The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

Madison, New Jersey

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is the state's only professional theater company dedicated to the presentation of Shakespeare's canon and other classic works for the cultural enrichment of the community, the state, and the wider region. The theatre's 2007 season marks its 45 th consecutive, sapphire anniversary season of operation. Owing to a loyal and steadily growing audience, the company has expanded its mainstage offerings from six to seven productions at the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison. Once each summer, the theatre also offers a production at its second venue, the Outdoor Stage , a 1,000 seat Greek amphitheatre located at The College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is as fiercely committed to the education and empowerment of young people as it is to producing world-class theater. In addition to producing exceptional theatrical productions, the company is New Jersey's preeminent provider of theater education programs. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte, the theatre strives to nurture emerging new talent for the American stage by providing an excellent and extensive training ground for students and emerging professionals. The company's many education programs serve adults, educators, families, and students in elementary, middle, and high schools, promoting literacy, community, and cultural knowledge.

Funding from the National Endowment for the Arts will enable The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey to continue its participation in the Shakespeare for a New Generation initiative for a fourth consecutive year. As a result, the theatre's educational touring company, Shakespeare LIVE!, will perform Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream in at least 10 new schools throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, where the cost of performances and workshops is prohibitive, from January through June 2008. In addition to the performances, the Shakespeare LIVE! company offers adjunct workshops that allow for hands-on interaction between the students and artists, as well as an enriched understanding of Shakespeare's language and the play. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's continuing participation in Shakespeare for a New Generation is indispensable as it endeavors to nurture these newly developed relationships while continuing to expand into more communities.

http://www.shakespearenj.org/