San Francisco Shakespeare Festival

San Francisco, California

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival is dedicated to making the works of Shakespeare accessible to everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, geography, economic status, or level of education. The festival accomplishes its mission through the production of four core programs: Shakespeare on Tour, an in-school touring company; Midnight Shakespeare, an after-school program for at-risk youth; Bay Area Shakespeare Camps, a summer time arts education opportunity; and the flagship program, Free Shakespeare in the Park, a ticketless summer performance series in the public parks. Every year, the festival partners with schools, community centers, civic groups, and municipalities to make Shakespeare's genius accessible and available to young people and community members through in-school, after-school, and summertime programs. San Francisco Shakespeare Festival holds a unique place in the Bay Area's theater ecology and fulfills a particular need in its community. Because it removes the barriers of price and location, the festival is often people's first point of contact with Shakespeare and with theater. As such, the quality of its programming represents the plays in their finest light, demonstrates the plays' relevance to today's society, and inspires audiences to seek out additional theatrical experiences.

As part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival will produce Hamlet as part of Shakespeare on Tour. This program consistently serves low-income schools throughout the state by providing financial assistance to those with very minimal arts budgets. The production, directed by Education Director Rebecca J. Ennals, will draw entirely from Shakespeare's text, and will be set in the medieval court of Denmark during the actual historical period in which the play is based. Every school will receive three weeks of lesson plans, indexed to California educational standards and designed by Ms. Ennals, to accompany this specific show. The play will be edited down to 55 minutes to accommodate the traditional class period, and will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the cast.

Educational Residencies for Juvenile Offenders

Visit them at: www.sfshakes.org