Enrollment for MACBETH opens today!

The next Grassroots workshop, MACBETH, is going to be a bit special. First of all, it's my farewell to all you Grassrooters, as I'll be moving to England just a few days afterward to begin a two-year MFA in Staging Shakespeare. So, tender moment! But still, let's not make this a long, drawn-out affair, let's just remember what we had. And second, we're going to make this the biggest, craziest, and funnest original-practice Shakespeare workshop Utah County has EVER SEEN! Invite your friends, come to the 8pm Barbecue, wear crazy costumes, bring fake blood!! Whatever you can do to help make this the most engaging, creative, and surprising version of MACBETH we can possibly imagine, you do it!


Now, for those of you who are new at this, here's the skinny:

1) You sign up for the workshop by emailing grassrootsshakespeare@gmail.com on or before the 12th of September, whereupon you will receive part of a script, with lines which you will be required to memorize!

2) You arrive at SCERA Park in Orem, just off 600 N and State St., at or before 5:00PM on September 19th. There, we shall rehearse. We'll warm up, play with scene and character choices, and basically throw it together like a hot Elizabethan meat pie!

3) You eat at the delicious Barbecue, provided by the GSC for a mere $5, and talk with your comrades about how awesome you all are.

4) You perform your 1-hour cutting of MACBETH, start to finish, for a real live audience. You stun the world. You go on to greatness. Our lives are changed forever.


That's basically it. Sound crazy? It is. But hey, that's how they did it back in the day, and we think it makes for a supremely entertaining, educational, and enjoyable evening for everyone involved. So sign up, invite your friends, and let's go play in the park!

who are we now?

This summer, theater students from UVU and BYU teamed up to create the Grassroots Shakespeare Company. Originally, their goal was to create an original-practice production of a Shakespeare play. After the unexpectedly brilliant success of that little venture, a few of the grassrooters wanted to share the original-practice experience with everyone! So, the GSC became an educational experiment as well. On a monthly basis, Grassroots now produces workshops in which literally anyone can explore what it was like for actors in Shakespeare's day to perform. They memorize cue scripts, rehearse for a few hours, and perform to outdoor audiences for free. It's lively, fast-paced, and a little motley, but most of all, it's fun.


As you can probably glean from the reviews, the news, and the photos, we're having a good time playing with Shakespeare's original performance methods. And we're all about inclusion, so if you have ever had a desire to step on stage and try your hand at acting, or even if you just want to watch some very entertaining theater, check us out! We send out regular updates to our fans on facebook, and special workshop invitations to our email list, so join both today!


So far, our workshops have included Hamlet, The Winter's Tale, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and we plan to produce a Macbeth workshop in September! So check out the photos, send us an email, and become a fan on facebook. And let's play!

A Midsummer Night's Dream - ONE NIGHT ONLY!

Thaaaaat's right, ladies and gents, we're doing it again. On Saturday, August 29th, the Grassroots Shakespeare Company is performing a one-night-only showing of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and you're invited to participate!

Try your hand at original practices, and be a part of the fastestand funniest rendition of A Midsummer Night's Dream since 1595!

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

1) If you'd like to participate, email grassrootsshakespeare@gmail.com immediately. If the workshop fills before you sign up, you are invited to come observe the process, but you might not be on stage.

2) If you sign up and pledge a $5 dollar contribution before Saturday August 22nd, you'll receive your very own cue script, taken from a particular scene in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Memorize it. I can't stress this enough. In order for original practices to work, you've got to be memorized before our first and only rehearsal.

3) Arrive at Scera Park at 5:00pm SHARP on Saturday August 29th, memorized and wearing whatever costume you'd like. You'll then participate in the most invigorating and collaborative rehearsal ever. With the others in your scene, you'll figure out your relationships, your place in the play, your blocking, and everything else about your performance. It's fun, fast-paced, and so 400 years ago!

4) At 8:00pm, we're going to take a little break to enjoy a delicious barbecue! So bring your appetite!

5) At 9:00pm, we will run the entire 1-hour show, from beginning to end. Your scene will fall somewhere in there, so you'll need to be listening for your cue line!

6) Casting is gender-blind, just as it was in Shakespeare's day (because only men were allowed to perform), and you are encouraged to invite friends/family/lovers/bosses to come see your show!

SPREAD THE WORD.

SPREAD THE LOVE.

SPREAD THE GRASSROOTS.

The Winter's Tale - This Thursday Night ONLY!

This Thursday's performance of The Winter's Tale will feature seasoned actors, English teachers, novice performers, and everything in between. In a mere 3 hours, this motley group will conduct its one and only rehearsal, and immediately following that frenzied process, the show will begin.

And, believe it or not, that's how Shakespeare's original performances happened, more or less. The actors would get together with their own lines and cues memorized, and have an incredibly brief rehearsal. Then, they'd perform the show. There was no director. There were no designers. There were only the actors, the space, and the audience. That's the way we like it!

