the nashville theatre lost and found
s.o.s success!
The Nashville Shakespeare Festival,
with a recession-made gap in their annual budget,
BODACIOUSLY BAILS OUT THE BARD!
Loves labours were not lost this summer! They were found in abundance and overflowing when a community, mostly believed to support commercial music, flooded Centennial Park with volunteers, actors, directors, sponsors, and an audience of thousands to applaud The Nashville Shakespeare Festival's TAMING OF THE SHREW and THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAMS SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED). Both shows were part of the Save Our Shakespeare, a project that in our country's struggling economy, attempted to do just what the clever title pleas.
The Nashville Shakespeare Festival, one of the most successful theatre companies in Music City, is known for quality, professional theatre at in incredibly affordable price ... IT IS FREE. How does a professional company, full of Nashville's best talent, afford to pay their actors and still maintain the freedom to put on their productions at no cost to the audience? By the continuous support of "viewers like you," to quote a famous television broadcasting company. This brilliant troupe is funded by business sponsorship, individual donation, and government support.
However, the much relied upon corporate support that receded with the recession left this 22-year old company with a certain gap in their annual budget. In a recent interview, Denice Hicks, Artistic Director, shared with The Nashville Theatre Lost and Found that, "Save Our Shakespeare (S.O.S.!) was a campaign to raise awareness that without extra support from the community, the Shakespeare Festival might not make it to the end of the year." So sleeves were rolled up and an S.O.S. sent out.
But how could they lose when so many theatre patrons rushed to their aid with volunteers, support from the Nashville theatre community, two FABULOUS productions ... and so many bums in seats?
They didn't lose. Hicks excitedly reviews: "The community doubled their usual contributions! Consequently, they came within dollars of making up the gap! Many board members exceeded their original pledges, crew members worked for less than they usually get paid, and everyone committed to presenting Shakespeare in the Park for an extra (5th) week this year to help make the extra money we needed. Having the cast, crew, board and community unified in this effort absolutely affirmed that the Nashville Shakespeare Festival is an important player in the city's cultural prospectus."
I had the pleasure of sitting in the audience for THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, ABRIDGED. Othello performed as a rap, the histories as an American football game, all the comedies in one archetypal plot involving six sets of twins, four ever-accelerating Hamlets including one done backwards ... This show supplies an evening of broad grins and a generous helping of belly laughs.
Now on to the actors - Benjamin Reed, Brad Brown, and Christopher Campbell. Sigh. Hicks took a chance when she allowed these three Shakespearean Idiots to take such liberties with the tried-and-true works of our beloved Bard. :-) Of course, each move they made paid major comic dividends. What a show! These chaps could not have been surpassed in their perfect execution of comedic timing. I've said it before - it is terribly difficult to continue to be a stealth critic when I am laughing that hard and loud.
THANKS TO YOU, NASHVILLE, these fully-staged, professional productions will continue to be presented free of charge to the public. And thank YOU, Nashville Shakes, for letting me bring my dog; we both enjoyed it thoroughly!
INTERVIEW WITH DENICE HICKS
from the Nashville Shakespeare Festival
Artistic Director, Denice Hicks, answers questions about
The Nashville Shakespeare Festival, this summer's
fund-raising project - and elephants.
WHAT IS UNUSUAL OR UNIQUE
ABOUT THE NASHVILLE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL?
DENICE: Our mission is quite specific: To educate and entertain the Mid-South community through professional Shakespearean experiences. We strive to make sure that everything educational that we present is entertaining, and everything entertaining is educational. The ultimate goal is making literature and language fun and accessible for everyone through performances and workshops of Shakespeare's works. We take the "Nashville" part of our name to heart and focus on employing Nashville based artists in casts and on crews. Stabilizing the professional theater community is one of our top priorities.
IS THERE A PRODUCTION OR EXPERIENCE
OF WHICH YOU ARE MOST PROUD?
DENICE: This season has been especially gratifying. "Richard the Third" was very well received by public audiences as well as students and teachers. I loved the way the vaudeville theme gave the play a style that made it funny and clear while telling the tragic story at the same time. Our original work, "Shakespeare's Case," was equally popular and we were strongly encouraged to tour it as far and wide as possible. This summer, both productions were successful artistically and financially. Our apprentices put their training in to practice in "The Taming of the Shrew" to triumphant results, and "The Complete Works of Wm Shakspeare (abridged)" united thousands of people through laughter. There is hardly a greater reward in the theater experience. That this little company has survived over 22 years through thick and thin is something of which we are all proud. We are fiscally responsible and creatively liberal and that makes for a balanced theater company!
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES
OF PRESENTING THE BARD'S WORK?
DENICE: Playing Shakespeare's poetry takes actors of considerable skill, so providing training and ample rehearsal time is essential to the success of the show. Making sure that the story and themes are relevant and accessible to local audiences is important to us. All concepts are derived from the text. We never just tack on a concept because it would be fun or novel--every theme is textually inspired
.
WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF "SAVE OUR SHAKESPEARE?"
DENICE: The corporate support that receded with the recession left us with a certain gap in our annual budget. Save Our Shakespeare was a campaign to raise awareness that without extra support from the community, the Shakespeare Festival might not make it to the end of the year.
DID THE SHAKES ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL? HOW?
DENICE: The community doubled their usual contributions! Consequently, they came within dollars of making up the gap! Many board members exceeded their original pledges, crew members worked for less than they usually get paid, and everyone committed to presenting Shakespeare in the Park for an extra (5th) week this year to help make the extra money we needed. Having the cast, crew, board and community unified in this effort absolutely affirmed that the Nashville Shakespeare Festival is an important player in the city's cultural prospectus.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE
"SAVE OUR SHAKESPEAR"E STORY FROM THIS SUMMER?
DENICE: There are so many moments that I treasure! One of the things that warmed my heart this summer: when we train our apprentices, we work hard to let them know that theater work is all about ensemble and community -- together, we theater artists work to create a collaborative work of art to share with the greater community. We let them know that there are no small players, no less important roles. One of our most talented apprentices from 2007 auditioned for this year's apprentice company but did not get selected for the program, however, understanding the process and setting her young ego aside, she volunteered to work in the concession stand and was there almost every evening of the entire run. As an actor who finds herself backstage and in the house more than on stage these days, I was particularly thrilled with this young artist's choice. Theater is community service, and all roles are important ones! ... even selling M&Ms!
IF I GAVE YOU AN ELEPHANT WHERE WOULD YOU HIDE IT? ;-)
DENICE: Hide it?! I'd use it for the Princess' first entrance next summer in "Love's Labor's Lost!" Hahaha! After the guys sign the oath of celibacy, the Princess and her ladies unquestionably bring the elephant into the room!
'
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY
TO THE THEATRE PATRONS OF NASHVILLE?
DENICE: We can never thank every one enough. Thank you, Nashville! You make living, working and creating here worthwhile!
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For more information about becoming a 2010 Nashville Shakespeare Festival Sponsor please contact:
