Shakespeare LIVE!
Bring Shakespeare’s plays to vivid life with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s acclaimed educational touring company, Shakespeare LIVE!.
Each Shakespeare LIVE! production is energetic, exciting, engaging, and visually striking. These tours make Shakespeare accessible and appealing for students and educators alike.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare’s uproarious comedy is the ideal first Shakespeare for elementary students and a riotous theatrical “roller coaster ride” for teens and teachers!
Grades 3 and up
Julius Caesar
Personal loyalty and patriotic duty collide as cries of revolt rock the Roman capitol in Shakespeare's searing political thriller. Dynamic and deeply relevant, this new production is a must-see for students of history and English literature.
Grades 6 and up
For more information on the 2024 In-Person and Virtual Tours, see the drop-downs below. To start your booking process now, please fill out this interest form.
IN YOUR SCHOOL
In-School Tours, Spring 2024
The Shakespeare Theatre’s captivating in-person performances are back with dynamic new productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Julius Caesar! Tours and workshops are available for your school early March through mid May, 2024.
All performances include a comprehensive Study Guide and a post-show performance talk-back with the actors.
Shakespeare workshops are also available!
For more information, please contact the Education Department at Education@ShakespeareNJ.org or call 973-845-6742.
Booking Your Tour - FAQ
Q - When can I book Shakespeare LIVE!?
A - The traditional Shakespeare LIVE! touring window is early-March through mid-May and we often start booking tours at the beginning of the school year.
Q - How long is a Shakespeare LIVE! performance?
A - Each play is abridged and expected to run between 65 and 70 minutes. The post-show Q&A can add another 10-minutes or so onto your assembly time.
Q - Are there any specific space requirements for a Shakespeare LIVE! performance?
A -The Shakespeare LIVE! touring company can perform in any space (auditorium, black box, multi-purpose room, gymnasium, cafeteria, community arts center, etc...). No special lights or sound system are needed. We do, however, require a flat and clean performance space that measures at least 20'D x 25'W x 14'H. If your space does not meet these requirements please call our education department for more information.
Q - How many students can view a performance?
A - We generally limit audience size to 250 per performance. Larger audiences may be permitted for an additional fee. However, Shakespeare LIVE! does not tour with any form of microphone, so even if your venue can comfortably fit 700 students, the audience experience for students at the rear of a large house will likely be less than optimal. If you are looking for a larger size house, please call our education department for more information.
Q - I have a small group or class that would like to see the show. Do you offer discounts for a small audience size?
A - No. The base price of a Shakespeare LIVE! performance is not related to the size of the space or the audience. We do offer special pricing for "Title 1" schools. If your group size makes booking a tour impractical, consider booking seats to one of our "LIVE! at the Kirby" Student Matinee style performances at our F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison, NJ.
Q - Do you offer a discount for Title 1 schools?
A - Yes we do. Please call our education department for more information.
Q - Do you offer any other programs or support materials?
A - Every Shakespeare LIVE! performance includes access to our Study Guide, as well as a post-show Q&A with the actors immediately following each performance. If you're interested in something a bit more in-depth or interactive, we also offer our "Speak the Speech" workshops at a discount for schools who are booking Shakespeare LIVE!. Please call our Education Department for more information.
AT OUR THEATRE
Field Trips to The Shakespeare Theatre, Spring 2024
Select Shakespeare LIVE! performances are available at STNJ's F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of Drew University.
All performances include a comprehensive Study Guide and a post-performance talk-back with the actors.
For more information, please contact the Education Department at Education@ShakespeareNJ.org or call (973) 845-6742.
VIRTUAL TOURS
Virtual Productions
Teachers can access these productions for their students’ viewing for only $25 per class.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Directed by Brian B. Crowe
Grades 3 and up
Viewing time: 1 hour 15 minutes
SEE THE TRAILER
JULIUS CAESAR
Directed by AC Horton
Grades 6 and up
Viewing time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Coming Soon:
ROMEO & JULIET
Directed by AC Horton
Grades 6 and up
Viewing time: TBA
Troubleshooting Virtual Tours
I've typed in the password and keep getting a spinning circle on the video — what does this mean?
Though these performances were filmed in the highest possible quality, depending on your Internet connection and speed, the videos may take a few minutes to load. Please allow a few minutes to load or refresh the page.
Who can help me if I have technical questions?
Although we can’t provide individual technical support, we’ll do our best to help. The best way to reach us is to send an email to Education@ShakespeareNJ.org.
Why am I having trouble accessing my online account?
If your screen looks like the one below, use the password that was emailed to you along with the Vimeo access instructions.
Please note that the Vimeo access instructions, link, and password are sent manually. We will make every effort to get you that information within 24 hours of your ticket purchase. You can always call our Box Office to make sure they get you the access instructions immediately.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The 2024 Company
Preparing Your Students
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is committed to making Shakespeare LIVE! a useful and rewarding learning opportunity for students and teachers alike. This is not just an hour's entertainment, but an educational experience that reinforces a teacher’s overall objectives for their students.
Before your performance, teachers have free access to our comprehensive online study guides. We strongly encourage teachers to select and reproduce material from these guides for students before they watch the performance. Included are sections on Shakespeare's life and art, a synopsis and background material on the specific play, performance and writing activities, and questions for further discussion. Feedback on our study guides is welcome!
Click here to access the Macbeth Study Guide!
Click here to access the Midsummer Study Guide!
Click here to access the Romeo & Juliet Study Guide!