Education

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

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

There are many reasons why Shakespeare remains a cornerstone in American schools. His portrayal of human nature is so encompassing, his language unparalleled, and his plays serve to bridge generations, nationalities, cultures and neighborhoods. In a world divided by exclusion, he challenges us to think, again.

But reading Shakespeare can pose a real challenge—to students and to teachers—and his work is some of the most difficult that a student is required to read. Here at Chicago Shakespeare we view it as a responsibility, and a privilege 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.