Lenox — Hundreds of teenagers from 10 different high schools will take to the stage at Shakespeare & Company Thursday, Nov. 17, through Sunday, Nov. 20, for the 28th Fall Festival of Shakespeare’s final performances. An annual tradition, the Fall Festival is the culmination of the nationally recognized program that places Shakespeare & Company education artists in 10 local and regional schools where they lead students in a nine-week exploration of Shakespeare’s plays.
Led by Director of Education Kevin G. Coleman and Associate Director of Education Jenna Ware, the Fall Festival is a celebration rather than a competition. Students are encouraged to delve into Shakespeare’s works, unpack the language, and savor the humor, intensity, and transcendent beauty of Shakespeare’s plays. Daily rehearsals focus on students’ personal responses to the text and connection to the language. Students also have the opportunity to develop skills in stage combat, performance aesthetics, dance, technical theatre, stage management, marketing, and publicity.
The 10 schools participating in the 2016 Fall Festival of Shakespeare are Berkshire Waldorf High School, Chatham High School, Lee High School, Lenox Memorial High School, Monument Mountain Regional High School, Mount Everett Regional High School, Mount Greylock Regional High School, Springfield Central High School, Taconic High School, and Taconic Hills High School.
Individual school performance schedule
Berkshire Waldorf High School, “Henry IV, Part 1:” Thursday, Nov. 10, and Friday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 12, at 3 p.m.
Chatham High School, “Julius Caesar:” Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m.
Lee High School, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream:” Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m.
Lenox Memorial High School, “Much Ado About Nothing:” Wednesday, Nov. 9, and Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.
Monument Mountain Regional High School, “As You Like It:” Thursday, Nov. 10, and Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.
Mount Everett Regional High School, “The Tempest:” Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m.
Springfield Central High School, “The Comedy of Errors:” Wednesday, Nov. 9, and Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m.
Taconic High School, “The Comedy of Errors:” Thursday, Nov. 10, and Friday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m.
Taconic Hills High School, “Romeo and Juliet:” Thursday, Nov 10, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Fall Festival of Shakespeare performance schedule
Thursday, Nov. 17:
6:15 p.m. – Lee High School, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
8:30 p.m. – Mt. Everett Regional High School, “The Tempest”
Friday, Nov. 18:
6:15 p.m. – Taconic High School, “The Comedy of Errors”
8:30 p.m. – Mount Greylock Regional High School, “Hamlet”
Saturday, Nov. 19:
1:30 p.m. – Springfield Central High School, “The Comedy of Errors”
3:30 p.m. – Berkshire Waldorf High School, “Henry IV, pt.1”
6:15 p.m. – Monument Mountain Regional High School, “As You Like It”
8:30 p.m. – Lenox Memorial High School, “Much Ado About Nothing”
Sunday, Nov. 20:
1:30 p.m. – Chatham High School, “Julius Caesar”
3:30 p.m. – Taconic Hills High School, “Romeo and Juliet”
Tickets per play are $16 for the general public and $10 for students. All-Festival passes are available. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call Shakespeare & Company box office at (413) 637-3353.
