Community & Education

Community and Education

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival provides theater arts programming integrated into the curricula of approximately 73% of the school districts in Idaho, as well as parts of Oregon, Wyoming and Nevada. Through its school tours, Shakespearience and Idaho Theater for Youth, the Festival annually reaches approximately 50,000 school-age children, including those in rural and under-served communities.

The Drama School exemplifies the Festival’s attempts to foster lifelong learning and appreciation of theater arts, providing year-round classes for students in grades pre-kindergarten through high school. Camp Shakespeare offers school-aged children and young adults the opportunity to explore the excitement of Shakespeare’s words through imaginative play. The Festival’s Apprenticeships and school residency programs offer extended theatrical training.

Year-round outreach programs, such as the Festival’s Access Program and The Shakespeare Society, allow the Festival to serve a variety of audiences beyond those who attend summer performances or participate in educational programs. Collectively, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s programs and services continue to expand, providing artistic excellence, leadership and accessibility for diverse constituents.

Ask Us to Speak

If you are a member of a civic, professional or educational organization and would like a Festival representative to make a presentation to your group, please contact us at (208) 429-9908, ext. 202, or via email at  info@idahoshakespeare.org.

Signing Shakespeare

Idaho Shakespeare Festival is dedicated to making the magic of live theater accessible. As part of our summer Access Program one performance of each play is interpreted into American Sign Language. Please contact the box office at 208-336-9221 for tickets.

2013 Sign Interpreted performance schedule:

  • Blithe Spirit – Wednesday, June 26th, Interpreters: Sue Maynard and Mike Smith
  • Much Ado About Nothing – Wednesday, July 17th, Interpreters: Heather Gibbens and Holly Thomas-Mowery
  • Sweeney Todd – Wednesday, July 31st, Interpreters: Karen Nelson and LaVona Andrew
  • King Richard III – Tuesday, August 20th, Interpreters: Danielle Hough and Holly Thomas-Mowery
  • The Foreigner – Wednesday, September 11th, Interpreters: Julie Melton and Holly Higby

Click for performance times and details.

Click here for the ISF YouTube Signing Shakespeare Channel for play synopsis videos and more.