You take your seat just as the lights go down. The curtain rises, and all at once you are transported to a miraculous foreign land: The battlements of Elsinore castle. A beach in Illyria. A blasted heath in Scotland. A canal in Venice. A throne room in Sicilia, or Athens, or Egypt. A street in Rome, or Verona, or Ephesus, or anywhere in all the globe.
Here, you're suddenly confronted by vile witches and hungry warlords, ambitious kings and vengeful ghosts, shipwrecked maidens and jealous princes. The people around you speak in words that have a familiar feel, a roiling and beautiful language that cuts right to the heart of human experience. Phrases pour out, filling your ear. Not just the famous words quoted in schools, but words invented for this very stage. Love is blind. Vanish into thin air. Break the ice. Foul play. Whats done is done. Come what may. Too much of a good thing. The jaws of death. Brave new world. The knock-knock joke was invented here, and some believe here was born the rebellious teenager.
You laugh, and all at once you are part of the story, rising and falling with the fortunes of the most complete characters ever to grace the stage. Falstaff and Hal. Caesar and Brutus. Viola and Olivia. Romeo and Juliet. Othello and Iago. Kate and Petruchio. Macbeth. Richard. Hamlet.
Too soon it's over, the story told. You look down at the ticket in your hand, the portal to this realm of swords and words.
A ticket to the Michigan Shakespeare Festival.
As the Official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival is a professional Equity theatre company (LOA/LORT) dedicated to producing world-class classical plays. Now in its 18th year, it takes place in Jackson's lovely Baughman Theatre. The 2012 season runs from July 12th to August 5th, 2012.
Shakespeare's plays survive and thrive because of his language, his expression of humanity's light, darkness, and the foibles in-between. Under the guidance of the MSF's Artistic Director Janice L. Blixt, the Festival brings that language to life in unique and wonderful ways. This years season include RICHARD III, LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, and George Berndard Shaw's PYGMALION.
Buy your ticket now and make your plan to visit fantastical places to witness acts of horror and hilarity. In Michigan, this is Pure Shakespeare.
Our Mission
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival inspires, attracts, educates and entertains a broad-based audience while developing and furthering an appreciation for live theatre through professional performances of Shakespeare's works and other classic plays.
Our History
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival is a nonprofit professional theatre founded in 1995. Originally named the Jackson Shakespeare Festival, the event was held outdoors in the summer at Jackson's Ella Sharp Park until 2004, when it moved indoors to the Potter Center at Jackson Community College. Since its inception, the summer festival has entertained more than 50,000 people of all ages. Now in its 18th season, the festival has grown from two performances to 37 performances, from one week to a four week season during July and August and performances in the spring and summer in high schools, libraries, and youth camps.
In 1997 the festival was renamed the Michigan Shakespeare Festival to reflect its ever-increasing popularity and affiliation with the University of Michigan Department of Theatre and Drama. Members of the Actor's Equity Association were added in 1999, making the event the only fully professional Shakespeare company in the state.
The festival's growing reputation as a regional classical theatre led Governor Jennifer Granholm and the Michigan Senate to designate it The Official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan in 2003.
Festival organizers added a non-Shakespeare production to its schedule beginning in 2009, and expanded its educational outreach program in 2010 to include performances of Romeo & Juliet . Also in 2010, a production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was featured at elementary schools, libraries, recreation centers, and the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital.
The Art of Villainy
Fourth in line for the Throne of England, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, uses cunning intelligence, fearsome charm, and political wit to overthrow every rival standing between him and ultimate power. Perhaps the greatest villain in literature, Richard III deftly manipulates his victims with fear, humor, and style. Watch as he joyfully engages his audience as an accomplice to his worst crimes. A striking study of politics, power, and the ambition needed for both, not only will Richard III make you enjoy the horrible, you'll be cheering for the scoundrel.
July 12*, 14*, 14, 26, 28, 29
August 3, 11 & 12
(* Preview)
The Smart Romantic Comedy
The King of Navarre and his three companions take an oath to live three years in study and introspection - no women allowed. Coincidentally, the Princess of France and her three companions make an impromptu visit. What follows involves four couples teetering headlong into love, country bumpkins enjoying of silly courtships, and a fantastical Spanish swordsman. Love's Labour's Lost is not only one of Shakespeare's early works, it is considered one of the most linguistically complex. This wittily effervescent combination of puns, allusions, and sophisticated word play is perfect for a summer's sojourn!
