Every year, we select a play by William Shakespeare and perform it in a community setting. Understandably, considering his thirty-seven known plays, we have a wide variety of genres from which to decide. Indeed, with so many options, it is a challenging choice. As many of you already know, we have done the well-known plays. From among those favorite dramas, we have performed Hamlet, Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, plus a few more. For this reason, we ask you to check out our Past Productions. Then, see how we’ve adapted them to the unique ImprovEd Shakespeare style.
Hence, this year we want to do something different. We want to perform a lesser-known piece. And in particular, ImprovEd Shakespeare has opted for an underrated play. Therefore, with this in mind, we ask you to help us decide.
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THREE CHOICES – WHICH ONE DO YOU PICK?
1. TITUS ANDRONICUS
There’s an improvisation game we play, and it’s called, “Everybody Dies.” And in it, the teacher lists various forms of death scenarios found in Shakespeare plays. After learning those scenes, the Kids then play act death by any of those methods. In the tragedy, Titus Andronicus provides some of the most exciting deaths. But by far tongues lopped off, baked into a pie, and buried up to your neck afford a means to explore the end of a character. However, it’s so extreme; it becomes campy.
With Halloween in sight, we think this would make an excellent fall production. But then we ask ourselves, do we stage it as a haunted house or a dinner party?
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2. TIMON OF ATHENS
Money. For some reason, we seem to think that the key to success and power involves an ample sum of greenbacks. We like to blame it on capitalism. However, they thought the same back in Shakespeare’s time. Because of this, having money, or not, changes everything.
Hence, in this story about the fortunes of an Athenian named Timon, having money and not having it is the main plot in the play. Mostly, it’s about what money does to a person, but also for someone. At the same time, however, it’s also about generosity, respect for others, including what happens when humanity disappoints you. In essence; It’s about today.
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3. KING JOHN
As timely today as it was back then, King John is a lesson to be learned from history. The drama reflects the cynicism of our time, as well as that era. And it’s a lovely play to present, especially as we head into an election year of our own. It’s quite uncanny in the depiction of the relationship between politicians and the public. In this drama, people with power concern themselves more with the benefits of their position, rather than helping the electorate. Plus, there’s a big battle, or two.
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Admittedly, these aren’t the first plays I’d use to introduce Kids to Shakespeare. Ordinarily, I’m not even sure I’d say the full productions are appropriate for younger audiences. Hence, for this reason, and others, may explain why they are rarely performed, especially by Shakespeare in the Park productions. However, we produce ImprovEd Shakespeare adaptations. And, we always manage to weed out those adult bits. With the exclusion of the mature parts, our performances are still suitable for all ages.
So, which do you pick? Vote below:
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WHAT ABOUT SPRING?
Typically, our fall production leans towards tragedies. Thus, the choices above reflect that genre. However, after all this research, resulted in dredged up lesser-known works, I have determined our spring production too.
CYMBELINE
If you are too world-weary for the above offerings, perchance a fairy tale romance is more to your taste this spring. There’s no poisoned apple, but there is a wicked stepmother. And poison.
It also has secret loves, banishment, cross-dressing and fake deaths. It is one of Shakespeare’s final plays and is somewhat of a mix of several: Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, and Merchant of Venice. Seriously, there are echoes of several of Shakespeare’s top hits in this play.
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SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL
Working with Shakespeare in education frightens many. Because Shakespeare experts, including professionals, surround us. Escaping them is difficult. This can be intimidating. Thus, feelings of dread usually accompany the act of presenting, but moreover be introduced to, the Bard.
For this reason, ImprovEd Shakespeare is here to help. Founder and Director, Andee Kinzy, offers the layman’s approach to Shakespeare.
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SHAKESPEARE FOR TEACHERS AND DIRECTORS
If you’re an English teacher, a theatre director, or a well-trained Shakespeare advocate, here you will find inspiration, as well as techniques, for making our favorite bard fun for Kids. Accordingly, we present old, new and improved ideas for introducing Shakespeare to youth for the non-Shakespeare-academic. Among them, we include theatre games, improvisation, tips, tricks, plus activities for using Shakespeare in education.
SHAKESPEARE FOR KIDS
Since 2011, ImprovEd Shakespeare has been exploring the Bard with youth through theatrical performance. Our signature scripts are a mix of modern narration plus original Shakespeare verse. With a focus on the story, including an abbreviated script length, our productions entertain all ages. Moreover, our catalog goes beyond the oft-used Midsummer Night’s Dream, or Romeo and Juliet. We’ve discovered that young people find much to their delight among many of Shakespeare’s works. Consider subscribing to our YouTube channel for family-friendly Shakespeare videos.
PERFORMANCES
Each fall and spring, ImprovEd Shakespeare develops a new production for live performance. In honor of the traditional Renaissance traveling troupe, during a period of a few weeks, we present Kid-friendly plays at various venues around town. Our Players, between 3rd-11th grade, gear themselves with playful, as well as engaging interpretations of works by the Bard of Avon. Suitable for all ages, each performance runs for about an hour.
Furthermore, these shows are always FREE. However, we gladly accept Donations! Additionally, visit ImprovEd Shakespeare, Shakespeare for Kids by Kids on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. And don’t forget to click on our BLOG for the stories behind these videos.
