Georgia Shakespeare

Mission:  

We advance our mission to...

Georgia Shakespeare brings timeless stories to life in ways that resonate here and now.   With Shakespeare as our foundation, we tell those stories with heart, humor, intelligence, boldness and sensuality.

and aspire to...

We partner with leading academic institutions to provide an essential educational resource.

We use our artistic performances as the basis for unique and compelling educational experiences for people of all ages, with a strong emphasis on exposing young people to world-class theatrical productions of classic stories. 

We reach people where they are, both in their lives and where they live.  

We deliver the unique power of live performance, hosting and engaging our audiences in ways that turn every performance into a compelling experience. 

We provide an artistic home that will enable some of the very best theater artists in the world to live and work in Georgia, with a strong emphasis on attracting and nurturing great young theater talent.

History:
Georgia Shakespeare was co-founded in 1985 by Kirby McLain (Lane) Anderson, Richard Garner and Robert Watson.  After a year of planning, fundraising and researching other Shakespeare companies around the country, Georgia Shakespeare (then called Georgia Shakespeare Festival) opened its first season on July 10, 1986, and featured The Taming of the Shrew and King Lear in rotating repertory.   Over 6,000 people attended the twenty-five performances that season, held in a 60' X 90' white tent located on the Oglethorpe University front athletic field.

Three underlying principles were established in that first season that have shaped Georgia Shakespeare's identity over the years.  Georgia Shakespeare committed to hiring a professional company of artists who were supported by student interns, the shows were presented in rotating repertory and a commitment was made to hire and nurture local artists.