Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

= The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey =

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation — serving 100,000 adults and children annually — it is New Jersey's only professional theatre company dedicated to the works of Shakespeare and other classic masterworks, including works not often performed by other groups. [Teachout, terry. [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119032728608334454.html?mod=googlenews_wsj "Just a Cockeyed Idealist"] , "The Wall Street Journal", September 21, 2007. Accessed October 6, 2007. "Not even "The Time of Your Life" has held the stage, and when the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, one of the best companies in the New York area, announced a revival, I was eager to see what they would do with a play so completely out of favor."]

The company's dedication to the classics and commitment to excellence sets critical standards for the field. Under the leadership of artistic director Bonnie J. Monte since 1990, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey continues to draw larger and larger audiences and garner unprecedented critical acclaim. Celebrating its 45th season in 2007, it is the longest-running Shakespeare theatre on the east coast.

In both 2002 and 2006, "The Star-Ledger" named the company "Regional Theatre of the Year." In 2002, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation awarded the Theatre a prestigious Strategic Partnership Grant in the amount of $1 million, "in recognition of the artistry, achievements and leadership of this acclaimed Madison, New Jersey-based performing arts and education organization."

The annual Main Stage season, presented in the intimate, state-of-the-art F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison, New Jersey, runs May through December. An Outdoor Stage production is presented each summer at The Greek Theatre, a beautiful, open-air, grass-and-stone amphitheatre inspired by the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens , and one of the only theatres of its kind in the United States located on the College of Saint Elizabeth campus in nearby Morris Township, New Jersey.

The institution's staff works year-round to produce the company's performance season, educational outreach activities, fundraising and marketing campaigns and various other programs and events. The company employs more than 250 members during the season and through its various Main Stage, Outdoor Stage and touring productions now plays to approximately 100,000 audience members each year, primarily from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Through non-traditional casting and outreach efforts, the Theatre continues to build a culturally and geographically diverse audience.

Financial support comes from more than 1,500 individuals, government agencies, corporations and foundations.

Production History

2008Main Stage Productions:"' "The Comedy of Errors" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/comedy_errors.html "Amadeus" by Peter Shaffer http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/amadeus.html "King Lear" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/king_lear.html "Private Lives" by Noel Coward http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/private_lives.html "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/streetcar_desire.html "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/romeo_juliet.html "The Winter's Tale" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/winters_tale.html

Outdoor Stage: "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/works_willm_shkspr.html

"'2007 - Main Stage Productions:"' "Henry V" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/henry.html "The Play's The Thing" by Ferenc Molnar http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/thing.html "Measure For Measure" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/measure.html "The Bald Soprano" by Eugene Ionesco http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/soprano.html "The Time of Your Life" by William Saroyan http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/life.html "Blood & Roses: Williams Shakespeare's Henry VI" by William Shakespeare, adapted by Brian B. Crowe http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/henrybr.html "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, adapted by Neil Bartlett http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/bluebird.html

Outdoor Stage: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/season/dream.html

2006 - Main Stage Productions:"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" by Tom Stoppard http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2006/dead.html "The Cherry Orchard" by Anton Chekhov http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2006/orchard.html "The Rivals" by Richard Brinsley Sheridan http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2006/rivals.html "Richard III" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2006/richard.html "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, adapted by Bonnie J. Monte http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2006/pride.html "Cymbeline" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2006/cymbeline.html

Outdoor Stage: "The Taming of The Shrew" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2006/shrew.html

2005 - Main Stage Productions:"The Merry Wives of Windsor" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2005/windsor.html "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" by Christopher Hampton, based on the novel by Choderlos de Laclos http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2005/liaisons.html "Life of Galileo" by Bertolt Brecht http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2005/galileo.html "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2005/earnest.html "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2005/caesar.html "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2005/likeit.html

Outdoor Stage "The Triumph of Love" by Marivaux, translated and adapted by Bonnie J. Monte http://www.shakespearenj.org/past/2005/triumph.html

References

External links

* [http://www.shakespearenj.org Official website]

Interview with Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte in American Theatre Magazinehttp://www.tcg.org/publications/at/apr08/monte.cfm