Now, in case you didn't know, The Winter's Tale is one of Shakespeare's "Romances," which essentially means there's at least one shipwreck, a plot spanning decades, and a very "deus ex machina" ending. You may recognize those plot devices from The Tempest, another of Shakespeare's so-called Romances. These plays were particularly popular duing the Jacobean era, and are known for thier perplexing mixture of deep psychological drama and light slapstick comedy. They also reflect the burgeoning popularity of the masque, and often contain elements of magic and redemption. So, look for that stuff.

Also, you should know that the Grassroots Shakespeare Company began in May 2009, and is funded solely by donations. If you like what you see, please consider making a contribution.

We'll see you on Thursday, July 16th, 9pm at SCERA park in Orem, for our One-Night-Only performance of The Winter's Tale!

The Winter's Tale: A Midsummer Workshop!

Thaaaaat's right, ladies and gents, we're doing it again. Next Thursday, July 16th, the Grassroots Shakespeare Company is performing a one-night-only showing of The Winter's Tale, and you're invited to participate!

Try your hand at original practices, and be a part of the fastest and funniest rendition of The Winter's Tale since 1611!

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

1) If you'd like to participate, email grassrootsshakespeare@gmail.com immediately. If the workshop fills before you sign up, you are invited to come observe the process, but you might not be on stage.

2) If you sign up and pledge a $5 dollar contribution before Saturday July 11th, you'll receive your very own cue script, taken from a particular scene in The Winter's Tale. Memorize it. I can't stress this enough. In order for original practices to work, you've got to be memorized before our first and only rehearsal.

3) Arrive at Scera Park at 6:00pm SHARP on Thursday July 16th, memorized and wearing whatever costume you'd like. You'll then participate in the most invigorating and collaborative rehearsal ever. With the others in your scene, you'll figure out your relationships, your place in the play, your blocking, and everything else about your performance. It's fun, fast-paced, and so 400 years ago!

4) At 9:00pm, we will run the entire 1-hour show, from beginning to end. Your scene will fall somewhere in there, so you'll need to be listening for your cue line!

5) Casting is gender-blind, just as it was in Shakespeare's day (because only men were allowed to perform), and you are encouraged to invite friends/family/lovers/bosses to come see your show!

SPREAD THE WORD. SPREAD THE LOVE. SPREAD THE GRASSROOTS.

spread the grassroots, spread the love!

The following article was printed in the UVU Review on Monday, June 22nd. It appears here without permission, so if it gets taken down, that's why. Enjoy!

The Bard is Back
New Shakespearean company
uses old techniques
to make the story new

MEL SUNDQUIST
Culture Writer

The newly-founded Grassroots Shakespeare Company is a rare treasure of Utah Valley theater. Created and peopled by local college students, Grassroots uses the techniques that acting companies used in Shakespeare's day to create plays that are "fast-paced, funny, intriguing, and simple," according to grassrootsshakespeare.blogspot.com.

Grassroots is currently performing Much Ado About Nothing, one of Shakespeare's most loved comedies. All performances are outdoors in natural light. Check the sidebar for dates and times.

Utah Shakespeare fans have seen the bard's plays at the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, and among several traditional theater venues in Utah Valley. However, the Grassroots' production of Much Ado About Nothing is the most enjoyable Shakespeare production Utah theatergoers have had the chance to see in at least the last five years.

The actors are unapologetic. Generally, performing without a stage, so close to the audience, and with makeshift costumes and sets is too embarrassing for actors to handle. This embarrassment often comes across as a continual, agonizing apology to the audience for subjecting them to the performance. However, this particular group of young actors have chosen to perform under these conditions, and the jury-rigged, ad hoc design features serve the story surprisingly well.

The play has been shortened to run at a little over an hour. Despite the amputated script, the plot comes across with startling clarity. This simple coherence is thanks to the actors' denial of several theatrical traditions, specifically their rejection of a "fourth wall" between the stage and the audience. Here, the story is told to audience members, rather than at them, as plays that take themselves more seriously are wont to do.

Shakespeare's plays have in general become over-intellectualized and haughty. However, they were originally written to be enjoyed by all classes of society - from the poor and uneducated to Queen Elizabeth. The Grassroots Shakespeare Company has brought Shakespeare back to the common man - you don't have to ge an English major or an intellectual prick to understand and enjoy this story.


To read more reviews, or to write your own, check out the "Reviews" tab on our Facebook fan page!

Cast Biographies!

Check out the accomplishments and aspirations of the Grassroots Shakespeare Company! We may look motley, but it turns out that most of us actually know what we're doing...

Alex Ungerman - Benedick Alex most recently appeared as Jacques in the Hale Center Theater Orem's production of As You Like it, as Orsino in Twelfth Night at UVU, and as the title character in Pericles, Prince of Tyre with BYU Young Company Shakespeare. He is currently pursing a BA in Theater Arts at Utah Valley University where he has been a four time Irene Ryan Nominee.