July 13*, 15*, 20, 22, 28
August 2, 4, 9, & 11
George Bernard Shaw's
The Romance of Language
Described by Shaw as 'a Romance in five acts,' Pygmalion is a bright and funny battle of wills between renowned phonetics professor, Henry Higgins, and the lowly street-smart flower girl he is determined to turn into a lady, Eliza Doolittle. While attempting to elevate Eliza's speech and manners, their relationship leads to investigations of class and gentility, dignity and humanity, friendship and romance, women's independence, and simple bullheadedness. Pygmalion is the gold-standard of classical comedy, and the basis for Lerner and Lowe's timeless musical My Fair Lady .
July 19*, 21*, 21, 27
August 4, 5, & 10
(*Preview)
Season Subscription
Season Subscribers are our family. Not only does your dedication assist us in creating top-drawer entertainment, it saves you money! Subscribe for all three of our shows and save! Enjoy Mezzanine views for just $85, or even better, treat yourself to the Orchestra for only $105.
Gift Certificates
Looking for a great gift for the Shakespeare lover in your family? Consider buying a gift certificate to the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. Certificates are good for season subscriptions, single shows and the Festival souvenir stand.
Group Sales
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival welcomes groups of all sizes to our summer season. Tour Groups consisting of 10 or more theatre patrons will receive a $5 discount for each ticket purchased. One complimentary ticket will be issued per tour group ticket sale.
Ask us about our special tour group Wednesday matinees!
To book your tour group contact the Festival office at 517-998-3673 or email us. Accommodation and information about local attractions is available in the 'Buy Tickets' section of this site, and by phone upon request.
We welcome all Circle Michigan patrons!
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival is proud to bring the opportunity to experience the passion and drama of live Shakespeare Performances to High Schools as part of the Michigan Shakespeare Festivals 2011-2012 Tour.
In 2011, the Tour performed THE TRAGEDY OF ROMEO & JULIET for over 10,000 students in 9 counties and we're expanding this season, adding a second show - THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH. Either show is available at any time -- both can be performed in one day if so desired.
The Tour, now in its third season, is being offered to high schools in Bay, Calhoun, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Van Buren, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties in Michigan, the Greater Toledo Area in Ohio, and northeast Indiana, from November 28, 2011 through May 25th, 2012. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have a query about dates.
"The goal of the tour is for high school students to see why were still doing these shows 400 years after their original writing," says Michigan Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Janice L. Blixt. "While Shakespeare as literature is fascinating and important, seeing Shakespeare performed live is a completely different experience. These plays were meant to be heard, to be seen, and we want students to discover that Shakespeare is about love, fear, pain, anger, life and laughter and, yes, death. "
Both MACBETH and ROMEO & JULIET run about 100 minutes (no intermissions) and are set as Shakespeare's own company would have performed them: our productions are set in a combination of 'period' style and modern sensibilities - similar to how Shakespeare's own company would have mixed their current fashion with costume pieces and properties.
For ROMEO & JULIET, the combat is classic Renaissance rapier/dagger, the properties are all Renaissance properties, and the costumes combine early Renaissance shirts, boots, long dresses and gonellas with jeans and sweaters. For MACBETH, the combat is medieval broadsword, the properties are medieval and rather rustic, and the costumes combine medieval tunics, boots, and dresses with jeans. Our purpose is to be true to Shakespeare's texts and not to let some 'concept' or design interfere with understanding of the language, yet allow expected aspects of classical theatre free reign.
The productions are both edited from the First Folio of 1623 by MSF AD Blixt. The fights are all choreographed by MSFs Resident Violence Designer, Artistic Associate David Blixt. "These are both terrific shows to design the combat for as they run the fight-gambit from absurd playfulness to deadly cut and thrusts, from swashbuckling fun to real violence," says David Blixt.
The Tour seeks to significantly extend the educational outreach of The Michigan Shakespeare Festival to include high schools, children, teachers and professionals in addition to its annual summer season of professional classical theatre productions.
