A Week in Las Vegas

Four Shakespeare At Play Actors, James Schendel, Steve Peterson, Archie Lee Simpson and Jeffrey Paul Whitman, returned for a week of performing and teaching in Las Vegas. During the week of May 10th - May 16th, James, Jeff, Steven and Archie performed in Las Vegas schools.

James performed his one-man show "Visting Shakespeare" to ten different schools during the week, while Steve, Archie and Jeffrey visited 10 other schools to perform "Off the Page and onto the Stage", a presentation of Aesop's Fables where the actors literally come "Off the Page and Onto the Stage because they hop right out of a big book!

On Sat, May 16, all four actor/teachers presented a "Professional Development" program for Las Vegas Middle and High School teachers. The program is designed to assist teachers in teaching Shakespeare to their classes. The focus was on the play "Taming of the Shrew," which SAP will perform in Las Vegas in the fall. The teachers had a great time and learned a lot about how to present Shakespeare to teenagers. All in all it was a very productive week!!

Below are some pictures from our little Las Vegas touring show.

Midsummer Night's Dream Pictures

On Sunday, August 3rd, We had a wonderful time presenting our wild and wooly version of
"Midsummer Night's Dream" and there was much rejoicing.
Everyone laughed and had a wonderful Sunday afternoon Shakespearean experience.
Here are some photos from the show!! (click on any one to see a larger version)

VISITING SHAKESPEARE!

This program introduces elementary age students to Shakespeare.
A classically trained actor at teacher creates an intimate historical setting of Shakespeare at his writing desk surrounded by the children and the tools of his trade. 

Shakespeare himself uses puppets of Elizabeth I, James II, the skull of Yorick, Crab the Dog and many other props, plus changes of costume to play the most famous of Shakespeare's characters.  All performances are done in a classroom setting and use many of the young students as a part of his creative process.  Following the visit, students write letters to Shakespeare, and "Shakespeare" writes them back!

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

This is the second year of our "Artists in Residence" program, which allows middle school children the opportunity to perform a live Shakespearean play. Artists from Shakespeare At Play visit the school for 6 weeks, once or twice a week. The play is cast, rehearsed and designed by the students. This culminates in a live performance for family and friends. This program has been implemented at Jordan Middle School and Luther Burbank Middle School in Burbank, CA. and also Cabrillo Elementary School in San Pedro, CA. This picture is a cast photo after the wonderful performance at Cabrillo after 10 weeks of hard work and dedication. Good going kids!!

After six weeks of hard work, the kids get to see what goes into the production of the play, and it allows them to participate as they see fit. Some wish to act, others are musicians, and still others do technical theatre work. What is very special about this program is that it is for all students, not just those who are interested in drama. So that kids who never even considered acting before have a chance to perform. This is an experience they will never forget.

ARTS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

Shakespeare At Play continues on with our third year in the Arts Community Partnership Network. This is a wonderful four-part program designed to introduce Shakespeare to 4th and 5th Graders. First, a representative of SAP meets with school staff to discuss which play to focus on. Second, SAP performers return to the school to do a Professional Development Workshop for teachers, which gives them some insight into how to teach Shakespeare to their students. Third, SAP performers return once again to the school in full Shakespearean Costumes and present a fun assembly which prepares them for to see a Shakespearean performance at the Colony Theatre. Fourth, the kids are bussed to the Colony Theatre to see our production of either A Midsummer Night's Dream or Romeo and Juliet. Before the show, the children are greeted by William Shakespeare and The Guild of Saint George, which is an Elizabethan Re-enactment company. After the show, the kids are given a copy of the play to keep. Teachers inform us that the kids are silent on the bus trip home, because they are all engrossed in reading the play!

Donate Your Car to Shakespeare At Play!

Do you have an extra car that is not worth repairing
or that you need to get rid of?

Now you can donate your car to Shakespeare At Play! You get a tax write-off for the full Kelly Blue Book value of the car and Shakespeare At Play receives the proceeds when the car is sold at auction! Talk about a win-win situation!

Email us or call (818)566-1925 for details.

Support Shakespeare at Play With

Your Ralphs Club Card

Your Ralphs Club Card supports out theatre!

ENROLL NOW!
IT TAKES 2 MINUTES OR LESS AND MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE
FOR US!

Great news!! Ralphs Grocery Store has accepted Shakespeare at Play as one of its Community Contribution Partners! This means that the Ralphs Company will contribute to our organization directly based on the amount you spend at Ralphs using your Club Card! It's super easy to get enrolled.

Here's how you do it:

1. Go to www.ralphs.com  

2. Click on the Community Contributions link (on the left)

3. Click on the Participant Enrollment button

4. Register Shakespeare at Play (84047) as your Community Contribution Partner

Then just use your Ralphs Club Card as you already do. That's it!
It costs you nothing, but a quick moment in time.
Thank you for contributing to the future of Shakespeare at Play.  
Thanks to Ralphs for making this program possible!