Founded | 1992 |
---|---|
Founder | Gerard J. Schubert, O.S.F.S. |
Type | Arts |
Focus | The Plays of William Shakespeare and other classic playwrights |
Area served
|
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware |
Product | Professional Theatre |
Owner | DeSales University |
Key people
|
Patrick Mulcahy, Producing Artistic Director; Dennis Razze, Associate Artistic Director; Casey Gallagher, Managing Director |
Employees
|
12 year-round; 200+ seasonally |
Volunteers
|
200 |
Website | www |
The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF) is a professional theater company in residence at DeSales University and the Official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Festival is organized as a non-profit 501(c)(3) in Pennsylvania. Each summer, PSF produces six or more plays (often including a musical) and special one-night-only performances. In the fall, PSF tours a Shakespeare play to schools as part of its Linny Fowler WillPower tour. The Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary season in the summer of 2016. Since its inception, the Festival has been attended by 888,000 people. The acting company consists primarily of professional actors from New York and Philadelphia and who are members of Actors' Equity Association. The plays are performed in two theaters in The Labuda Center for the Performing Arts: the 473-seat proscenium Mainstage or the 189-seat thrust Schubert Theater on the DeSales University campus in Center Valley.
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival is listed as a Major Festival in the book Shakespeare Festivals Around the World by Marcus D. Gregio (Editor), 2004.
The Festival's signature education program is the annual Linny Fowler WillPower Tour, which brings a professionally produced Shakespeare play to middle schools and high schools throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Initiated in 2000, the WillPower Tour is a professionally directed 80-minute production with sets and costumes featuring a company of professionally trained and experienced actor/teachers. Half-day or full-day programming meets academic standards, with curriculum guides provided in advance. Post-performance discussion gives the students the opportunity to share their reactions and insights. Now in its 18th year, the fall 2017 WillPower Tour features Romeo and Juliet, which is touring schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware from October 4 - November 17, 2017.
The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival was founded in 1992 by Gerard J. Schubert, O.S.F.S., founder and chair of Performing and Fine Arts department at DeSales University.
Coordinates: 40°32′24″N 75°22′25″W / 40.539944°N 75.373474°W