Dear Friends,
I once taught a Shakespeare Appreciation course at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. Each week, I met with eight inmates where we would read aloud from Shakespeare, discuss the work, and make connections between stories from 450 years ago and the world in which they lived.
It was fascinating.
I remember one inmate in particular who was assigned the "Seven Ages of Man" speech from As You Like It. You know the one—it begins: "All the world's a stage..." This man, incarcerated for life at Holman, worked through the lines chronicling a man growing older: first a baby, then schoolboy, lover, soldier, middle-aged man, elder, and finally one at the end of his time. Hearing that speech spoken by someone who would spend at least three, if not four, of those "ages" behind bars gave it a profound new perspective.
That's why I love working with Shakespeare. Each actor, director, and designer brings their own interpretation to the text, making it different every time it's performed. That's how we keep the work relevant—even after 450 years.
This year, we're thrilled to present the joyous comedy As You Like It, set in the counter-culture world of the early 1970s. As a special treat, our friends from the Northeast Ohio acoustic / Americana music group “Rock, Salt, and Nails” will appear as the onstage band, helping us tell the story through songs from the era. Join us this summer and discover how fresh this old story can feel.
We're also excited to announce that our summer camp, Shakespeare Adventures!, returns for students in grades 5–8. This year, we're adding a new Musical Theatre camp for middle school and junior high students.
Kevin P. Kern
Artistic Director; Shakespeare At The Castle
If you have a business, would you consider sponsoring an evening? Your name will be on display for patrons from Youngstown to Cleveland to see, and you’ll receive credit for bringing over 1000 people to the heart of Alliance – the Glamorgan Castle. Contact us at (330) 823-3875 to discuss your sponsorship.
