Education

"I know for a fact that this was the first play to make me really think about my life."
–Student, Jacobs High School, Algonquin, IL
 

"Our discussion the next day [following the performance] was magic. So that’s why I became a teacher!"
–Marine Math and Science Academy, Chicago

Shakespeare remains a cornerstone in a great many of our schools—for a variety of reasons. His portrayal of human nature is expansive; his language, unparalleled; his stories can help bridge generations, nationalities, cultures, and neighborhoods. And in a world increasingly divided, his characters challenge us to think, again, about what still binds us.

But…reading Shakespeare can also pose a real challenge—to students and to their teachers. His work is some of the most complex that a student is required to read. Here at Chicago Shakespeare, we set out to support this central component of the English curriculum, and to make it accessible, achievable, fun, and enlightening for students and teachers alike. Our program unites the skills of theater artists and classroom educators to bring Shakespeare to life in the school curriculum—through live performance, professional learning for educators, comprehensive teaching resources, and opportunities for students to perform Shakespeare. Serving more than 40,000 teachers and students each year, Team Shakespeare is one of the most comprehensive and highly respected arts education programs in the country.

2021/22 LEAD TEAM SHAKESPEARE SPONSORS

MAJOR TEAM SHAKESPEARE SUPPORTERS

Additional Support Provided by
Arts Midwest, BP, Helen Brach Foundation, Butler Family Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Fifth Third Bank, First Midwest Bancorp, The Grover Hermann Foundation, James and Brenda Grusecki, The Malott Family Student Access Fund, Mazza Foundation, Pritzker Foundation Team Shakespeare Fund, and The Segal Family Foundation Student Matinee Fund