Tennessee Shakespeare Company to Host Elizabethan Feast

Tennessee Shakespeare Company is swinging open its doors for a new, indoor/outdoor Renaissance party that is immersive, breezy and costumed on Saturday, April 25 at 6 p.m. at TSC's theatre located at 7950 Trinity Road in Memphis.

Formerly known as the Gala, the new Elizabethan Feast invites Mid-Southerners to explore the grounds of TSC's new home. Guests can dine in the rehearsal hall, learn period dances and play Elizabethan games in the Education Hall and outdoors, feast on the cornucopia of fresh meats and treats throughout the lobby, sip from multiple open bars, reserve tables in the Green Room or Costume Shop, and get fitted for gowns and doublets before taking the stage in their role of choice.

The benefit event, which is sponsored by TSC's Board of Directors, will offer a unique and exciting opportunity for guests to immerse themselves into the world of Shakespeare. Company actors will pop up in Shakespeare scenes, sword fights, dances and speeches throughout the evening. Guests will also enjoy a unique live auction.

"The new feast will give our guests a chance to peek behind the theatre curtain, if you will," said Dan McCleary, TSC Founder and Producing Artistic Director. "Instead of evening gowns and tuxedos, guests are encouraged to come dressed as Elizabethans. Sponsors can even schedule a design meeting with our resident costume designer to wear a TSC character from our inventory. There will be no extended seating, but rather lots of feasting and merriment. Celebrating during Shakespeare's birthweek gives our company actors a chance to break out our favorite scenes, but we also invite guests to dance, play scenes and speak their favorite lines on the stage."

The feast makes possible the expansion of TSC's vaunted Education and Outreach Programs, which during this season broke all participation records. In the 2019-20 season, more than 1,000 education events have generated nearly 35,000 points of contact with students, seniors, military veterans and detention youths. This includes the innovative Romeo and Juliet Project, now in its ninth year in high schools providing four-session residencies that include performances, playshops and a non-violence curriculum.

"As the Mid-South's professional theatre company and classical education and outreach organization, our mission is service-based," McCleary said. "We are expanding these programs annually because they are proven to work. We see quantifiable evidence of students' grades rising, compassion increasing, child violence decreasing, self-harm being prevented, and participants increasing their desires to make a healthy and positive contribution to our community. When we say Shakespeare is for everyone, we mean it."

The evening includes a raffle giveaway for a "Broadway Weekend Trip for Two," sponsored by Pat and Thane Smith. For a suggested donation of $20, which is available now, the raffle winner will be awarded roundtrip airfare for two to New York City, which includes a weekend 3-day, 2-night stay at a first-class theatre district hotel; dinner at an intimate theatre district restaurant; and two reserved seat standard admission tickets to a Broadway play or musical of the winner's choice. The winner need not be present at the feast to win and must be at least 18 years of age.

Tickets to the fest include an array of Elizabethan appetizers, a dinner and dessert buffet, and open bars. Individual tickets are available for $125 through February 29 and will increase to $150 after that date. Eight-ticket sponsorship packages with preferred seating are available.

PLATINUM ROYALS' 8-TICKET TITLE PACKAGE ($5,000)

8 of the best reserved seats in the theatre for the performance

VIP experience for you and your guests with early arrival, priority access throughout the evening, and reserved dining with private open bar

Private appointment with TSC's Costume Shop Supervisor and access to TSC's costume wardrobe to find attire for the feast (for two guests)

Recognition on the Feast poster

All Gold and Silver Sponsor benefits (below)

GOLD DUCHESS/DUKES' 8-TICKET PACKAGE ($2,500)

8 of the "Second Best" seats in the theatre for the performance, after Royals' sponsors

Recognition in the printed program

One exclusive commemorative event gift per package

All Silver Sponsor benefits (below)

SILVER DAMES/KNIGHTS' 8-TICKET PACKAGE ($1,500)

8 seats in the theatre for the performance

Elizabethan appetizers, dinner, and dessert buffet

Multiple Open Bars

Partial tax-deductible gift to TSC

Sponsorships may be purchased by calling Feast Coordinator Stephanie Shine at 901-759-0620. Single Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.tnshakespeare.org or calling TSC's box office at 901-759-0604.

About Tennessee Shakespeare Company:

Tennessee Shakespeare Company is a professional, not-for-profit theatre and education organization in Memphis dedicated to live, diverse performances of William Shakespeare's plays, as well as works of social significance by classical, Southern, and modern writers/composers; and to providing innovative educational and training programming.

Founded in 2008 by Producing Artistic Director Dan McCleary, Tennessee Shakespeare Company is Memphis' first and only professional, classical theatre. In 2017, TSC purchased its first performing arts facility, which is being renovated into the state's only permanent home for professional, year-round Shakespeare performance, education, and training. The company is in the midst of its $6 million Brave New World capital campaign.

TSC has engaged its community with 45 site-specific plays and events for over 50,000 patrons. Its ground- breaking Education program has reached 120 schools across nine states, totaling over 250,000 student interactions. The Education Program has achieved a high regional and national profile, partners annually with all local school systems, and this year is a recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts/Arts Midwest's Shakespeare in American Communities grants: one for The Romeo and Juliet Project in underserved local schools, and the other for expanded residencies with local incarcerated youth (TSC is one of just seven U.S. theatres to be awarded).

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