The Next Festival of Emerging Artists also has its eyes on the future. An annual event founded by composer-conductor Peter Askim in 2013, it brings together young like-minded string players and cutting-edge composers for a week of intensive preparation followed by a pair of performances.
Students have the opportunity to develop skills in stage combat, performance aesthetics, dance, technical theater, costuming, stage management, marketing and publicity during the Fall Festival experience.
Students are encouraged to delve into Shakespeare’s works, unpack the language and savor the humor, intensity and transcendent beauty of Shakespeare’s plays.
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.
“I’ve found that Shakespeare affects teenagers deeply and immediately. It’s totally intoxicating and addictive; once you’ve started working on Shakespeare plays, you never want to stop."
-- Caroline Sprague, an actor and student at Monument Mountain Regional High School
"Common Classes at the Fall Festival of Shakespeare are a beautiful example of what education might one day become -- nurturing creativity and developing cooperation."
-- Kevin Coleman, Director of Education at Shakespeare and Company
