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National Endowment for the Arts Announces Participating Theater Companies for 2006-2007 Shakespeare for a New Generation Program
Thirty-six theater companies bring Shakespeare to students nationwide May 2, 2006 Washington, DC – The National Endowment for "What is most remarkable about our Shakespeare for a New Generation program is that it not only benefits students across the nation by bringing them to live theater, often for the first time, but that the program also helps their teachers by making their English assignments literally come to life—from the page to the stage," said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. "For the actors, it gives them the priceless experience of multiple performances and for the companies, it gives them the opportunity to become known by a whole new generation." The theater companies participating in this year's program come from 28 states. Each company will present performances and accompanying educational activities targeting students from at least 10 schools in their communities, states, or regions during the 2006-07 school year. Projects by participating theater companies include:
Since its 2003 inauguration, Shakespeare in American Communities has reached more than 1,200 communities in all 50 states. More than 500,000 people nationwide have benefited from the program including students from more than 2,500 schools. The following 36 theater companies have been selected to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation for 2006-2007: A Noise Within (Glendale, CA) To enhance the educational impact of the program, the Arts Endowment will continue to provide multimedia educational resource kits, free of charge, to thousands of classrooms. Materials include a teacher's guide with lesson plans, recitation contest guide, Fun with Shakespeare brochure with word games and trivia, timeline poster, CD and two educational videos. These kits can be ordered from www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org. The National Endowment for the Arts: This year, the National Endowment for the Arts marks its 40th anniversary of leadership in the arts. The NEA is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Arts Endowment is the largest national funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information about Shakespeare in American Communities or the Arts Endowment, please visit www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org. Arts Midwest: Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest's history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit www.artsmidwest.org. For media inquiries, contact Victoria Hutter at 202-682-5692. For program inquiries, contact Leslie Liberato at 202-682-5732. Return to News Index National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency |