Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble is proud to continue its tradition of offering special matinees for area students in this, its 34th season. BTE begins the new year with its fourteenth Shakespeare play, Julius Caesar. Three special school matinees are scheduled on January 25, 26, and 27 at 10:00 a.m.
Like the highly acclaimed Hamlet and Macbeth before it, Julius Caesar is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts Shakespeare In American Communities Grant. For an unprecedented third year, BTE has received this grant as part of the Shakespeare For A New Generation program.
What better Shakespeare play than Julius Caesar to initiate discussion among high school students about leadership, enfranchisement, freedom, tyranny, citizen outrage, and political opportunity. According to Syreeta CombsCannaday, BTE Communications Director,
Seventeen schools are experiencing Julius Caesar this year, either through the matinees at the AKT or on tour at their school, thanks to the Shakespeare in American Communities grant. Their experience includes one or two workshops conducted by our professional actors, a fully researched study guide (available online), and of course, the performance of Julius Caesar, featuring five members of the Ensemble! The students get really into it; they loved last year’s Macbeth. Maybe it’s the fast-paced cutting; maybe it’s seeing just how seriously the cast takes this show. Maybe it’s the post-performance talkback where they get to interact with the performers. Whatever it is, Page to Stage is succeeding in its goal to bring Shakespeare to life for local high school students.
BTE’s production, directed by Ensemble member James Goode, tells in a compelling way Shakespeare’s version of a war hero whose rise to power threatens a ruling class, the convergence of the threatened class’s diverse motives for his assassination, and the destructive fallout from their conspiracy.
Ticket price for these special student matinees is $9.00 per person for all audience members.
Julius Caesar is part of BTE’s Page To Stage Program which includes the full production of Julius Caesar and a “TalkBack” with the cast following the performance. A Study Guide, play script, and play synopsis are all available as downloads from BTE’s website: www.bte.org. In addition to the performance, schools may book a Julius Caesar workshop in their school at no additional charge. Workshop descriptions are also available on the website.
All matinees are held at the Alvina Krause Theatre in downtown Bloomsburg. Matinees for Julius Caesar are filling fast; school representatives are urged to book soon. For more information about all of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s programs for students, contact Paula Henry, BTE’s School Programs Director at (570) 458-4075, email phenry@bte.org or visit www.bte.org.
