Georgia Shakespeare
Georgia Shakespeare was a professional, not-for-profit theatre company located in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States on the campus of Oglethorpe University from 1985-2014. Georgia Shakespeare produced three plays annually, primarily between June and November. Twelve educational programs were developed in the history of Georgia Shakespeare. These programs included "The High School Tour", a "High School Acting Competition", "Camp Shakespeare", a "High School Conservatory", a "No Fear Shakespeare" training program for educators, after school residencies, school tours, student matinees, classes for professionals, and in-school workshops. At its peak, it welcomed 60,000 patrons annually to its performances.
History
1985–1989
Georgia Shakespeare was founded in 1985 by Lane Anderson, Richard Garner, and Robert Watson under the name Georgia Shakespeare Festival. The company produced two plays each year, with its first offering being productions of The Taming of the Shrew and King Lear in rotating repertory starting July 10, 1986. The rising theatre company went through several locations in its first years. Its first season was on the Oglethorpe University front athletic field in a rectangular, white 60' X 90' tent with a seating capacity of 300. The theatre changed tents for its second season and was housed in a circular tent with a 90' diameter. This new tent increased the seating capacity by 50. For the theatre's fifth season, it moved into a 110' diameter circular tent that seated 400.1990–1999
In 1991, Georgia Shakespeare expanded to three plays annually, and performed an adaptation of The Three Musketeers as its first work not written by William Shakespeare. In later years, the company has performed between three and seven plays per season. Georgia Shakespeare opened its 1997 season in the $5.7 million John A. and Miriam H. Conant Performing Arts Center with The Tempest. The Conant Center has a 509-seat modified thrust stage and it was this move that allowed the addition of a fall performance to the season schedule.2000–2009
In 2001, Georgia Shakespeare became a member of the League of Resident Theaters and Shakespeare Theatre Association of America. At the time, it was one of only two theatres in the state of Georgia to be a part of this league. In 2004, Professor Andrew James Hartley, Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, was appointed the company's first resident dramaturg. In 2005, he published a book, The Shakespearean Dramaturg: A Theoretical and Practical Guide, based on his eight years experience dramaturging in the American southeast.2010–2014
In 2011, mired in debt, the theatre launched a 'Save Georgia Shakespeare' campaign which was successful in raising over $500,000. When Georgia Shakespeare was still performing under a tent, patrons of the theatre started bringing pre-show picnics. This became a tradition and when the Conant Performing Arts Center was built, a covered area with tables and chairs was set aside for picnics. In 2014, the grounds underwent a renovation funded through several Atlanta-area private foundations. In 2014, the theatre company closed for good in the middle of its 29th season, unable to stay open due to its high debts.Productions
1986The Taming of the ShrewKing Lear1987Much Ado About NothingRomeo & Juliet
1988A Midsummer Night's DreamThe Winter's Tale
1989Twelfth NightThe Comedy of Errors
1990MacbethAs You Like It
1991The Three MusketeersRichard IIITwo Gentlemen of Verona
1992Love's Labour's LostThe TempestHamlet: Godfather Of Brooklyn
1993Cyrano de BergeracSHREW: The MusicalHenry V
1994A Midsummer Night's DreamThe Merchant of VeniceThe Imaginary Invalid
1995Much Ado About NothingThe Country WifeBooth, Brother BoothKing Lear
1996Twelfth Night: A New MusicalThe Bourgeois GentlemanTroilus and CressidaBooth, Brother Booth
1997The TempestThe School for ScandalOthello
1998Henry IV, Part IThe MiserMeasure for MeasureMacbeth
1999HamletThe Comedy of ErrorsSt. JoanRomeo & JulietSHREW: The Holiday Musical
2000Twelfth NightTartuffeRichard IIA Midsummer Night's Dream
- Readings: Epicoene, The Changeling, The History of King Lear
- Readings: The Inland Sea, Thyestes, Mandragola, A Mad World My Masters, The Revenger's Tragedy, The Widow
- Readings: The Tamer Tamed
2004
- Shake at the Lake: A Midsummer Night's DreamCyrano de BergeracWhat the Butler SawCoriolanusMacbeth
- Shake at the Lake: MacbethThe Comedy of ErrorsA Streetcar Named DesireThe Cherry OrchardThe Gospel of JohnRomeo & Juliet
- Shake at the Lake: The Comedy of ErrorsHamletTwelfth NightTreasure IslandMetamorphosesOthello
- Shake at the Lake: Twelfth NightMetamorphosesThe Servant of Two MastersPericlesRobin HoodLootRichard III
- Shake at the Lake: The Servant of Two MastersAs You Like ItThe Merchant of VeniceAll's Well That Ends WellTom Thumb the GreatAntigone
2010
- Shake at the Lake: A Midsummer Night's DreamShrew: The MusicalLove's Labour's LostKing LearThe Legend of the Sword in the StoneThe Odyssey: a Journey HomeA Christmas StoryThe Gospel of JohnProphets
2012
- Shakespeare in the Park: The TempestIlyria: A Twelfth Night MusicalMuch Ado About NothingThe Importance of Being EarnestThe Emperor and the NightingaleMacbeth
- Shakespeare in the Park: Much Ado About NothingMetamorphosesMighty Myths & LegendsHamlet
- Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like ItOne Man, Two Guvnors
- ''The Frog Prince''