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MISSION STATEMENT

Our Mission is…

Maryland Shakespeare Festival is a professional and innovative classical theater company, which makes classical theater that matters in the lives of our children, our neighbors, and ourselves.

How do we do this?

  • We give life to timeless stories, especialy Shakespeare,  in a manner that inspires, challenges, and entertains
  • We foster the voices of our children, and then listen
  • We illuminate what it means to be human
  • We give voice to the major issues of our society
  • We are a valued cultural tradition
  • We further the exploration of the theatrical process, especially original practices
  • We participate in the civic and intellectual life of our community

Values that Unite us

We value the pursuit of excellence and work to feel pride and pleasure in all of our endeavors.

We value curiosity and work to foster a spirit of inquiry in all our work

We believe in a Mentoring model that both educates and transmits values, and that this model is essential to the health of this company and society.

We value a Spirit of Generosity in which every person is honored for their experience, humanity, and individual artistry – throughout every activity of this company and community.

We believe in a spirit of Serious Play, which tempers a strong work ethic and sense of purpose with joy, humor, and wit.  We strive for playfulness and grace in all situations.

We believe that the actor audience relationship and language are the heart of the theatrical experience.

We believe that Exploring Elizabethan Theatrical Practices helps us to create vital theatrical experiences for our generation.

We believe in open and honest communication and strive to implement it on every level, even when it is difficult or unpleasant

We believe that while working for an arts organization is a priviledge and has its own rewards, our employees should receive competitive wages and secure benefits.

We value our community.  We believe that people of every race, ethnicity, economic status, and belief system deserve mutual respect.  We strive to be good neighbors and work for the community’s well being.

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OVERVIEW

The Maryland Shakespeare Festival is a professional, innovative and classic theater deeply committed to its community. Founded in 1999 with the vision of providing free outdoor performances of Shakespeare plays each summer, The Maryland Shakespeare Festival is structured with three distinct program areas: Performance, Education and Performance Research. Each area serves the community in its own way.

Currently, the Performance program area provides professional performances of Shakespeare plays each summer - accessible to everyone. The only theater in the Frederick area working under an Equity contract (the national union of actors and stage managers), The Maryland Shakespeare Festival also employs some of the most respected designers in the Mid-Atlantic region, creating productions at the highest artistic levels which everyone in the community can enjoy.

The Education programs strive to serve every child in the county and encompass the exploration of our individual voices and power through Shakespeare's words. Current programs span from weekly classes to small intensive performing opportunities to long-term residencies. Shakespeare Alive! tours the mid-Atlantic Region. Project artists visit middle schools for three-week residencies. Each spring we accept a smaller group of students to work intensively on Shakespeare as our Intern Company. Finally, classes for both children and adults are ongoing along with discussion and reading series.

The Maryland Shakespeare Festival's commitment to Performance Research focuses on the rehearsal process and techniques of the professional actor. The Maryland Shakespeare Festival hopes to further a national discussion on how to create classical theater that more profoundly impacts its audience while developing a strong core of more technically proficient and emotionally connected actors. The Maryland Shakespeare Festival currently has relationships with the Whole Actor Research Project and the Original Performance Practices Laboratory.

The Maryland Shakespeare Festival is a young company with several years of huge growth ahead to create an organizational foundation from which each of these program areas can be more fully realized. Year- round professional performances, all county student productions and professional research laboratories are all included in future plans and promise an exciting partnership with the greater Frederick community.

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OUR STAFF

Producing Artistic Director
Becky Kemper
Director of Education
Megan McDonough
Development Volunteer
Leslie Pickett

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President
Becky M. Kemper
Producing Artistic Director, Maryland Shakespeare Festival

Treasurer
Joyce A. Draper
Accountant, Draper and McGinley

Secretary
Raimi Kellner

Members at Large
Heather Brennan, Event Specialist, Frederick County Public Libraries
Leslie Pickett, Development Volunteer, Maryland Shakespeare Festival
Leslie Ruby, Coordinator of Personal Enrichment, Frederick Community College

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ARTISTIC ASSOCIATES

Tony Angelini:
USA Sound Designer
Jason Aufdem-Brinke:
As professional lighting designer: The Shakespeare Project / Maryland Shakespeare Festival, University of Maryland Loyola College and CCBC - Catonsville, has assisted for Joe Musumeci and Nancy Schertler.
As professional electrician: University of Maryland Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, JCC of Greater Washington, Washington Shakespeare Company, Source Theatre
Gus Demos:
member of Actors Equity Association
Mellisa Flaim:
member of Actors Equity Association
Becky Kemper
Artistic Director, The Maryland Shakespeare Festival
Drew Kahl:
member of Actors Equity Association
Jos. B. Musumeci Jr.:
Member United Scenic Artists and IATSE, USITT Chesapeake Chapter, Theatre Communications Alliance, Association of Community Theatres, Mary Goldwater Award Recipient, two time nominee for Helen Hayes award for set design, and company member since 2000, owner of Pro-Scenia Design LLC, Former Production manager Roundhouse Theatre and The Shakespeare Project.
Rosemary Pardee:
USA Costume Designer
Shannon Parks:
member of Actors Equity Association
Che Wernsman:
member of Actors Equity Association
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GET INVOLVED

Add your voice & Expertise to TSP!

The following committees (headed by our Board of Directors) are now looking for new members:

Fundraising
Volunteers
Audience Services
Program Advertising
Marketing & Publicity

Interested? Give us a call and we will connect you
with the appropriate Committee Chairperson

301.668.4090

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A BRIEF HISTORY

Spring of 1999

  • The Shakespeare Project incorporates as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization
  • High School Intern Company begins & performs at Festival of the Arts
  • Scholars in Arts Discussion is funded by Maryland Humanities Council
  • "Mini Performance" by professionals at Festival of the Arts

1999-2000

  • The company gets its educational programs well underway by doing two day workshops in every high school in Frederick County
  • Professional Season benefits from addition of the high school intern company.
  • Much Ado About Nothing performs for almost 3,000 in 3 tour stops

2000-2001

  • The company welcomes Becky Kemper as its first full-time paid staff member.
  • The education program establishes stability by continuing two day workshops in high schools.
  • Expansion into the community as TSP takes on the Monday Night Reading Series (free) Begins at Frederick Coffee Company
  • Scholars In Arts Discussion Series (free) resumes sponsored by MD Humanities Council
  • Volunteer Partnerships include over a dozen local organizations
  • High School Intern Program sponsored by Festival of the Arts and Carroll Creek Rotary
  • As You Like It performs at Hood College - Audiences increase by 50%
  • As You Like It travels to Rockville and Gaithersburg & over 1,000 attend on 1 night alone!

2001-2002

  • Shakespeare Alive! debuts and performs for over 17,000 students across the state
  • Middle School Artist in Residency debuts at Cabin John Middle School to rave reviews!
  • Producing Artistic Director named Person to Watch by Frederick Magazine
  • Scholars In Arts Discussion Series (free) resumes sponsored by MD Humanities Council
  • Community Partnership founded with the Weinberg Center of the Arts
  • New Membership Program Begins High School Intern Program adds a full Shakespeare play to activities
  • The Taming of the Shrew performs at Hood College
  • The Taming of the Shrew travels to Rockville and Gaithersburg

2002-2003

  • Much happened, to be posted later
  • Twelfth Night

2003-2004

  • Comedy Of Errors successfully completes a statewide tour, including stops in Easton, Baltimore, Gaithersburg, Rockville and Prince Georges County

2004-2005

  • Company welcomes Katie Masterson, Dee Dolan and Jason Aufdem-Brinke on as full time staff members bringing the companies total, full time staff to five
  • Much Ado About Nothing tours statewide, and expands into Delaware

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For more information:
Email us at: info@mdshakes.org or call us at (301) 668-4090
Office: Maryland Shakespeare Festival ▪ 15 W Patrick Street ▪ Frederick, MD 21701
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