Our Mission…to illuminate meaning, expand understanding and deepen appreciation of Shakespeare's texts—through performances and workshops—providing invigorating, hands-on experience for students, teachers and communities throughout Colorado.
Education Outreach 2003: Now in its 12th successful season, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's highly acclaimed touring program, Living Shakespeare, has enlivened over 47,250 students, teachers and community members across the state.
Offered from September to May, Living Shakespeare presentations bring professional actors from the Colorado Shakespeare Festival into Colorado's schools and communities with performances and workshops. Our performance-based approach brings the text alive, awakening students to the relevance and energy of Shakespeare's works.
In addition to Living Shakespeare CSF Education Outreach also provides year-round Shakespeare enrichment for adults, kids, students and teachers. Information about school-year and year-round programs may be found on the CSF website on the Education page: www.coloradoshakes.org.
Below are all of our programs, as listed on the Education page of The Colorado Shakespeare Festival website.
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Living Shakespeare Programs
Living Shakespeare Performances
Will Power
Grades K-5
Bring The Bard to your school! Our two-person elementary school performance program features Chuck Wilcox as "Will Shakespeare." Focused on "Fools for Love" and "Fool for Fun" this show is designed to regale students with the richness and revelry of Shakespeare’s words and works. A lively, 40-minute interactive presentation highlighting scenes from Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
($350)
Shakespeare's Humors
Grades 6-8
This performance presentation offers a selection of scenes appealing to that discerning audience member—the middle-schooler! A feature of this show is a send-up of Romeo & Juliet with audience participation, and includes a rapier and dagger fight between members of the Montagues and the Capulets.
($350)
Boy Meets Girl Meets Shakespeare
Grades 9-12 (and adults)
In this spirited 40-minute rendition of Shakespeare’s most famous couples, experience the gamut of love, hate and relationship. In addition to some of The Bard’s best-known love scenes, students and teachers alike will be delighted with sonnets, song and a smattering of Shakespeare’s inventive insults! Performed by two of Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s professional actors, this captivating show incorporates scenes from The Tempest, Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew.
($350)
Living Shakespeare Workshops
"Hands-On" Workshop
All Ages
Invite a professional actor from the Colorado Shakespeare Festival to visit your classroom or community group! In a 50-minute to hour-long workshop, group exercises and games expand comprehension and deepen the enjoyment of Shakespeare’s language and characters. With the focus of "bringing Shakespeare to life" workshops are custom-designed for any age group and any level of experience.
($150)
Rehearsal-to-Performance Workshop
All Ages
Putting on a play? Need assistance with scene-work? Let us help! Our actor/teachers match their expertise with your needs. Workshop focus can be as broad as "the acting basics" or as specific as "Shakespeare’s language: the emotive rhetoric." We custom-tailor experience-appropriate workshops to fit a 50-minute to hour-long format.
($150)
Please book your Living Shakespeare Program at least three weeks in advance. Multi-workshop and/or performance packages are available at a reduced rate. Some subsidies are available to qualified organizations—contact the CSF Education Outreach office for more information.
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Shakespeare Enrichment Programs
Teacher "Starter Packets" — NEW!
(Most packets available January 21st, 2003)
CSF Education Outreach office has collected and compiled materials for each of Shakespeare's most notable plays (okay, we had to stop at thirteen!) These materials provide a "jumping off point" for teaching Shakespeare in the classroom, and infuse a bit of humor into what might be a very intimidating subject.
Each starter packet includes a series of "Fast Fact Sheets," designed to pique curiosity and spark classroom conversation. These slightly irreverent compilations include information on: Queen Elizabeth, The Elizabethan Age, William Shakespeare, and The Elizabethan Stage.
In addition, each play comes with a "fast fact sheet" specific to the play, an in-depth plot synopses, a "whirlwind plot" (a fast-paced, whimsical treatment in modern English), as well as a selected bibliography of reference books and videos pertinent to The Bard and his works, plus a filmography of the "Top 13" plays.
Our list of Shakespeare's "Top 13" plays?: As You Like It, Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, Richard III, Romeo & Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, Twelfth Night.
(Cost for Mailing: TBD) Contact us to order.
Shakespeare: Page to Stage
Wednesdays, February 19th through March 19th — 7:00pm to 9:00m
This comprehensive, non-credit course focuses on the creative process of moving a classical play from the page to the stage. Examine the upcoming Colorado Shakespeare Festival productions—Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew and Cymbeline—and learn how the text is translated into that living, breathing entity we call a performance.
(5 sessions: $110)
Register with CU Continuing Education: 303.492.5148
Shakespeare Hot Links!
Check out CSF's Research webpage, dedicated to dramaturgical information on Shakespeare’s plays, available to researchers far beyond the borders of Colorado. In addition, Education Outreach offers an extensive list of Shakespeare and Shakespeare related links for students and teachers alike. Medieval & Renaissance History and Lifestyles; Media, Print and Pictorial Materials are just a few of the link topics. Just click on Teaching and Learning Resources.
(Please note: the Teaching and Learning Resources links page is in the process of being updated. Not all link topics are available at this time, but will be in the near future.)
Shakespeare Hot Line
Our free, all-ages informational service has developed over several years as a teacher/student/public resource and information center for research on Shakespeare’s works and his culture. We won't do your homework or your research for you, but if you are dedicated to uncovering Shakespeare's treasures, we'll give you a map and show you where to dig!
303.492.1537
Preview: An Educational Guide to Shakespeare
Preview is a free annual spring publication designed as a teaching guide. It contains a synopsis of each of the upcoming season’s plays, along with commentary on each play and its production concept.
If you would like to be added to our Education Outreach mailing list and receive a free copy of Preview, please contact us.
