2015 Imaginary Forces Ensemble of SA@S Stages TWELFTH NIGHT, HENRY V This Month

Young members of the 2015 Imaginary Forces Ensemble of Shakespeare Academy @ Stratford (SA@S) will perform their adaptations of Twelfth Night and Henry the Fifth from tonight, August 1 to August 9 on the grounds of the American Shakespeare Festival Theater in Stratford. The performances mark the culmination of the theater training program's second season. Admission is free.

The fourteen college student performers have traveled from around the U.S., Europe, and Asia to undertake rigorous and immersive training in Shakespeare and contemporary ensemble theater-making for six weeks this summer.

The performers are Emma Blacklay-Piech (Leamington Spa, UK), Sasha Brooks (Bushey, UK), Ashley Burton (Winston-Salem, NC), Victoria Chen (Singapore), Ysabel Jasa (Las Piñas, Philippines), Joshua Lacourse (North Andover, MA), Franki Levenson-Campanale (Chicago, IL), Ronald Prokeš, (Velké Popoviche, Czech Republic), Luke Robbins (Statesville, NC), Will Shattuc (Oakland, CA), Pete Sheldon (Big Stone Gap, VA), Thomas Shuman (Amherst, MA), Brian Watko (Auburn, ME), and Erin Williams (Stratford, CT).

Performances will take place in rotating repertory each night at 8:00 PM, beginning Sunday, August 1. The students will also present both shows as part of a festival day on Saturday, August 8, featuring Henry the Fifth at 3:00 PM and Twelfth Night at 8:00 PM.

Additionally, graduates of last year's inaugural program, who have formed the 2015 Alumni Company, will perform their 4-person Romeo & Juliet as part of the festival day, at 6:00PM on August 8, as the conclusion of their tour around the northeast. The tour has included stops throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York City.

The Alumni Company members are Mariana Bell of Nahant, MA, Nate Currier of San Rafael, CA, Matthew DeCostanza of Milford, CT, and Kelly Letourneau of Holden, MA. All four performed in last year's SA@S productions of Hamlet and Cymbeline on the theater grounds.

Henry the Fifth is directed by Colleen Sullivan, Artistic & Program Director of SA@S. Twelfth Night is directed by Amanda McRaven, Assistant Artistic Director. Both are theater directors and teachers, based respectively in New York City and Los Angeles. Sullivan has led the program since its inaugural season in 2014.

A project of the Stratford-based charity The Mighty Quinn Foundation, Shakespeare Academy @ Stratford is headquartered on the grounds of the Shakespeare theater property in Stratford.

The intensive curriculum includes daily classes and rehearsals as well as masterclasses with visiting professionals and academics from around the country.

The opening of program last summer revived young actor training for the first time in decades on the historic theater grounds, which were formerly home to the American Shakespeare Academy. In a new take on traditional Shakespeare training, SA@S students pursue an interdisciplinary, collaborative, ensemble-based course of study.

Dedicated to enhancing the experiences of young people in education, theater, and the arts, the Mighty Quinn Foundation honors the passion for learning and love of theater of Quinn Rooney, a Stratford resident who passed away from a rare form of brain cancer in 2012 at age 19. It was Quinn's wish to see Shakespeare study and performance revived in his hometown.

According to the Mighty Quinn Foundation, "The example of Quinn's great joy, utmost generosity, indefatigable spirit, and love for the fellowship of sharing theater with friends is at the heart of Shakespeare Academy @ Stratford's founding values."

In Quinn's memory, the Mighty Quinn Foundation provides scholarships and theater study programs for college students. Earlier this year, the Foundation awarded several scholarships for students to attend SA@S. The awards are known as the Quinn Rooney Shakespeare Scholarships.

Twelfth Night will play August 1, 3, 6, and 8 at 8:00PM. Henry V will play August 2, 5, 7, and 9 at 8:00 PM, and August 8 at 3:00 PM. Romeo & Juliet will play August 8 at 6:00 PM. All performances take place at 1850 Elm St, Stratford. To reserve tickets, visit shakespeareacademystratford.org/performances.

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