Becca Ingram - Hero/Watchman Becca hails from the far away land of Connecticut and has now made her way to American Fork, Utah. She is so excited to be living the dream with Grassroots and has been seen most recently as Rosalind in As You Like It (HCTO), Chris in Dancing at Lughnasa (BYU), and Hilda Manney in Room Service (HCTO). She loves her family...a lot.

Cherish Caldwell - Margaret Cherish hails from Sandy Utah where she first began performing and directing. She teaches Middle school and High school Theater at Meridian School as well as Liahona Academy. She has won many awards for directing and choreography at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. She Assistant Directed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland last summer and was nominated this year as a director with Meridian School. She has been the recipient of acting scholarships and two Irene Ryan nominations this year at BYU where she is pursuing a BFA in Acting.

Davey Morrison - Dogberry/Verges Davey has loved Shakespeare for a long time, and is delighted to be working with the Grassroots Shakespeare Company! Davey's most recent credits include lead and supporting roles in As You Like It, Room Service, and Don't Drink the Water, all at the Hale Center Theater Orem. Other favorite roles have been Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, George Spelvin in The Actor's Nightmare, Mr. Martin in The Bald Soprano, Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Dromio of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors. Davey and his lovely fiancee Bianca run a weekly playwriting workshop together at New Play Project (Thursdays from 7-9pm at the Provo Theater Company); he has also had a number of plays he's written produced with NPP. In addition to his work in the theater, Davey is an award-winning filmmaker, poet, artist, and musician; you can see his work at www.daveymorrison.blogspot.com.

Jason Sullivan - Conrade/Friar Francis Jason, from Orem, is a student in the Theater program at Utah Valley University, and an Irene Ryan finalist. He recently performed as Orlando in As You Like It at the Hale, and as Hutter in UVU's Nosferatu. He and Mark Oram rode the same bus to school for a while, but they never spoke, because they didn't know each other. Also, he's a big 24 fan, and allegedly freaked out a lot during season 3.

Joel Petrie - Don John/Sexton From Canada, Joel is a connsumate director, actor, and cinematographer. He recently worked as the technical director of UVU's nationally-acclaimed Nosferatu, and is producing a film project during the run of Much Ado About Nothing. He has also directed a mixed-media version of Romeo & Juliet, and performed as Gonzalo in UVU's The Tempest. He was a semifinalist in the Irene Ryan scholarship competition in 2008, and is excited to be performing with Grassroots!

Jyllian Petrie - Beatrice/Watchman Jyllian didn't want anyone to write her bio for her. I can tell you, though, that she's a very beautiful and talented actress, costume designer, and also a fan of 24.

Kacey Spadafora - Don Pedro Kacey recently performed with BYU's Young Company Shakespeare Troupe in Pericles, Prince of Tyre, and sometimes misses the good old days. He enjoys writing, can quote funny lines from Up, and recently turned 21.

Mark Oram - Claudio From Kaysville, Mark has a BS in English from Utah Valley University, and is moving to England in September to pursue an MFA in Staging Shakespeare at the University of Exeter. His recent credits include Touchstone in As You Like It at the Hale, Knock in UVU's Nosferatu, and Helicanus in BYU's Pericles. He is excited for his return to Sundance Summer Theater as Mortimer in The Fantasticks this August. Mark is also a two-time Irene Ryan nominee, and co-founder of the Grassroots Shakespeare Company. He wishes to thank this astonishingly talented cast, our gracious audiences, and his lovely and talented wife Stephanie.

Tyler Harris - Leonato/Boy A realtively recent graduate of Orem High School, Tyler has been acting for many years. He was most recently seen at the Hale Center Theater Orem as Silvius in As You Like It, in which he also played a pig, a sheep, a goat, and a dead deer.

Wes Tolman - Borachio/Messenger Wes heralds from Grand Haven, MI, where his acting career bloomed into something he would want to do the rest of his life. Shakespeare has always been a favorite playwright of his ever since reading/seeing Hamlet and he is very excited to be a part of Grassroots! He has lived in the Utah Valley for a few years and attends UVU pursuing a Bachelors in Theatre Arts, which he plans to complete next year! He has been in various productions while here, most at UVU, one of the most memorable as playing Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream last summer. After he graduates, who knows! "Hollywood here I come!"



Special Thanks:

Christopher Clark - Chris is a mentor/inspiration to each of us. He teaches acting at UVU, choreographed our Elizabethan jigs, and let's face it, gives us all a reason to live.
Kate McPherson - Kate was the Grassroots Shakespeare Company's first donor. She teaches English at UVU, and has been greatly supportive throughout our entire process.
Daniel Whiting - Daniel is the stage manager of our production. His help has been invaluable at every step.