Idaho Shakespeare Festival facts for kids
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is a special theater group in Boise, Idaho, United States. They put on plays during the summer, usually from June to September. This festival works with other theater groups like the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Ohio and the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. They even share actors!
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About the Festival
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is a professional theater company that performs many different plays each year. They usually put on five plays, which include famous works by William Shakespeare and also newer or other classic plays.
More than 105,000 people enjoy the festival every year. It offers professional shows, theater classes, and special programs for people all over Idaho. The festival has an outdoor theater with 770 seats. It works closely with the Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
Each summer, from June through September, the festival usually presents five or six main plays. In 2008, over 53,000 people came to watch. The festival also features performances by its drama camps and a program for young actors learning about theater.
Before the main plays in the evening, there's a free outdoor "Green Show." This show often has music and themes from Shakespeare's time. It's like a mini-play that gives a hint about the main performance.
Learning with Theater
The festival also brings theater programs to schools in many parts of Idaho. Their school tours, called Idaho Theater for Youth and Shakespearience, reach more than 52,000 students and teachers every year. These programs even go to small towns and rural areas.
The festival also has a drama school with classes for all ages. They offer special training for young actors and theater workers. During the summer, there are camps for kids aged 3 to 18 who want to learn about acting and theater. All these educational programs, along with the main plays, help the festival connect with many different people.
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is known as a major festival in the 2004 book Shakespeare Festivals Around the World.
Festival History
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival has a rich history. It was started by people who loved theater, including one of the original founders, Dan Peterson. He passed away in 2008.
Where the Festival Is Located
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival Amphitheater and Habitat Reserve is in a beautiful natural area next to the Boise River. It's close to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation offices. The theater has 770 seats and was built to make sure everyone can hear the actors' voices clearly. This special place is also home to many different plants and animals. The festival works with the Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to use this unique location.
How the Festival Works
The festival is run by a group of 44 volunteers called the board of trustees. It also has 12 full-time staff members. More than 180 artists, technicians, and other staff work there, and hundreds of community volunteers help out each year.
Past Performances
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival puts on many different plays. For example, the 2020 season was planned to include plays like Much Ado About Nothing, Ain't Misbehavin', Henry V, Emma, and Sleuth. However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, that season was canceled.
In 2005, the festival received a special grant from the Idaho Commission of the Arts. This allowed them to take a play called Dreams of a Bird Woman on tour all across Idaho.
See also
- William Shakespeare
- Boise, Idaho
- Shakespeare festivals
