Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

The Shakespeare Theatre's production history from 2012.

2012 Season - The 50th Anniversary
Henry IV, Part One, by William Shakespeare
The Liar by David Ives, adapted from the comedy by Pierre Corneille
Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare
Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist adapted by Neil Bartlett
Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion, music by Mitch Leigh
Trelawny of the Wells by Arthur Wing Pinero
ON THE OUTDOOR STAGE: Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare

2013 Season
The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge
Fallen Angels by Noël Coward
Tovarich by Jacques Deval, adapted by Robert E. Sherwood
The world premiere production of A Most Dangerous Woman by Cathy Tempelsman
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Pericles by William Shakespeare
ON THE OUTDOOR STAGE: As You Like It by William Shakespeare

2014 Season
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
The Devil's Disciple by George Bernard Shaw
The Alchemist by Ben Jonson, adapted by Bonnie J. Monte
Wittenberg by David Davalos
Henry VIII by William Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
ON THE OUTDOOR STAGE: The Learned Ladies by Molière, translated into English verse by Richard Wilbur

2015 Season

The Royal Family by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber

The Guardsman by Ferenc Molnar, new adaptation by Bonnie J. Monte, translation by Gabor Lukin

Misalliance by George Bernard Shaw

Equivocation by Bill Cain

The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, adapted by Wendy Kesselman

The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare

ON THE OUTDOOR STAGE: Love's Labour's Lost by William Shakespeare

In late 1990, the need to secure a viable and lasting home for the company was recognized. The 88-year-old Bowne Theatre had become a serious impediment to artistic and organizational success. The Shakespeare Theatre management and Board set out to create a partnership with Drew University.

After a successful $7.5 million capital campaign, in June 1998, the Theatre raised the curtain on its 36th season in the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre at Drew University, on the site of the old Bowne Gymnasium.

The Theatre includes three levels (approximately 22,000 square feet).

F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre at Drew University

Features of the Theatre include:

• Exhibition space for artwork in the James R. Gillen Petite Promenade
• The Sir John Gielgud Green Room for actors
• A stage lift, two catwalks, two side box booms, and a central lighting grid
• A rehearsal space dubbed "The Studio"
• Full accessibility with basement-to-balcony elevators
• Wheelchair seating in both the orchestra and balcony
• A backstage lift from dressing rooms to the stage, for actors with physical disabilities
• An infrared listening system for the hearing impaired

The Theatre's Outdoor Stage is located on the campus of the St Elizabeth University in nearby Florham Park. The grass-and-stone amphitheatre, inspired by the Theatre of Dionysos in Athens and of the only theatres of its kind in the United States hosting a professional theatre company, debuted as a new performance space for the company in 2002. The venue accommodates approximately 500 audience members.

Early in 2012, the Theatre acquired and renovated an old valve factory in an effort to centralize all of the institution's behind-the-scenes operations and to allow for an expansion of its myriad education programs.[7] Currently, the facility houses the administrative offices, a green room, rehearsal room, costume shop and storage, prop storage and a scene shop.

The educational touring wing of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Shakespeare LIVE! is supported by Shakespeare in American Communities: Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national program of The National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest.[8] The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is one of 42 professional theater companies selected to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation. The program is headed by Brian B. Crowe and tours throughout the metropolitan region.

The Apprentice Company is designed for aspiring young actors in the early stages of training with little or no professional experience to learn how to master the art. While a variety of classes are offered, the primary focus of the training is on Shakespeare and other classic works.

The Intern Company is designed for college students and early-career theatre professionals interested in specific fields other than acting. Interns work in one department for the duration of the training program under the direction of The Shakespeare Theatre's professional staff. Some prior experience in a field of interest is necessary for most internships.

The Next Stage Ensemble fosters the work of early career actors and provides training in ensemble-based performance techniques. Participants work with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey resident directors and guest directors on fully developed productions of abridged classics. They tour to over 30 locations throughout the region - including libraries, retirement homes, and community centers. The plays are rehearsed and performed in repertory.

Introduced in the spring of 2013, The Shakespeare Theatre Academy offers youth and adult classes in a wide range of disciplines connected with classic theatre as well as weekend intensives on the art of auditioning.

Focusing primarily on students in grades 5-8, the Pages to Players residencies take place during regular English/Language Arts class periods and often involve one or more entire grade levels at the school. Students work with Shakespeare Theatre teaching artists who lead the residency activities. Because these residencies are based in the English classroom, the primary focus is on using performance and the theatrical tradition as tools for achieving greater proficiency and pleasure in the study of the English language generally, and Shakespeare in particular. Students are also introduced to many of the fundamental exercises utilized by theatre artists, such as ensemble-building techniques, vocal projection, diction, focus and memory systems, and others which can have a lifelong impact. Other education programs include: the Lend Us Your Ears play reading series, the Symposium post-performance lecture series, the Know The Show pre-performance discussion series, ShakeFest, Shakesperience, LIVE! at The Kirby, and the Student Matinee performances.