Spotlight on a New Generation: 2007-2008 Season

American Players Theatre, Spring Green, WI

Much Ado About Nothing & The Merchant of Venice

American Players Theatre's (APT) theater experience begins for students as they journey through the woods, with their lunch in hand, and encounter Shakespeare's text in the woods. This unique experience is shared annually by thousands of students who may have spent hours traveling to APT to enjoy this amazing classical theater company just off the Wisconsin River. Not only do students experience theater in the woods, but APT brings their professional production, with full sets and costumes, to surrounding venues to perform for students in Wisconsin and neighboring states Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota.

This is the fourth year that American Players Theatre has been selected to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation. Through this support, APT has expanded their programming to more schools, invested in research and training of their teaching artists, and built a permanent infrastructure for their education program. This infrastructure has included a Teacher Advisory Panel, which deepens their relationship with educators from across Wisconsin. These educators provide guidance and expertise to the APT education department.

"We want to pump poetry into their veins." - David Frank, Producing Artistic Director

Student Matinees & Fall Tour

For this cycle, American Players Theatre is performing Much Ado About Nothing and The Merchant of Venice on their mainstage theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Students experience a full-length production and enjoy their bag lunches during intermission. Prior to the performnace, an actor usually does his preparation on stage and explains what the actors are doing backstage to get ready—this gets the students excited to see the play before it even begins. The play occurs in the aisles, as well as the stage, making the students feel a part of the whole experience. After the performances, The Merchant of Venice will then be remounted and will tour to communities in Wisconsin.

Actor Workshops & Post-Show Discussions

American Players Theatre believes that sharing the techniques that bring dramatic poetry to life with students in the classroom can help lead them to an appreciation of the works of Shakespeare, a greater regard for all poetry, and an insight into the potent ways in which language can work. They believe that education is theater, and they go beyond the production to conduct actor workshops. These workshops make the language of Shakespeare accessible and complement the production that the students experience. Workshops include The Merchant Forum; The Malaprop Machine; Shakespeare Speaks for Himself; Story Point Theatre; Metaphor Theatre; Actor Talk; and Why Did They Do It Like That? When requested, they will also provide post-show discussions where students can quiz the actors.

Many schools across Wisconsin and from neighboring states will have the joy of seeing a professional team of actors deliver the works of Shakespeare like they may have never seen it before. American Players Theatre is a theater company that has invested their funds and resources in ensuring that the classic works of Shakespeare will presented at the highest artistic level.

" I love Shakespeare and theatre and hope (and plan) to pass that love and passion on to future generations." - Past Student

Impact on the Next Generation

A former student writes:

"I have actually gone to American Players Theatre with my family since I was 8 and wanted to share my wonderful experience with your initiative. I was 8 when I first saw Romeo and Juliet. When I was 18, I got to see it again, after 10 years of seeing at least one American Players Theatre production a summer. I am currently a sophomore theater education major at the University of Evansville and attribute part of my love and passion for theater to American Players Theatre. Their plays are always done well and are very easy to comprehend (again - as an 8 year old, I understood what was going on). Even if I was unable to understand each word, I always understood the general idea, because they make sure their actors feel their roles and their words. They don't just say the words, they believe them, live them. I think theater can change the world and can change many young people's lives. Who better to help set that change in motion than Mr. Shakespeare? I just had the need to share my theater experience that I had with American Players Theatre."

PHOTO GALLERY
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Photos courtesy of American Players Theatre. Photos by Zane Williams.