Hampton Roads Shakespeare Festival

Our flagship program is the Hampton Roads Shakespeare Festival, a performance festival celebrating Shakespeare's works by providing professional performances free to the public (donations accepted). Begun in 1993, the festival has grown every year, drawing large and enthusiastic crowds to the outdoor mainstage performance and to smaller indoor productions such as "The Compleat Wks of Wllm Shkspre (Abridged)." The outdoor event has moved to progressively larger venues over the years, and now we are proud to have obtained a new home at Seatack Park, near the Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Training Academy (visible from Interstate 264, last exit before the Oceanfront). Families continue to find our Festival the perfect way to introduce their children to the classics in a fun, friendly atmosphere. Visit the Festival Calendar!

Shakespeare Goes Elementary

Going into its ninth year, this program introduces children to Shakespeare by having them learn, and then perform for other kids, a half-hour adaptation of one of his plays. Several of our children have stayed with the program since its inception and the results are rewarding. For example, almost every single child that participated with us last year has returned, along with a fresh crop of students. More important, "Shakespeare Goes Elementary" continues to build our future audiences by introducing children to the Bard in a unique, exciting way. We are pleased to add that this program satisfies over 45 of Virginia's Standards of Learning stipulations. In 2004, with extra support from Geico, the Shakespeare Goes Elementary program expanded to include 3 new elementary schools.

Muse of Fire

This traveling educational program was a direct result of the 1999 "First Folio Workshop". Scenes from Shakespeare have been put together in a special presentation to introduce public school children to the works of Shakespeare. This program, along with "Shakespeare Goes Elementary," has been documented as addressing at least 45 Virginia Standard of Learning stipulations.

Theatre for Kids/Teens!l

This program offers classes in acting at several levels: musical theater, theater movement and TV acting. Since its inception in 1998, "Theater for Kids/Teens" has put on six to eight shows per year, such as "Nearly Nutcracker" (with 40 dancers directed by Susan Long, a professional ballet dancer from The Cleveland-San Jose Ballet) and "Alice in Wonderland". Summer of 1999 saw a musical theater camp come into existence with 20 children, age six to sixteen, performing in three musicals. A highly qualified, paid staff of five adults supervised. The Director of this program, Grace Atkinson, has been a Summer Shakes Board member for several years. Having shared space, costumes, talent and properties in the past with Ms. Atkinson, Summer Shakes, Inc.'s Board of Directors voted in 2001 to bring this program officially into our company, believing that it will benefit all involved. In addition, this theater program is currently being expanded into neighboring cities such as Chesapeake. Find out more about this program by visiting their website, www.theaterforkidsteens.org.

First Folio Workshop

First Folio Workshop: Since 1997, Summer Shakes has offered this special course for actors to delve further into the work of Shakespeare by teaching them to recognize particular acting clues that Shakespeare literally wrote into the body of his works. New as well as core actors from the Festival are benefiting from this course, which combines lecture with polishing of the craft. Workshops are held based on demand and interest; for information or booking, email artisticdirector@summershakes.com.