Classes

Any teen between the ages of 12 and 18 is welcome to join us for this camaraderie- and confidence-building class. Students must be 12 by October 1 and cannot turn 19 at any point during the year. It’s an eight-month program, beginning in September and culminating in a production of a comedy in the spring, usually the first week of May.

In the fall, the students read and discuss a tragedy, write on topics related to the play, study the language of Shakespeare, give presentations on the world of Shakespeare, challenge themselves by reading multiple plays and memorizing monologues, perform an abridged version of the tragedy in the Original Practice style, and do improv. So much improv.

In the spring, students study and discuss the comedy that we will be performing, start actor’s training, do more improv, learn warm-ups and technique, audition for the play, and create their characters. Six weeks before the performance, rehearsals begin three days a week and the fun really gets started.

The homeschool class is once a week on Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., September through early May. Classes meet in the Albemarle and Greene County, Virginia area. A more formal calendar is provided before class begins.

As a class, we’ll travel to see a production of a tragedy in the fall and a comedy in the spring at the American Shakespeare Center. It’s inspiring and amazing. Parents or other family members are welcome to join us at the incredibly affordable student rate.

Families help with the production of the play. This is a part of how we keep costs low, and parents consistently tell me how much they enjoy being part of the experience with their kids. Jobs available include producer, costume or set design, sound or lighting technical help, stage manager, backstage help, hair and makeup, graphic design for playbills, posters, and t-shirts, photography and videography, and cast party planner. And cheerleader. Every parent has that job.

Each parent contributes in some way, with lots of options that will work with your schedule and comfort level. We’ll meet within the first month of class for a parent meeting and divvy up the jobs.

Tuition is a monthly payment that covers an eight-month-long immersive and expansive experience: 12 weeks of class in the fall plus the Original Practice performance of a tragedy, then 10 weeks of class and 6 weeks of rehearsals and performances in the spring. A deposit is due at registration and covers tickets to see two performances at the American Shakespeare Center.

The only thing you need to provide is a way for your student to read the tragedy we will study in the fall and the comedy we will study in the spring. Free options online are totally acceptable, and I’ll send out my favorite options for purchase before the beginning of class. There will be some costume costs for the play, but families often find what they need at thrift shops. I also dedicate a portion of my budget towards bigger costume or prop needs so no family is under that burden.

It is very rare to join mid-year, and that’s a big one. We build camaraderie, emotional safety, confidence, and critical thinking in this class. Each week builds on the next, and it doesn’t work to have new people continually joining throughout the year.

This class is for students who have taken my regular Shakespeare class at least twice. They are accepted after they interview for a spot.

Here are some examples from movies, novels, art, and music, but the list is way too long to write it all here:

• The Lion King: Hamlet
• 10 Things I Hate About You: The Taming of the Shrew
• Big Business: The Comedy of Errors
• If You Come Softly: Romeo and Juliet
• Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, a New Hope (novel): a hilarious version of Episode IV in Shakespearean language
• Ophelia (painting) by John Everett Millais
• Kiss Me, Kate (musical): The Taming of the Shrew
• “Love Story” (song) by Taylor Swift: Romeo and Juliet
• Hamnet (novel and movie) by Maggie O’Farrell: historical fiction about the death of Shakespeare’s son that some guess inspired him to write Hamlet

We meet weekly, but there will be extra days when we need to meet for filming, field trips, location scouting, and more. Our projects will have varying completion dates as we plan out our year together.

Wednesdays, 12:30–2:30 p.m., September through early May, right after the regular Shakespeare class, in the Albemarle and Greene County, Virginia area.

Yes, please. We’ll do as many as are feasible so we can explore different mediums.

Likely, not much. The whole point of the class is for the students to use creativity and ingenuity and to problem-solve as we go. Please stand by to be a resource for your kids as they create their projects, but they should take full ownership of this experience.

Since this is a pilot program, tuition is lower than the standard class, so there’s no big financial commitment for an untested class. Monthly and full-year payment options are available. There will likely be a few performance tickets to pay for, and I’ll be looking for lower-cost experiences.

This is a pilot class. We’re going to stay adaptable and flexible throughout the year as we try things out. Expect pivots.

The students will help in some way with the spring production of the regular Shakespeare class. They can decide how they want to contribute, and it will never require attending every rehearsal, since they have their own projects to work on.