The Project

Beginning as a mere conversation about reading comprehension and access to great theatrical performances, The Shakespeare Project took shape and grew into a community discussion that stretched back to the past and reached into the future. We reminisced about the origins of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which flourished in Anniston from 1972-1985, and we dreamed of giving that tradition a new life in the same place, the same performance hall, where it was born.

The Shakespeare Project was established in 2017 to promote an understanding of performing arts and literature by presenting free professional productions of Shakespeare’s classic plays.

The Mission continues to be to promote an understanding of performing arts and of Shakespeare in the high school literature curriculum by presenting free programming and professional productions of the playwright’s works.

Thanks to community support and grant funding, this project has now grown to include specialized teacher training, camps and resource guides for our educators and students, workshops tailored to the needs of high school classes, apprenticeships for high schoolers and college students interested in technical theatre and performing arts, and FREE performances with professional actors.

Black and White photo of a stage production

Modern photo of stage production

Students in car posing for photo

Objectives:

Create Community

  • Hosting performances that are free of charge to the entire community regardless of age, gender, race, and economic standing
  • Hiring professional actors and technicians from across the country to work alongside our students and board them with local families to establish a sense of national community and connection

Educate

  • Gearing Shakespeare’s classic works to younger audiences by compressing the plays to 90 minutes and selecting a setting and concept that enhances comprehension
  • Allowing the play to be selected by the area teachers, based on their curriculum

Promote the Arts

  • Breaking boundaries between “elevated” text and the public, making professional performances accessible to those who may have never seen a play before
  • Partnering with the local university, which serve as the fiscal sponsor, to provide a rehearsal and build space, and offer its students experiential learning opportunities within a professional Shakespeare production