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 2024-25 season—ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE: HOW SHAKESPEARE INVENTED THE VILLAIN in the Fall and FRANKENSTEIN 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 an in-school 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.

FROM SHAKESPEARE TO SHELLEY: EXPLORING HUMAN NATURE THROUGH PERFORMANCE

This year’s Residency program is centered on dissecting the multifaceted nature of humanity and reimagining classic stories to reflect contemporary voices. By examining the complex nature of evil through characters traditionally seen as villains, students will explore the motivations, contexts, and moral ambiguities that define them. With Shakespeare’s iconic villains and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as creative sources, the Residency program will foster a more nuanced understanding of morality, responsibility, and human nature by bringing these works to life in the classroom.

FALL 2024: SHAKESPEARE'S VILLAINS

Monologues and Character study

Students will meet some of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters in an examination of the evolving nature of the villain. Following the example STC’s fall production of All the Devils Are Here, students will bring monologues to life, focusing on what villainy means today.

At the completion of the Fall Residency, students and teachers are invited to join us for a student matinee of ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE: HOW SHAKESPEARE INVENTED THE VILLAIN on December 19, 2024 at 11:30am.

SPRING 2025: SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN

Playwriting and Reimagining Classic Stories

Students will engage with the theme of creation, its implications and the responsibilities that come with it—both in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and in the creative act of adapting a literary work for the stage. Inspired by Emily Burns’s theatrical reimagining for STC, students will develop their own dramatic interpretations of excerpts from Shelley’s nineteenth century novel.

At the completion of the Residency, students and teachers are invited to join us for a student matinee of FRANKENSTEIN on June 5, 2025 at 10am. 

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