Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival

Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival is a renowned theatre company that has been producing high-quality Shakespearean plays for over five decades, with notable collaborations with Cleveland Play House, Guthrie Theater, and American Shakespeare Center. The festival has hosted numerous acclaimed actors, including Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, and Helen Mirren, who have performed in various productions, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, and Macbeth. The company has also worked with esteemed directors like Trevor Nunn, John Barton, and Michael Kahn, who have brought their unique interpretations to the Shakespearean stage. With its rich history and commitment to artistic excellence, the festival has become a staple of the Cleveland arts scene, alongside other prominent institutions like Cleveland Museum of Art and Cleveland Orchestra.

● History

The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival was founded in 1962 by Arthur Lithgow, a renowned Shakespearean actor and director, who had previously worked with Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. The festival's early years were marked by productions of Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Merchant of Venice, which were performed at various venues, including Cleveland Public Theatre and Playhouse Square. The company's growth and success can be attributed to the support of local organizations, such as Cleveland Foundation and Ohio Arts Council, as well as the contributions of notable artists, including Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Laurence Olivier. The festival has also been influenced by other prominent Shakespearean companies, such as Stratford Festival and Shakespeare's Globe, which have shared their expertise and resources.

● Productions

The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival has produced a wide range of Shakespearean plays, including Othello, King Lear, and The Tempest, which have been directed by acclaimed directors like Peter Brook, Terry Hands, and Adrian Noble. The company has also experimented with innovative productions, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream set in a jazz club, and Hamlet performed in a rock musical style, which have been inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Samuel Beckett. The festival has collaborated with other prominent companies, such as Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Chicago Shakespeare Theater, to produce unique and engaging productions, like The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Comedy of Errors. These collaborations have been facilitated by organizations like National Endowment for the Arts and Theatre Communications Group.

● Venue

The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival is currently housed at the Ohio Theatre, a historic theatre in Cleveland's Playhouse Square, which has also hosted productions by Cleveland Play House and Guthrie Theater. The Ohio Theatre has undergone significant renovations, including the installation of a thrust stage and state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, which have been designed by experts from Yale University and Carnegie Mellon University. The venue has also been used for other events, such as concerts by Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and lectures by Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University. The festival's venue has been supported by local organizations, including Cleveland Foundation and Ohio Arts Council, as well as national institutions like National Endowment for the Arts.

● Education_and_Outreach

The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival offers a range of educational programs, including workshops, classes, and lectures, which are designed to promote Shakespearean literacy and appreciation among students and adults, in partnership with Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Cuyahoga Community College. The company also provides outreach programs, such as touring productions and community engagement initiatives, which aim to bring Shakespeare to underserved communities, with the support of organizations like United Way and Cleveland Foundation. The festival has collaborated with other educational institutions, including Kent State University and University of Akron, to develop innovative programs, like Shakespeare in the Schools and Shakespeare and Drama Therapy. These programs have been influenced by the work of Drama Therapy pioneers like Jacob Moreno and Vijayya Ramaswamy.

● Notable_Alumni

The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival has been a launching pad for the careers of many notable actors, including Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, and Diane Keaton, who have gone on to work with prominent companies like Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. Other notable alumni include Richard Thomas, Christine Baranski, and Brian Bedford, who have performed in a range of productions, from Shakespearean classics to Broadway musicals, like The Phantom of the Opera and Chicago. The festival has also been a training ground for directors, like Trevor Nunn and John Barton, who have gone on to work with companies like Royal Shakespeare Company and Guthrie Theater.

● Artistic_Direction

The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival has been led by several artistic directors, including Arthur Lithgow, Vincent Dowling, and Charles Fee, who have brought their unique vision and expertise to the company, with the support of organizations like National Endowment for the Arts and Theatre Communications Group. The current artistic director, Charles Fee, has been instrumental in shaping the festival's programming and artistic direction, with a focus on innovative productions and community engagement, in collaboration with companies like Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The festival's artistic direction has been influenced by the work of Shakespearean scholars like Harold Bloom and Marjorie Garber, as well as the expertise of drama critics like Ben Brantley and Charles Isherwood.

Category:Theatre festivals in the United States