Teachers can receive more information or schedule a performance for their school by contacting MSF Booking Coordinator Hannah Noth at MSFTour_aol.com.
Edited and Directed by Janice L Blixt
Violence Designed by David Blixt
The Escalus
The Prince....................Joseph Fournier
Paris................................DB Schroeder
Mercutio.........................Matthew Smith
The Montagues
Lord Montague.........................Rick Eva
Lady Montague.............Ramona Lucius
Romeo, their son...................Ty Mitchell
Benvolio......................Connor Sweeney
The Capulets
Lord Capulet..............Dennis Kleinsmith
Lady Capulet.................Allyson Ortwein
Juliet, their daughter..........Sarah Leahy
Tybalt, their nephew.....Daniel Millhouse
Nurse to Juliet...............Ramona Lucius
Peter, a servant........................Rick Eva
The Friars
Friar Lawrence....Jeffrey Booth Stringer
Friar John....................Daniel Millhouse
Technical Director, Drew Gansen
Company Manager, Stefanie Din
Tour Coordinator, Jeffrey Booth Stringer
Covers: Brooklyn Dimitrie, Zach Hendrickson, Marcus Laban, Laith Salim, Natalie Sevick
Directed by David Blixt
Edited by Janice L Blixt
King Duncan..............Dennis Kleinsmith
Malcolm, his son.........Connor Sweeney
Donalbain, his son...........DB Schroeder
Macbeth..............Jeffrey Booth Stringer
Lady Macbeth...............Allyson Ortwein
Seyton, his servant.........Matthew Smith
A Gentlewoman.................Mona Lucius
A Porter....................................Rick Eva
A Doctor.......................Joseph Fournier
Banquo, a General.......Joseph Fournier
Fleance, his son................Sarah Leahy
Macduff, Thane of Fife...Matthew Smith
Lady Macduff................Ramona Lucius
His Son..............................Sarah Leahy
Thane of Rosse.....................Ty Mitchell
Thane of Lennoxe........Daniel Millhouse
Thane of Angus........................Rick Eva
Seyward....................Dennis Kleinsmith
Young Seyward, his son..DB Schroeder
Murderers
1 Dennis Kleinsmith
2 DB Schroeder
The Weyward Sisters
1 Mona Lucius
2 Sarah Leahy
3 Allyson Ortwein
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the Michigan Shakespeare Festival Tour?
A. The MSF Tour is the educational outreach program for the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. We bring professional, full-company, First Folio Shakespeare to high schools in southern Michigan, northern Ohio, and northeast Indiana. Our productions are text-based and high-energy, designed specifically to bring the plays that students most commonly read in high school to life.
The Touring Company consists of 12 professional actors (who all appear in both productions), a Stage Manager, and a Technical Director. The entire company has classical theatre training and are Folio proficient.
Q. What should we expect from a Tour performance?
A. Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth both run approximately 95-100 minutes. Our focus is on the language and story of Shakespeare's plays. Our productions are set in a combination of 'period' style and modern sensibilities, similar to how Shakespeare's own company would have mixed their current fashion with occasional costume pieces and properties.
For Romeo & Juliet, the combat is classic Renaissance rapier/dagger, the properties are all Renaissance properties, and the costumes combine early Renaissance shirts, boots, long dresses and gonellas with jeans and sweaters.
For Macbeth, the combat is medieval broadsword, the properties are medieval and rather rustic, and the costumes combine medieval tunics, boots, and dresses with jeans. Our purpose is to be true to Shakespeare's texts and not to let some 'concept' or design interfere with understanding of the language, yet allow expected aspects of classical theatre free reign.
MSF uses Shakespeares First Folio of 1623 for all of its productions, therefore, there may be slight alterations in texts read by schools due to later adaptations and editorial choices. Minor changes may be made to aid modern audiences in understanding the show and are at the discretion of the director. Edits for time are made by the MSF Artistic Director, Janice L Blixt.
The MSF Tour uses minimal stage effects and scenery, but scenes of violence and what might be deemed PG-13 (ie. ribaldry and innuendo) are common in Shakespeare and part of the production. MSF does not add disturbing content to its shows, but our shows are not edited from the original due to young audiences. There is no nudity or added content.
