THE EXPERIENCE

10 classrooms, 10 sessions, 1 semester

The Residency bridges the theatrical stage and the classroom. Each semester will focus on a key theme and production from STC’s 25/26 Season—Merry Wives in the Fall and Othello in the Spring.

Each participating classroom is paired with an STC Teaching Artist—active performers and master educators who love working with students—to experience the three pillars of the Residency program: acting, language, and design. Students will apply these concepts to their exploration of classical works.

Over the course of 10 classroom sessions, students will gain an understanding of theme and story through performance-based activities. Each session is student-centered, informed by Learning for Justice's Anti-Bias Framework, and will provide participants with the opportunity to draw personal connections, integrate elements of current cultural and social events, and take ownership of the experience.

The Residency culminates in a performance for the community that showcases student work. Under the creative guidance of their Teaching Artist, students will build this showcase in a collaborative and explorative manner.

Previous Residency showcases have featured the following formats:

• Performances of abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays.
• Scenes and monologue explorations
• Staged readings of original material based on classic stories
• Poetry, spoken word, dance, and song
• Design and dramaturgical presentations

At the completion of the Residency, students and teachers are invited to join us for a student matinee of the production they explored.

FALL 2025: Jocelyn Bioh's MERRY WIVES

Playwriting and Reimagining Classic Stories

Students will explore the vibrant characters, humor, and cultural specificity of Jocelyn Bioh’s Merry Wives, a bold reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic comedy set in a modern West African community. Inspired by STC’s fall production, this workshop invites students to bring scenes and monologues to life while examining how themes of love, status, and clever resistance are shaped by cultural identity. Through performance and discussion, students will consider how storytelling across the African diaspora reshapes the canon, celebrates joy, and reclaims space.

At the completion of the Fall Residency, students and teachers are invited to join us for a student matinee of Merry Wives.

SPRING 2026: Shakespeare's OTHELLO

Monologues and Character Study

Students will explore the emotional and psychological depth of Shakespeare’s Othello in connection with STC’s spring production. Through performance-based work with scenes and monologues, students will examine how themes of love, jealousy, identity, and betrayal unfold on stage. This workshop invites students to consider how Shakespeare’s characters still speak to contemporary questions of trust, power, and perception, and how performance can help us better understand complex human relationships.

At the completion of the Residency, students and teachers are invited to join us for a student matinee.

FAQ

What is the cost of this program? 

There is no cost to participate in the Residency thanks to the support of our generous program sponsors. To attend a student matinee, the cost is $5 per ticket for students and chaperones.

I teach multiple classes; can they all participate? 

To make the Residency accessible to as many schools as possible, we are only able to accommodate one class per school per semester. To ensure that everyone student receives the support they need to thrive in this program, classroom sizes should be no larger than 30 students.

Will students have to read the classical work being explored? 

No. Students are certainly welcome to read these works, but it is not required to participate in the program. A basic understanding of plot, characters, and themes should suffice.

When does the school performance have to take place?

Teachers should work with their Teaching Artists to find a convenient date, time, and space to host their performance in school once the 10 classroom workshops have taken place. These performances typically take place in early December in the Fall and in May in the Spring. Showcase performances are usually no longer than 30 minutes.

Additional questions? Email: Schools@ShakespeareTheatre.org