Shakespeare Festival Deposit

Shakespeare Festival Deposit

Grades 5-12

"All the world's a stage..."

Step into the world of Shakespeare and discover why his stories have captivated audiences for more than 400 years. ACT's Shakespeare Festival offers young performers the opportunity to explore some of the most beloved works in the theatrical canon while developing the skills, confidence, and creativity that great actors have relied on for generations. Through an engaging and supportive rehearsal process, students will bring Shakespeare's language to life, uncover timeless stories of love, ambition, friendship, comedy, and adventure, and discover that these centuries-old plays remain surprisingly relevant today. Whether students are new to Shakespeare or experienced performers looking to deepen their craft, the festival provides a unique opportunity to challenge themselves artistically while participating in a collaborative and rewarding theatrical experience.

Production Information

• Family Information Meeting: January 3, 2027
• Auditions: February 7, 2027
• Rehearsals Begin: March 8, 2027
• Rehearsal Schedule: Mondays and Wednesday evenings (4:00-6:00 or 6:00-8:00 depending on cast) 
• Performances: May 14–15, 2027

Tuition

Tuition is $650. To reserve a place in the production, a $100 non-refundable registration fee is due at the time of enrollment. The remaining balance is due prior to auditions.

More Than Shakespeare

At ACT, Shakespeare is not about memorizing difficult words or studying literature.It is about storytelling.

Participants will learn how to interpret text, make bold character choices, communicate clearly, collaborate with scene partners, and connect with audiences. Along the way, students develop skills that benefit performers of all kinds; including confidence, public speaking, critical thinking, creativity, and leadership. The techniques explored throughout the festival can be applied not only to Shakespeare, but to virtually every style of acting and performance.

Artistic Expectations

The Shakespeare Festival is designed for students who are excited to challenge themselves and grow as artists at all levels. Participants will engage in character development, scene work, ensemble-building activities, movement, voice work, and text analysis as they bring Shakespeare's stories to life. Students should come prepared to experiment, take creative risks, and support one another throughout the process. While Shakespeare's language may feel unfamiliar at first, performers will discover that the emotions, relationships, and conflicts at the heart of these stories are deeply human and remarkably relatable.

Content & Themes

Specific content will vary depending on the selected Shakespeare works, but participants can expect to explore themes such as love, friendship, ambition, identity, loyalty, power, courage, and personal responsibility. The festival encourages students to examine these themes through both a historical and contemporary lens, helping them understand why Shakespeare's stories continue to resonate across generations and cultures.

A Festival Experience

ACT's Shakespeare Festival offers students the opportunity to experience the excitement of producing a Shakespeare play from rehearsal room to performance. Following auditions, participants will be cast in one of several approximately 30-minute adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. Each cast will rehearse and perform its own production, allowing students to dive deeply into a specific story, character, and ensemble while experiencing the full process of bringing a Shakespearean work to life.

This unique festival format allows ACT to introduce students to Shakespeare in a way that is engaging, accessible, and artistically rewarding. Whether performing in a comedy, tragedy, romance, or adventure, participants will develop acting, storytelling, and collaboration skills while discovering that Shakespeare's plays are filled with humor, excitement, and surprisingly relatable characters. The festival culminates in a celebration of multiple Shakespeare productions performed together as part of one exciting theatrical event.

Why Shakespeare?

At ACT, we believe theater should challenge young people to think deeply, communicate boldly, and connect with stories that expand their understanding of themselves and others. For centuries, Shakespeare's plays have invited audiences to grapple with timeless questions about human nature, relationships, leadership, and community. By engaging with these stories, students strengthen not only their skills as performers, but also their ability to empathize, collaborate, and think critically about the world around them. The goal of the Shakespeare Festival is not simply to perform Shakespeare; it is to help young artists discover that great stories belong to everyone, and that they have the power to bring those stories to life. Because even after 400 years, these plays still have something important to say.