Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

Founder(s)	Gerard J. Schubert, O.S.F.S.
Type	Arts
Founded	1992
Key people	Patrick Mulcahy, Producing Artistic Director; Dennis Razze, Associate Artistic Director; Casey Gallagher, Managing Director; Erin Hurley, Education Director
Area served	Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware
Focus	The Plays of William Shakespeare
Revenue	$1.5M
Endowment	$2.4M
Volunteers	200
Employees	11 year-round; 150+ seasonally
Website	pashakespeare.org

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF) is a professional theatre company in residence at DeSales University and the Official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.^[1] The Festival is organized as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in Pennsylvania. Each summer, PSF produces six or more plays (often including a musical) and special one-night-only performances. In the fall, PSF tours a Shakespeare play to schools as part of its Linny Fowler WillPower tour. The Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary season the summer of 2011. Since its inception, the Festival has been attended by 543,000 people. The acting company consists primarily of professional actors from New York and Philadelphia and who are members of Actors' Equity Association. The plays are performed in two theaters in The Labuda Center for the Performing Arts: the 473-seat Mainstage or the 189-seat Schubert Theatre on the DeSales University campus in Center Valley.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival is listed as a Major Festival in the book Shakespeare Festivals Around the World by Marcus D. Gregio (Editor), 2004.

Productions

2011 Season

• Hamlet - By William Shakespeare - July 20 - August 7
• Pride & Prejudice - Adapted by John Jory - July 19 - August 7
• The Comedy of Errors - By William Shakespeare - June 22 - July 17
• South Pacific - Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan, Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II - June 15 - July 3
• The Two Noble Kinsmen - By William Shakespeare and John Fletcher - July 27 - August 7
• Sleeping Beauty - By Michele L. Vacca - June 3 - August 6
• Shakespeare for Kids - By Erin Hurley - July 27 - August 6
• On the Green June 15 - August 7

2010 Season

• Romeo and Juliet - By William Shakespeare
• The Merry Wives of Windsor - By William Shakespeare
• The Playboy of the Western World - By J. M. Synge
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart
• Robin Hood - By Brandon E. McLauren
• Shakespeare for Kids - By Erin Hurley
• The Green Show May 29- August 1

WillPower Tour

The Festival's signature education program is the annual Linny Fowler WillPower Tour, which brings a professionally-produced Shakespeare play to middle schools and high schools throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Initiated in 2000, the WillPower Tour is a professionally directed 80-minute production with sets and costumes featuring a company of professionally trained and experienced actor/teachers. The fall 2010 WillPower Tour features Hamlet, touring schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware from October 6 - November 19, 2010. Half-day or full-day programming meets academic standards, with curriculum guides provided in advance. Post-performance discussion gives the students the opportunity to share their reactions and insights.

History

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival was founded in 1992 by Gerard J. Schubert, O.S.F.S., founder and chair of Performing and Fine Arts department at DeSales University.

Notable Actors

• Dee Roscioli - 2010, Finale Cabaret
• William Michals - 2011, South Pacific, Emile De Beque
• William Michals - 2011, South Pacific, Emile De Beque
• Marnie Schulenburg - 2011. South Pacific, Nellie Forbush; *2006, As You Like It,Celia

References

1. ^ "PA State Senate Resolution". http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/BillInfo/BillInfo.cfm?syear=1995&sind=0&body=S&type=R&bn=0159.