Blackfriars Playhouse
Encyclopedia
The American Shakespeare Center (ASC) is a regional theatre company located in Staunton, Virginia
in the United States
. The theatre company focuses on plays from the Shakespeare
canon, and includes works contemporary to his time period or related in other ways, such as The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
As of 2008, the Center maintains a rotating repertory of plays 51 weeks a year, a resident Actors Equity troupe, a touring troupe, a year-round laboratory for students and scholars, a one-of-a-kind MLitt/MFA
Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance graduate program in partnership with Mary Baldwin College
for actors, directors, teachers, and dramaturgs, a summer camp for high-school students, a summer program for middle school students, and the Blackfriars Playhouse.
In 1988 Shenandoah Shakespeare Express (SSE) toured the State of Virginia with Richard III. The next year it took The Taming of the Shrew on the road to Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York. The company received its first grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy to run a seminar for teachers in 1991. In the following year, the troupe performed at the Folger Shakespeare Library
in Washington, D.C.
and toured overseas in London and Edinburgh. The National Endowment for the Arts awarded the company general operating support the same year.
In the years following, SSE traveled to Canada, France, and Germany. The company continues to receive grants from national and Virginia state agencies, and by 1995 had created a second troupe due to increased demand. SSE's first Young Company Theatre Camp (YCTC) was held in 1997 and has been an annual summer camp since.
Shenandoah Shakespeare Express moved to Staunton, Virginia
in 1999, changing its name to Shenandoah Shakespeare (S2). The move was prompted by plans to begin a three-phase building project, including the Blackfriars Playhouse, a Center for Education and Research, and a Globe Theatre. Within a year and after a successful capital campaign, construction began on the Blackfriars Playhouse, the world's only recreation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre. The playhouse opened in September 2001. In the same year, S2 hosted the first Blackfriars Conference for Shakespearean scholars and partnered with Mary Baldwin College
(MBC) to establish the world's only masters program for the teaching, acting, and directing (and now dramaturgy) of Shakespearean and renaissance literature. MBC offers a Master of Letters (M.Litt.) in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance which leads to the terminal, professional degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.).
Since 2001, the American Shakespeare Center has continued to receive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts
, the National Endowment for the Humanities
, and their Virginia equivalents. The ASC's resident troupe performs a repertory season and a Renaissance season (which has no directors or designers, just actors). A traveling troupe performs Shakespeare throughout the country in schools and colleges. The ASC continues to host the biennial Blackfriars Conference and regular teacher seminars.
In 2007, the ASC Board of Trustees approved a five-year strategic plan including plans for the construction of the Globe II, a recreation of Shakespeare's second Globe Theatre. Furthermore, the State of Virginia acknowledges and supports ASC's mission to create a national Shakespeare campus in Staunton and awards a seed grant to support planning for the Globe.
.
Construction began on the indoor Playhouse in early 2000, as part of a three-building construction plan that would also include a re-creation of the 1614 Globe Theatre
and a Center for Research and Education. In 2001, construction on the Playhouse was completed and Shenandoah Shakespeare began to perform there.
Blackfriars Playhouse currently maintains a schedule of six performances per week. Its offerings include not only plays by William Shakespeare
, but other shows contemporary to his time period such as Cyrano de Bergerac
or related in other ways, such as The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
.
The audience is seated on all four sides of the stage. The majority of the seating is in front of the stage and in a second floor balcony; however, there is seating on either side of the stage, including stools on the stage proper, and seating is available in the balcony above and behind the stage. Because of this arrangement, the actors are always prepared to play in thrust or in the round.
Casting practices include doubling in which most actors perform several roles. The ASC does cast women, unlike Renaissance English playhouses, but is committed to exploring the role of gender in Renaissance plays.
Music is an integral part of ASC productions. All performances are prefaced by music and most include musical interludes or intervals.
Advisory Board
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The theatre company focuses on plays from the Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
canon, and includes works contemporary to his time period or related in other ways, such as The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is a parody of the plays written by William Shakespeare with all of them being performed during the show by only three actors. Typically, the actors use their real names and play themselves rather than certain characters...