Shakespeare Festival Review
Age 60 and beyond (other ages welcome on a space-available basis)
Mondays, April 7th through 28th — 9:30am to 11:30am
Offered through City of Boulder Senior Services, this series furnishes a pre-season look at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's productions. Each presentation is conducted by a CSF dramaturg focusing on one of the upcoming shows. Sessions cover plot synopsis, historical perspective on the play and details of the director's production concept.
The plays of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival 2003 season are: Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew and Cymbeline.
Advance registration is recommended.
(4 sessions: $20 - $25)
Register with the East Senior Center: 303.441.4150
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Free Yearly Event!
8th Annual Will Power Festival
Thursday, May 29th — 9:00ish am to 2:00ish pm
Featuring an appearance of The Bard himself, along with his patron, Queen Bess! Young, budding actors from area schools showcase scenes and condensed versions of their favorite plays in this delightful one-day spring festival of performance! Backstage tours of CSF, a parade, a stage fight demonstration, an audience with William Shakespeare and hands-on activities round out this day of celebration.
Festival Participants:
Half-hour performance slots are available for elementary school student performers, grades 3 to 5. Festival grounds open at 8:45am. At 9:15am there is the Gathering of the Assembly and the activities commence! 12:00 noon begins the Opening Ceremonies after which follow the performances. It's a whirlwind day of fun and excitement designed to enrich and expand each participant's knowledge of Shakespeare.
Festival Audience:
Members of the community and students of any age are invited to attend the Will Power Festival performances. Join us at the Norlin Quadrangle on the CU-Boulder campus for the Opening Ceremonies at noon. Bring your lunch, a blanket and a friend, and enjoy a sweet selection of "shortened Shakespeare."
To observe or participate, please contact us!
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Summer Programs
For Youth
(Camp scholarships are available qualified participants.)
Camp Shakespeare (Note our newly expanded age range and schedule!)
Monday - Friday, July 14th through August 1st
AM session: 9:30 to 12:30 or PM session: 1:00 to 4:00
Held on-site at CSF’s facilities on the Boulder campus of the University of Colorado, this lively and challenging 3-week summer program focuses on the skills needed for acting Shakespeare. Participants also take workshops on costume, vocal production, set design, stage combat, and movement.
Enrollment forms are available February 12, 2003.
Enrollment deadline is June 1, 2003.
To be put on our pre-registration list, contact the CSF Education Outreach office.
($400; $350 if registration and payment are received by May 1, 2003)
This is a highly popular program. Due to last year's demand,
we have doubled our enrollment.
Advance registration is strongly recommended.
Much Ado About Shakespeare Camp for Kids
Monday - Friday, July 28th through August 8th — 9:00am to 1:00pm
For ages 8 to 10
Having expanded to two weeks last summer, this adventurous program is now in its 3rd year. Students will learn about the Elizabethan Renaissance, the life and times of William Shakespeare and get a behind-the-scenes look at how CSF mounts its plays. Hands-on activities complement theatre games and exercises, culminating in a presentation on stage AND a workbook to take home!
Enrollment forms are available February 12, 2003.
Enrollment deadline is June 1, 2003.
To be put on our pre-registration list, contact the CSF Education Outreach office.
($380; $330 if registration and payment are received by May 1, 2003)
This program has very limited enrollment opportunities.
Advance registration is strongly recommended.
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After the Season Begins...
CSF Day Tours
July 15th through August 14th — Tuesday through Friday
Make arrangements for your school or community group for a private, hour-long tour of the Festival, with a CSF company member as your guide. CSF Day Tours are booked by appointment 2 weeks in advance. Tours require a 10 person minimum and student groups must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.
Please contact the CSF Box Office: 303.492.1554
Backstage Tours
July 15th through August 14th — 6pm prior to each show
Before enjoying the evening's performance, get a firsthand look from CSF company members of the behind-the-scenes elements of the festival.
Please contact the CSF Box Office: 303.492.1554
Directors Series — FREE!
Engage in discussion with each director before the show.
The Taming of the Shrew — July 2nd
Much Ado About Nothing — July 6th
Hamlet — July 12th
Cymbeline — July 19th
Talkback Series — FREE!
Meet informally with actors & dramaturgs after the performance.
Cymbeline — July 26th
Much Ado About Nothing — August 2nd
Hamlet — August 8th
The Taming of the Shrew — August 15th
Shakespeare Gardens Tour — FREE!
July 15th through August 16th
6:45pm — Tuesdays & Saturdays only
Now in its twelfth year, this relaxed, guided tour walks you through a display of live flowers, herbs and vegetables mentioned in the plays. The gardens are located in the courtyard on the west side of the Hellems building. Visit the gardens on your own, or meet us on a Tuesday or Saturday evening to learn about the "herbal lore" in Shakespeare's plays!
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Education Outreach Sponsors
Supporting the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's commitment to enrichment programs are many generous organizations and individuals who believe that Shakespeare's language and stories have something to teach us even today. We would like to thank the following for their support of CSF Education Outreach Programs:
Blue Mountain Arts
The Anthony and Dorothy Riddle Endowment
The Barbara Bridges Family Foundation
Beyond the Horizon, Inc.
The Boulder Arts Commission…an agency of the Boulder City Council
The College of Arts and Sciences Arts Fund
The Community Foundation...serving Boulder County
The CU Boulder Outreach Committee…supported by the Office of the Chancellor and the Office of Continuing Education
The Denver Foundation
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Education Outreach Contact Information
CSF Education Outreach Office: 303.492.1537
Todd Coulter, Programs Manager
todd.coulter@colorado.edu
Melinda J. Scott, CSF Education Director
scottmj@colorado.edu