Q. What are the facility requirements to bring the Tour in to my school?
A. The School must have an appropriate space for the performance: theatres are, of course, best, but other spaces will work as well. MSF does not perform in gymnasiums or cafeterias which tend to bounce sound so much as to make the performance of classical language difficult to understand, but we have had success playing in larger lecture halls and open space rooms (library spaces, large conference rooms). We have also played in some converted gym spaces that are used by the school as their theatre so have appropriate sound help.
The performance space must be cleared of all sets and have basic masking accessible.
MSF must have access to lighting equipment (we bring our own technical director to handle lighting - whatever is in the air is usually fine) and access to sound equipment (our stage manager is able to run sound for the show) which must have basic CD capability. We play spaces that have technology to rival Madison Square Gardens, spaces with simple on-off lights in the back of the room, and everything in between. Whatever you have, we will make work.
MSF must have access to a room adjacent to the theatre space for dressing and for our belongings. Dressing rooms or nearby classrooms/empty rooms are fine.
Q. When are performances held?
A. Our Tour officially opens on November 28 and officially closes on May 25th with appropriate Holiday breaks off. We tour five days a week and can work around your school's bell schedule. Start times normally begin between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and some afternoon shows are available. Start times may need to be later if your school is further away to allow the company time to both commute and safety check your space.
Either show is available at any time. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have a query about dates.
Q. Is there a time for the company to answer students questions?
Following all performances there will be a 15-20 minute Question/Answer session with the company (the length is dependent upon the needs of the school).
Questions will be chosen at random from students unless your school asks ahead of time for a different arrangement. If there is a specific historical or literary point you'd like us to address, please just let us know.
Q. How much does it cost and how is payment handled?
A. It costs $7 per student (teachers and chaperones are free). There is a 150-student minimum ($1,050) for performance. Some schools have had success finding funding support from local foundations or companies to help underwrite the Michigan Shakespeare High School Tour appearances.
A 10 % deposit is due within two weeks of booking the performance in order for MSF to hold the date.
The balance of payment is due two weeks prior to the performance. Checks can be made out to The Michigan Shakespeare Festival and mailed to:
High School Tour
c/o The Michigan Shakespeare Festival
215 W. Michigan Ave.
Jackson, MI 49201
We do know that collecting from students is often akin to herding cats. It is common for us to accept three payments: a deposit to set the show, the first balance which is the amount collected two weeks prior to the performance, and a final payment the day of the show to cover late payers. We do not wish students to be denied the opportunity to see live Shakespeare if it can be avoided.
Q. What are the benefits of bringing a Tour to my school?
A. No bus to schedule. No permission slips to gather. No additional missed class time. And it is much more cost effective than many other theatre productions.
Q. How do I book a show for my school?
A. Contact MSF Booking Manager Hannah Noth at MSFTour_aol.com
Dates are filling up fast, so we encourage teachers to reserve a day soon.
You can read Encore Michigan's interview with MSF Artistic Director Janice L. Blixt about the Tour here .
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival holds rigorous performance and competition opportunities annually for 9th through 12th graders with its high school monologue contest.
Regional competitions will be held in Spring 2012 during which students present a two-minute monologue of their choosing from any Shakespeare play.
Theatre and media professionals select state finalists, who compete during the main summer Festival in July.
Details about the 2012 contest will be announced on this website and via our Facebook page .
Audience participation is the key ingredient in the Michigan Shakespeare Festival's StoryTime Childrens Tour presentation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
A trio of professional actors engages children to take part in the retelling of the classic storybook tale. As the story unfolds, children become flowers, trees of the forest, or one of the seven (sometimes 10, 12, 19) dwarfs.
The StoryTime Tour, now in its third season, is designed for children ages 4 through 7, but those younger and older will also enjoy being part of the story for a half hour of entertainment.
Throughout the summer, the Festival brings Snow White to life at district libraries, recreation centers and the University of Michigans C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital.
