What is the American Shakespeare Center On Tour?

The American Shakespeare Center On Tour is the international touring arm of the American Shakespeare Center. Direct from the stage of the ASC's celebrated Blackfriars Playhouse, the worlds only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre, the American Shakespeare Center On Tour boasts more than two decades worth of global touring experience. This elite troupe stands as one of America’s foremost providers of quality entertainment to performing and fine arts centers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Style

The American Shakespeare Center On Tour's road shows strive to re-create the Blackfriars Playhouse experience at venues across the globe. ASC On Tour productions recognize that the actors are not alone in the theatre, and actively shatter the "fourth wall" between actors and audience. As they do on their home stage, ASC On Tour actors on the road double roles in a performance space unencumbered with the trappings of modern theatre, surround themselves with audience members on three sides* and perform with house lights on at all times. Thus, actors can see the audience, the audience can see the actors, and, most importantly, the audience can see each other. This inclusive arrangement allows the ASC On Tour to recreate the festive sense of community in which patrons of Shakespeare's Blackfriars reveled during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. Rather than try to spin its tales through elaborate set pieces and electronic wizardry, the American Shakespeare Center On Tour focuses on performance, casting the finest actors, singers, and musicians available at auditions held throughout the country.

The American Shakespeare Center On Tour artistic staff, with literally hundreds of productions under its collective belt, is fiercely dedicated to exceeding the expectations of its audience. Artistic Director Jim Warren's commitment to high-octane, fast paced, uncompromisingly focused performances has rightly earned the American Shakespeare Center's American Shakespeare Center On Tour its place at the forefront of classical and contemporary theatre production.

Best of all, the troupe is entirely self-contained. All we need is 25'x 25' of clear stage area that affords easy access to the audience on three sides, and a simple lighting plot. You simply won’t find a road company capable of creating more excitement with fewer technical requirements. For theatres of 1,500 seats or more, sound amplification is required. Please contact ASC's Tour Operations Manager Darlene Schneck at (540) 885-5588 ext. 11 for more details.

*If your theatre is a traditional proscenium, not to worry: with some extra chairs, we can turn a proscenium into a three-sided "thrust" in minutes. And you’ll soon discover those stage seats are the most sought-after at any ASC On Tour performance.

Experience and Flexibility

We do it with the lights on. - The American Shakespeare Center

Since 1988, The American Shakespeare Center On Tour has been honing the art of touring on stages in 47 states, 5 foreign nations, and 1 US Territory. From the Folger Elizabethan Theatre in Washington, DC, to the Globe Theatre in Neuss, Germany, few road companies can boast the speed and efficiency for which the ASC On Tour has set the standard. The troupe is equally skilled at executing the one night "Hit-and-Run" as it is at keeping audiences on the edge of their seats during extended runs. Whether you’re looking for a single evening's entertainment or a multi-week repertory theatre festival, you need look no further than the American Shakespeare Center On Tour.

Workshops

"O this learning, what a thing it is!" - The Taming of the Shrew, I,ii,160

The American Shakespeare Center On Tour's unmatched reputation for performance and entertainment is paralleled only by the quality of the troupe's educational offerings. From community centers to University classrooms, ASC On Tour workshops offer participants an exciting, hands-on learning experience in an intimate setting. In addition to title-specific workshops, the ASC On Tour offers proven interactive workshops in areas ranging from acting and auditioning to stage combat. Each workshop has been custom crafted by the American Shakespeare Center's Executive Director, Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen, one of America’s leading Shakespeare scholars, and a frequent guest-lecturer at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. If you wish, with enough advance notice, Dr. Cohen and the ASC On Tour can custom design a workshop to meet your venue or community’s specific needs. To ensure the most interactive experience, ASC On Tour workshops are limited to 30 (or fewer) participants. Lecture/Demonstrations, which are less interactive, are available for larger groups and corporate functions.

Residencies - The Total Package

"And since this business so fair is done, let us not leave." - Henry IV, Part One, V,v,43

Bring it all together by selecting from one of the ASC On Tour’s two standard residency packages, or by working with ASC on Tour to customize your own. ASC On Tour packages not only represent your best economic value, but allows your audience to immerse itself in the total theatre experience… allowing them a special “backstage pass” to meet and learn from the actors who bring the ASC On Tour magic alive on stage.

Our ASC On Tour MINI-WEEK features 3 performances over three days, 3 post-show discussions with the audience, and 6 hours of classroom/community workshops.

Our ASC On Tour WEEK (the ASC On Tour’s best value for the dollar) features 6 performances over six days, 6 post-show discussions with the audience, and 15 hours of classroom/community workshops.

Note: The ASC On Tour WEEK features 6 performances, 6 post-show discussions, and 15 hours of classroom workshops over the course six days, while the ASC On Tour MINI-WEEK provides 3 performances, 3 post-show discussions, and 8 hours of classroom workshops in 3 days. Maximum theatre for minimum cost.

• ASC on Tour Fees

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