As of 2008, the Center maintains a rotating repertory of plays 51 weeks a year, a resident Actors Equity troupe, a touring troupe, a year-round laboratory for students and scholars, a one-of-a-kind MLitt/MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance graduate program in partnership with Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College is a private, independent, and comprehensive four-year liberal arts women's college in Staunton, Virginia. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine,...
for actors, directors, teachers, and dramaturgs, a summer camp for high-school students, a summer program for middle school students, and the Blackfriars Playhouse.
History
The company was founded in 1988 by Shakespeare scholar, Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen, and his former student Jim Warren. It was originally a professional traveling troupe named Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, renamed Shenandoah Shakespeare in 1999 when it settled in Staunton, and renamed American Shakespeare Center in 2005 to better reflect its mission.In 1988 Shenandoah Shakespeare Express (SSE) toured the State of Virginia with Richard III. The next year it took The Taming of the Shrew on the road to Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York. The company received its first grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy to run a seminar for teachers in 1991. In the following year, the troupe performed at the Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Shakespeare Library
The Folger Shakespeare Library is an independent research library on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It has the world's largest collection of the printed works of William Shakespeare, and is a primary repository for rare materials from the early modern period...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and toured overseas in London and Edinburgh. The National Endowment for the Arts awarded the company general operating support the same year.
In the years following, SSE traveled to Canada, France, and Germany. The company continues to receive grants from national and Virginia state agencies, and by 1995 had created a second troupe due to increased demand. SSE's first Young Company Theatre Camp (YCTC) was held in 1997 and has been an annual summer camp since.
Shenandoah Shakespeare Express moved to Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
in 1999, changing its name to Shenandoah Shakespeare (S2). The move was prompted by plans to begin a three-phase building project, including the Blackfriars Playhouse, a Center for Education and Research, and a Globe Theatre. Within a year and after a successful capital campaign, construction began on the Blackfriars Playhouse, the world's only recreation of Shakespeare's indoor theatre. The playhouse opened in September 2001. In the same year, S2 hosted the first Blackfriars Conference for Shakespearean scholars and partnered with Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College
Mary Baldwin College is a private, independent, and comprehensive four-year liberal arts women's college in Staunton, Virginia. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine,...
(MBC) to establish the world's only masters program for the teaching, acting, and directing (and now dramaturgy) of Shakespearean and renaissance literature. MBC offers a Master of Letters (M.Litt.) in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance which leads to the terminal, professional degree of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.).
Since 2001, the American Shakespeare Center has continued to receive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
, and their Virginia equivalents. The ASC's resident troupe performs a repertory season and a Renaissance season (which has no directors or designers, just actors). A traveling troupe performs Shakespeare throughout the country in schools and colleges. The ASC continues to host the biennial Blackfriars Conference and regular teacher seminars.
In 2007, the ASC Board of Trustees approved a five-year strategic plan including plans for the construction of the Globe II, a recreation of Shakespeare's second Globe Theatre. Furthermore, the State of Virginia acknowledges and supports ASC's mission to create a national Shakespeare campus in Staunton and awards a seed grant to support planning for the Globe.
Blackfriars Playhouse
Blackfriars Playhouse is the world's only re-creation of the Blackfriars TheatreBlackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre was the name of a theatre in the Blackfriars district of the City of London during the Renaissance. The theatre began as a venue for child actors associated with the Queen's chapel choirs; in this function, the theatre hosted some of the most innovative drama of Elizabeth and...
.
Construction began on the indoor Playhouse in early 2000, as part of a three-building construction plan that would also include a re-creation of the 1614 Globe Theatre
Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613...
and a Center for Research and Education. In 2001, construction on the Playhouse was completed and Shenandoah Shakespeare began to perform there.
Blackfriars Playhouse currently maintains a schedule of six performances per week. Its offerings include not only plays by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
, but other shows contemporary to his time period such as Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano de Bergerac (play)
Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play bears very scant resemblance to his life....
or related in other ways, such as The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is a parody of the plays written by William Shakespeare with all of them being performed during the show by only three actors. Typically, the actors use their real names and play themselves rather than certain characters...
.
Original staging practices
ASC uses "original staging practices" in its productions of Shakespeare's work. Most notably this includes universal lighting. Unlike most theatres, the lights never go out in the Blackfriars Playhouse. The audience can see the actors; the actors can see the audience; and the audience members can see and hear each other.The audience is seated on all four sides of the stage. The majority of the seating is in front of the stage and in a second floor balcony; however, there is seating on either side of the stage, including stools on the stage proper, and seating is available in the balcony above and behind the stage. Because of this arrangement, the actors are always prepared to play in thrust or in the round.
