New Jersey: Madison, Family Vacation Ideas - See Shakespeare on the Move. 
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s acclaimed educational touring company, Shakespeare LIVE!, will launch its thirteenth season in February. From A
Midsummer Night’s Dream and
Macbeth to
Nevermore: The Final Nightmares of Edgar Allan Poe, the season looks promising and quite entertaining for youngsters and educators.
While the school touring news is not exactly a solid fit for a family vacation idea (actually no fit at all), I am passing the news on to parents and educators because I love this theatre company. They are excellent and children need to see what excellence looks like.
Shakespeare LIVE! will be traveling to schools and other venues throughout the tri-state state region with 60-minute versions of two of Shakespeare’s most popular plays –
A Midsummer Night’s Dream for grades 3 and up and
Macbeth for grades 6 and older -- as well as a third production entitled
Nevermore: The Final Nightmares of Edgar Allan Poe, created by Shakespeare Theatre resident director and director of education Brian B. Crowe. Nevermore… is recommended for grades 6 and older. Bookings are now being accepted for all three productions. (To inquire about bringing Shakespeare LIVE! to a school or venue, call 973-408-3980 or e-mail jbgrant@ShakespeareNJ.org.)
About Shakespeare LIVE! Since 1997, Shakespeare LIVE! has presented more than 1,200 performances to more than a quarter of a million young people, at over 800 schools and other venues throughout New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic region.
This energetic troupe of professional actors performs abridged productions of Shakespeare’s plays and other works based on the classics, engages in post-show discussions with students and family audiences, and conducts interactive theatre workshops. Although the plays are abridged to be performed within a class period, Shakespeare LIVE! prides itself on keeping Shakespeare's text intact. The company is renowned for its dynamic and visually creative productions, and for its ability to make Shakespeare’s plays appealing and accessible to all ages. The program not only enables young people to experience Shakespeare’s work as it was meant to be experienced — in performance.
Getaway for a weekend. If you have not made the trip to Madison to see one of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s seasonal productions put it on your list for 2009. See Shakespeare performed with energy and zing.
Need to know: Madison is a comfy tree-shrouded town without mass tourist appeal. There’s Drew University and Shakespeare. It’s an easy commute into Manhattan if NYC is part of your family vacation plan.
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey productions entertain and educate with ease and make it easy for parents or grandparents to share Shakespeare and create classic memories.
You can know the show: The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey offers “Pre-show Talks” on the second Thursday of each show's run in the theatre, prior to the evening performance. They present an insightful pre-performance talk by a Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey artist, providing fascinating background information and an expert's perspective on the play.
Bonus points: From their website you may download a synopsis of the pay for personal reference. If your Shakespeare is a little rusty this is a sneaky way to appear brilliant in front of your kids.
Have Shakespeare with a picnic. Gentle, green and stress free, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey offers a summer Picnic Series with free classics performed on the lawn F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, in the bucolic setting of the Drew University. Just take a picnic supper, blanket or lawn chair, relax, and enjoy abridged classics performed outdoors by the Next Stage Ensemble. Need to know: Admission and parking are free. Seating is first-come, first-served. In the event of inclement weather, performances will be moved to an indoor venue on the campus of Drew University.
Join the post-show discussions. Part of attending theatre is talking about the performance and The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey makes it happen. For no more than the price of a regular theatre ticket, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Symposium Series offers the opportunity for audience members to join in post-show discussions with the cast and artistic staff following selected performances on the Main Stage and Outdoor Stage.
About Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey’s only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare’s canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.
Make it happen. The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey 36 Madison Avenue Madison, NJ 07940. Box office (973) 408-5600 or
www.ShakespeareNJ.org
Content and images provided by The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Opinions by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Editor FTF. Copyright 2009.
