Midnight Shakespeare teams inner-city youth and professional theater instructors to create a wonderful alternative learning opportunity. Specifically targeting under-served neighborhoods, students work in an ensemble atmosphere to strengthen verbal and written communication skills
while building an appreciation for technique, discipline and sacrifice - all necessary ingredients for achievement. The Shakespeare Festival partners with community organizations like the CivicCorps Schools, the South Side Community Center of San Jose, and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

Students in the 10-week program discover and examine the world of Shakespeare, and perform an abridged Shakespeare play using their own life experiences to create fully developed characters. This approach stimulates imagination, engages intellect and builds confidence. Past performances have included: Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, A Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, and Othello.

If you or your organization would like more information about Midnight Shakespeare, please call (415) 558-0888 or (800) 978-PLAY.

2008-2009 Midnight Shakespeare Sites....

MORRILL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Berryessa District, San Jose
- Dates: March 2 – May 14, 2009 / Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Performance Date: May 14, 2009 - 6:00 PM
- Teaching Artists: Bill Olson, Elena Wright, Rachel Jacobs
This is our ninth season working with the committed and enthusiastic students at Morril. We are proud to continue this program with the energetic community of Berryessa!

CADWALLADER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Evergreen District, San Jose
- Dates: October 6 – December 18, 2008 / Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Performance Date: December 18, 2008 at Leyva Middle School, 1865 Monrovia Drive, San Jose 95121 / Time: 7:00 PM
- Teaching Artists: Bill Olson, Amanda Mitchell, Ken Boswell
We look forward to our eighth season of collaboration with the skilled and dedicated students at Cadwallader. We continue to be impressed by the commitment of the students and families of the Evergreen District! This is the first production to include Leyva Middle School students, many who are Cadwallader graduates!
~ Article about Midnight Shakespeare at Cadwallader Elementary

CIVICORPS SCHOOLS (Formerly East Bay Conservation Corps)
West Oakland
- Dates: September 12 – November 20, 2008 / Fridays 9:30-12:30
- Performance Date: November 20, 2008 at The Ebell Room, Lake Merritt Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland 94610 / Time: 7:00 PM
- Teaching Artists: G. Randall Wright, Kristin Clippard, John Flanagan, Gary Grossman
This season marks our tenth anniversary of theater training with the creative and hardworking young adults at Civicorps. Their achievements continue to be a source of pride and inspiration!
~ Article about Midnight Shakespeare at EBCC

BURTON HIGH SCHOOL
Visitation Valley District, San Francisco
- Teaching Artists: G. Randall Wright, Kristin Clippard
We look forward to reinstating this program with the talented students at Burton High!

Support Midnight Shakespeare

Because Midnight Shakespeare is provided free of charge to the participants, we depend on the financial support of the community to pay for the program. Grants from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Louis R. Lurie Foundation, GATX Capital and Hitachi Data Systems have enabled us to add additional teaching artists and present additional sessions, resulting in an increase in both the quantity of youth served and the quality of service provided. Your donation today will:

	•		Make the power and emotion of Shakespeare's words and themes accessible to at-risk and economically disadvantaged youth who would not otherwise be exposed to the transforming power of the performing arts.
	•		Give youth important communications and social skills to increase their confidence, tolerance, and self-esteem
	•		Empower and encourage youth to realize their full potential and to improve their life.
	•		Support our mission to make the works and themes of Shakespeare accessible to all, regardless of their ethnicity, age, financial status or level of education.
Become a member of the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and support Midnight Shakespeare today! Current Supporters of Midnight Shakespeare: • The City of Oakland • The City of San Jose • Dodge & Cox • Dreyer's Charitable Foundation • The East Bay Conservation Corps • GATX Capital • The Greenville Foundation • The Koret Foundation • The Louis R. Lurie Foundation • National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) • The Hitachi Foundation and Hitachi Data Systems • Macy's West • The David and Lucile Packard Foundation • San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks • Valley Foundation • Hundreds of individuals who believe in the transformative power of the performing arts!