Casting practices include doubling in which most actors perform several roles. The ASC does cast women, unlike Renaissance English playhouses, but is committed to exploring the role of gender in Renaissance plays.
Music is an integral part of ASC productions. All performances are prefaced by music and most include musical interludes or intervals.
Professional training program
The American Shakespeare Center houses a Professional Training Program every summer. The program employs text work, collaborative physical work, and training tools to help participants move from understanding to playable execution. Informed by the needs of the text, training addresses Shakespeare performance from actor-choices in breath, voice, and movement to physical skills such as dance and combat.Notable people
Board of Trustees- Thomas Berger, Shakespeare scholar
- Hon. Rudolph Bumgardner, III, Court of Appeals of VirginiaCourt of Appeals of VirginiaThe Court of Appeals of Virginia, established January 1, 1985, is an eleven-judge body that hears appeals from decisions of Virginia's circuit courts and the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. The Court sits in panels of at least three judges, and sometimes hears cases en banc...
- Ralph Alan Cohen, ASC Founding Executive Director and Director of Mission, Shakespeare scholar
- Donna DenizeDonna DenizéDonna Denizé is an American poet and award-winning teacher at St. Albans School, located in Washington, D.C. Ms. Denize is currently Chairwoman of the English Department...
, American poet - Pamela Fox, President of Mary Baldwin CollegeMary Baldwin CollegeMary Baldwin College is a private, independent, and comprehensive four-year liberal arts women's college in Staunton, Virginia. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine,...
- Paul Menzer, Director of the M.Litt./M.F.A. Program in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance at Mary Baldwin CollegeMary Baldwin CollegeMary Baldwin College is a private, independent, and comprehensive four-year liberal arts women's college in Staunton, Virginia. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine,...
, Shakespeare scholar - Jim Warren, ASC Founding Artistic Director
Advisory Board
- Miles AndersonMiles AndersonMiles Anderson is a Zimbabwean actor. He has lived in England and America for the last 40 years.He was born in 1947 in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. Educated at Prince Edward school, his father commanded the Rhodesian Army until dismissed by Premier Ian Smith for his stance against racism and a...
, an English actor - David BevingtonDavid BevingtonDavid Martin Bevington is an American literary scholar. He is Professor Emeritus in the Humanities and in English Language & Literature, Comparative Literature, and the College at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1967, as well as chair of Theatre and Performance Studies...
, Shakespeare scholar - Ronald E. CarrierRonald E. CarrierRonald E. Carrier is the fourth President of James Madison University , having served from 1971 to 1998. Carrier presided over JMU as it grew dramatically in size and in reputation. Carrier now serves as the university's chancellor...
, fourth President and current Chancellor of James Madison University - Dame Judi DenchJudi DenchDame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
, CH, DBE, FRSA, Academy Award-, Golden Globe-, TonyTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-, BAFTA-, and Laurence Olivier Award-winning English actress, and Honorary D.Litt. recipient - Phoef SuttonPhoef SuttonRobert Christopher Sutton is American television writer and producer.A 1981 graduate of James Madison University , Sutton began his career writing scripts for Newhart. He later became executive producer of and a writer for Cheers...
, Emmy-Award-winning American television writer and producer of feature films - Zoë WanamakerZoe WanamakerZoë Wanamaker, CBE is an American-British actress. She has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company; in films, including the Harry Potter series; and in a number of television productions, including a long-time role as Susan Harper in the sitcom My Family.-Early life and family:Wanamaker was...
, CBECBECBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, an American-born, English actress - Jerry ZaksJerry ZaksJerry Zaks is a German-born American stage and television director, and actor. He won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play and Drama Desk Award for directing The House of Blue Leaves, Lend Me A Tenor, and Six Degrees of Separation and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical and Drama...
, Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winning American Broadway theatre and television actor and director
Further reading
- American Shakespeare Center. "ASC - History." Accessed 2009-06-20.
External links
- American Shakespeare Center, operators of Blackfriars Playhouse
- Dreaming Creek, photo gallery of the playhouse from the builder