Introducing MCC Theatre Department’s The Shakesportable Players

Middlesex Community College’s Theatre Department is excited to introduce The Shakesportable Players ­­­­­­­– a student performing troupe that brings classic Shakespeare scenes to local schools.

The goal of the troupe is to inspire and teach high school students who are interested in pursuing theatre. In post-performance talkbacks, discussions will center around relevant topics from Shakespeare’s works, including gender, race, sexual identity and violence.

Karen Oster, MCC’s Performing Arts Chair, selected the actors to perform scenes from Shakespeare’s plays, which will include stage combat and sword fighting choreography.

“We hope The Shakesportable Players program will be beneficial to teachers because we will ‘bring the work to life,’” said Oster. “Watching a scene be performed can bring a better understanding to the work.”

Jade Gordon, an MCC performing arts student, is thrilled to be participating.

“We as a cast are being forced out of our comfort zones and into the difficult positions of playing characters outside our normal typecasts while still delivering the depths that the roles deserve,” she said.

Gordon is most excited to play Julius Caesar in the Ides of March scene because, “This cast is comprised of some of my very good friends and I couldn’t imagine a better group of people to be repeatedly impaled by.”

Performances also include scenes from, but are not limited to, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Macbeth” and “Romeo and Juliet,” and can be catered to your classroom needs, including time, place and length – all for FREE!

For more information and/or to schedule a performance, please contact MCC Theatre Department Outreach Coordinator Amy Myres at myresa@middlesex.mass.edu. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/performingarts/ to learn more about MCC’s Performing Arts programs.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, we educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners. MCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – on our campuses in Bedford and Lowell, and online. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!