If you are interested in bringing our children's show to your community in 2012, call the Michigan Shakespeare Festival office 517-998-3673.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Entering her third year as the MSF's Artistic Director, this season Blixt will direct both RICHARD III & George Bernard Shaw's PYGMALION. In her first season she directed ROMEO & JULIET, and in 2011 she directed both MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and THE WINTER'S TALE. She also adapted and directed the ongoing MSF touring production of ROMEO & JULIET and adapted the MSF touring production of MACBETH.
Janice has been a working director in Chicago for the past ten years where she has helmed JULIUS CAESAR, MACBETH, TWELFTH NIGHT, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and HENRY V. She has also been the vocal director and text coach for OTHELLO, EDWARD III, and HAMLET. She is a co-founder and Executive Director of A Crew of Patches Theatre Company , a professional Shakespearean repertory company in Chicago that produces full-length Shakespeare plays for high schools. She teaches text analysis and folio technique for professional actors and in colleges and is still, when there's time, a working actor, having appeared onstage at the JET, the Shadow Theatre Co., City Lit, First Folio Shakespeare Festival, Timeline Theatre, Next Theatre - and right here at the Michigan Shakespeare Festival.
A graduate of the Hilberry Theater's MFA program, Janice is married to long-time MSF Artistic Associate, Author and Fight Director David Blixt -- whom she met at the Festival in 1997 when they played Kate and Petruchio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. They are the parents of Dashiell (5) and Evelyn (3).
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Williams is a long-time Michigan resident, having achieved his Masters in Fine Arts from Detroit's Hilberry Repertory Theatre and having worked as an actor at Meadow Brook , JET , the Boarshead in Lansing, and at the Performance Network in Ann Arbor. He spent two years at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, after which he was a fundraising coordinator for the Chicago Associate's inaugural Frost Faire.
From 2005-2009 he worked in the UK producing, directing, marketing, coordinating productions, and fundraising for Sell-A-Door productions and the RCS . He has extensive front-of-house and administrative experience with Liverpool's Everyman And Playhouse and London's Young Vic . Williams also has extensive ties with both American and Canadian Actors Equity Associations.
OFFICE STAFF
Janet Meyer - Director of Development
Laura Booth Thomas - Office Manager
Heather Powers - Company Manager
Jeffrey Stringer - Tour Coordinator
Stefanie Din - Tour Manager
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gerry Blanchard - President
Paul Heilborn - Vice President
John Isles - Secretary
John Cross - Treasurer
Nona Bennett
Jill Blixt
David Craft
Fredrick Davies - President Emeritus
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES
David Blixt
William Irwin
Janet Haley
John Neville-Andrews
(Artistic Director Emeritus)
Theatre Address
Michael Baughman Theatre
On the Campus of the Jackson Community College
2111 Emmons Road
Jackson, MI 49203
Business Office Address
215 West Michigan Avenue
Jackson, Michigan 49201
Telephone
Phone: 517-998-3673
Fax: 517-782-3268
Email
General questions: MSF_acd.net
Casting inquries: MSFcasting_aol.com
High School Tour: MSFtour_aol.com
Donate!
Inspire us with your generosity!
As you probably know, ticket prices cover less than ½ of our costs. Your kindness and support helps us build the sets, sew the costumes, employ the actors, and most importantly educate and entertain our audiences. We are committed to making sure there is a return on your investment. Help us change people's lives.
By sponsoring one of our shows, brochures, our educational tours, one of our staff positions, or even going the extra mile to underwrite the whole festival, not only do you give the gift that keeps on giving, you challenge us to provide an even better experience for our patrons in the future.
Another benefit of your support is the business that is brought to Southeast Michigan. As pronounced in Twelfth Night, Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Your munificence not only will help us and give you the pride of ownership, you will also help Jackson Countys economy, and all of Michigans as well.
Volunteer!
Be closer to the season and join our family!
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival would love to have you're expertise, passion and time! You could help us out as an usher, with concessions during our shows, at box-office, or, importantly, in the office we share with the JSO.
As you probably know, it's a tough time for the Arts, especially in Michigan. To keep our seats filled and our patrons focused on the stage, come join us for the adventure!
Contact Janet Meyer, our Director of Development
Address:
215 W. Michigan Ave
Jackson MI, 49201
Office Phone:
1-517-998-3673 x156
janetmeyer2005_gmail.com
