OSF Receives 'Shakespeare in American Communities' Grant

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) is one of 40 nonprofit, professional theatre companies chosen to participate in the 2015-16 Shakespeare in American Communities program. OSF will receive a $25,000 grant award from Arts Midwest, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, in support of efforts to expose underserved students and teachers to the works of William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare in American Communities has contributed to OSF's education efforts for 11 years. OSF will use this latest award to help students and teachers in underserved communities in Oregon and northern California access to 183 performances of four Shakespeare plays in 2015 and 2016-Much Ado about Nothing, Pericles, Antony and Cleopatra and Twelfth Night-as well as related classroom curricula and actor workshops, post-show discussions, tours, Prologues and teacher training classes.

"This SAC grant allows us to keep fees low and to offer scholarships and complimentary or discounted tickets to students and teachers who could not otherwise participate in these enriching experiences," said OSF Director of Education Joan Langley. "OSF is uniquely qualified to deliver theatre education to underserved students. OSF's Education Department of 10 theater educators delivers more than 1,800 events annually, supported by more than 100 other company members. Since 1971, OSF's flagship touring School Visit Program has reached more than 2 million students."

Participants from 47 high schools and three middle/elementary schools (approximately 900 students) will benefit from the grant through the following core initiatives: the Ashland Schools Project, which serves the local high school in OSF's hometown of Ashland; the Bowmer Project for Student Playgoers, serving southern Oregon and northern California schools within a day trip of OSF; and School Visit Partnerships, serving schools as far as 400 miles away. The SAC grant also supports professional development and teacher training programs, including Shakespeare in the Classroom and Inside Shakespeare, which both train teachers in a theatre-based approach to teaching Shakespeare. The OSF Teachers First! catalog provides information about the plays in each season and education opportunities available at OSF. Teachers are also supplied with study guides, pre-show Prologues and post-show discussions which all help to maximize their students' visit.

Shakespeare in American Communities introduces middle and high school students to the power of live theater and the masterpieces of William Shakespeare. To enhance the educational impact of Shakespeare in American Communities, Arts Midwest and the NEA have developed a comprehensive SAC website.?

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