We are excited to share with you this journey of discovery: delving into the comedy, tragedy and history of the Human Story- a Story we all Share and we all Live...our Human Condition.
The Marco Island & Naples Shakespeare Festivals GLOBAL would not exist today if not for the generosity of the Marco Island, Naples Community as well as the support of our brilliant partners around the Globe!
A very special Thank You, to the Marco Island & Naples community, for supporting our trainee students at the Marco Island Academy, on their journey to live and learn Shakespeare - literally breathing life into the words on the page...and coming away with an awe-inspiring understanding and appreciation for Shakespeare's text and sensitivity to the realities of what makes us human.
Our students never cease to amaze us as directors, academics, teachers and members of the professional thespian community worldwide.
Gaining ever more appreciation and understanding, they share Shakespeare's text with such talent and entertainment you are left gasping for air from laughing, or searching for a tissue to wipe away tears.
Please join us in this journey to help keep Shakespeare's words alive and through the entertainment of these talented actors, understood.
Your support of our students and our work at home in Southwest Florida as well as abroad leaves the kind of impact that can never be erased or taken away.
In deepest Gratitude to our Supporters, present and future,
Thank you..."a thousand times," thank you.
Yours Most Sincerely,
Hello Friends,
I'm so excited to come out of Directing retirement this Spring 2020 season for our online Reading of Shakespeare's Two Noble Kinsmen!
We have always operated on the principal that a sense of community is critical to well-being; and that theatre is one of the most diverse and welcoming communities open to everyone. In this time of Social Isolation, we believe it's even more important to lean into that sense of community whoever we can.
Our 2015-2016 season was my last full season Directing for Marco Island & Naples Shakespeare Festivals Global. Although I have remained involved with our work, and mission to engage the international community through - the brilliant insight of a one William Shakespeare.
The 2013 - 2016 seasons, quite literally, changed my life in ways I never could have imagined, and I will be forever indebted to our incredible trainee students and actors for instilling in me the courage to pursue passion.
Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace has an interesting feature in that its epilogue consists of two parts. As I have grappled personally with the reconciliation of these two notions as metaphor recently, it seems fitting that my temporary Directing epilogue with the Festival was also in two parts.
First Gift of the Magi, an adaptation of O. Henry's short Chrstimas story which I have penned for our December production.
We have set this story in the first half of 20th century London, a time and a town marked by industrialism, war, and nationalism, but also a time marked by the contradicting senses of unity and change. Our tale joins John Dillingham nearing the end of life's toils, grappling with what he's lost and what he'll leave behind as he recalls the sweet, hilarious, and desparaging moments that made him the man he thinks he is. Introduced to a vibrant and caring young nurse, he is reminded of the virtues of hope and love, as she struggles to let her heart take her on a journey of her own. Brought together by sickness and held together by fate, they learn that best gift one ultimately can receive is the gift of giving.
Second was William Shakespeare's The Tempest.
So excited to delve right back in with our incredible Ensemble this full-wonder 2020 Spring season!