State of the Arts A quarterly newsletter of the Fairbanks Arts Association
March 2006
Affiliate Spotlight: Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre In the early 1990’s, a band of actors and directors agreed that Fairbanks should have a regularly producing Shakespeare Theatre. That initial discussion beside the Chena River has grown into a 13 year, year-round, international endeavor known as the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre (FST). FST is well known in the Interior for their outdoor summer Shakespeare performances and wild spectacles that include trucks, live animals, 30 foot ski slopes, dancing gorillas, war pyrotechnics, and huge working water fountains. In recent years FST has begun an outreach program in the Boys’ and Girls’ clubs, assisted-living residences, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, youth detention centers, and countless in-school performances for students and teachers throughout Alaska. FST’s unique winter activity, the Bard-a-thon, is enjoying a seventh year in production. The staff at FST is just wrapping up a large educational outreach program connected to the Bard-a-thon readings. This year, with a matching grant from the NEA Shakespeare in American Communities’ Shakespeare for a New Generation initiative, FST sent staff members to over 10 rural Alaskan communities to visit classrooms and conduct 10 day workshops that culminate in a public staged reading of one of Shakespeare’s plays. FST visited Nome, Bethel, Unalaska, McGrath, Tokatna, Ketchikan, St. Paul, Tok, Healy, Barrow, and is going to be visiting Nenana. Over 250 adults and over 2,000 children have already participated in this program. Teachers have been astounded at how great the improvement in the student’s reading ability has been after a 10 day workshop. FST staff members have expressed a deep emotional impact in reaction to the student’s tangible improvements. FST is looking forward to having Graham Watts back to direct the summer show. Watts has directed four previous shows with the company, and will return this year to direct Henry V, which will play from June 28th-July 16th on the grounds of the UAF campus. This play is the account of the history making defeat of the French armies at the battle of Agincourt. Henry’s stirring Crispien Day speech is one of the most celebrated pieces of the Bard’s work. Additional information is available at the FST office 457-7638 (457-POET) or www.fairbanks-shakespeare.org.
Fairbanks Arts Association Annual Artistic Adventure !
March 17, 18,19 The Fairbanks Arts Association is funded by private, corporate, and foundation memberships and donations, City of Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts