Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

Bozeman, Montana

Every summer since 1973, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks has made quality, live theatrical productions of Shakespeare and other classics accessible at a reasonable cost to communities in Montana and its vicinity, with an emphasis on underserved rural areas. The company's educational program, Shakespeare in the Schools, strives to complement the education of young people by providing a live theatrical experience that will enhance their understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare's works. Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is the primary educational outreach program of Montana State University's College of Arts and Architecture and is the only fully professional theater program in the state that produces Shakespearean plays, the only Shakespeare company in the country to reach as extensively into rural areas, and the only company in the state that offers its performances free to the public—ensuring that all are able to attend, regardless of income level or community size. For the majority of these communities, especially those in underserved rural areas, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is their only form of live, professional theatre. The company presents a nine-week tour of 68 outdoor performances to approximately 30,000 people every summer and a 10-week tour of 48 performances to schools every fall.

In the fall of 2007, the Shakespeare in the Schools program featured an abridged, 80-minute professional production of Shakespeare's Othello—a complex tragedy of political intrigue, love, trust, and revenge—and serving schools throughout Montana, northern Wyoming, and eastern Idaho. The majority of these schools were in rural, underserved communities, including Native American reservations. Sets and costumes, inspired by the paintings of Gustav Klimt, were more elaborate than in past tours. Immediately following each performance, the actors returned to the stage and talk to the audience in a very casual, open forum, inviting questions from students regarding the play, the characters, and the tour. The majority of students participated in four different Shakespearean workshops and actors also spent time assisting teachers and their students with a particular play they are rehearsing.  The workshops included “What's it Got to do With Me,” which focused on how students relate to the play's themes of revenge, race, and trust in their own lives; “Stage Combat,” which emphasized technique, safety, and combat in performance; “Improvisation,” which further explored the plays themes in an interactive format; and “It's Only English,” which helped students understand Shakespeare's verse and prose. The workshops were redesigned by an educational consultant in order to make them directly relate to the themes of trust and deception, along with training the actors how to teach them effectively to students.

Visit them at: http://www.montana.edu/shakespeare/

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