produces seven professional Main Stage productions; the CSC Summer Fling, a family-oriented production that runs during July and August; and the CSC Studio Series, an opportunity for audiences to rediscover least-known works by major playwrights and experience new adaptations of class plays. All productions run for four-to-six weeks and feature members of the CSC Resident Acting Company and Young Company. The company is committed to the resident acting ensemble model and believes that a permanent company of actors creates a sense of cohesion and unity that is reflected onstage and in high-quality performances. Younger ensemble members grow and mature under the mentorship of veteran professionals, who work in a challenging yet supportive environment that allows for experimentation and bold performance choices. In addition to performances, CSC is committed to educating young people about Shakespeare and the classics through its education programs.

During the 2007–2008 season, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will present two-hour performances of Shakespeare's historical drama Julius Caesar and the light-hearted comedy The Taming of the Shrew. CSC's educational programs are performed and made possible by its Young Company, a group of six-to-eight career professional actors. Over the past three seasons, the company has reached students in deeply under-funded, rural, and inner city schools. This season, CSC projects that it will reach 30 schools. Through the company's experience with bringing Shakespeare to students of all backgrounds, it has found that they respond positively to its activities and that underserved students are particularly affected. Support from Shakespeare for a New Generation will enable CSC to further expand into rural areas, particularly to schools in rural Kentucky and Appalachia. Current plans include offering tours to 15 schools either at a discount or completely free of charge.

http://www.cincyshakes.com/