Shakespeare & Young Company is a unique 10-week program designed for high school students who wish to engage deeply with Shakespeare’s work through an exploration of text, voice, movement, ensemble building, and more.
Working in ensemble and guided by Shakespeare & Company Directors and Education Artists, participants are led through theater exercises and text work as they discover the themes, characters, and stories that resonate with them. Participants actively engage in the creation of the performance piece, using Shakespeare’s plays and poetry as the foundation.
Classes meet on one evening and one weekend day per week. Auditions are required.
Spring Session 2026
The Spring 2026 Shakespeare & Young Company program runs from the week of February 24 through May 2, 2026. Final program performances are Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2 at 7 pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse at Shakespeare & Company. Performances are open to the public.
Auditions
Auditions for Spring 2026 Shakespeare & Young Company will be held on Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 2026, with timeslots available from 10am – 5pm. To schedule a 20-minute audition timeslot, and/or for any program questions, please email springsyco@gmail.com.
Program Dates
Spring 2026 sessions begin the week of February 24, 2026. Performance dates are May 1 and 2, 2026. Sessions are held twice weekly, on one weeknight and one weekend day, often Tuesdays or Thursdays from 6 pm – 8 pm and Saturdays or Sundays from 11 am – 2pm. Tech / Dress Rehearsals leading up to the performances will be called daily in the evenings throughout the week of April 27 – May 2. Classes will run as normal during MA/NY April break week of April 20 – 24.
Program Tuition: $700
Tuition is $700 per participant. A minimum deposit of $250 is due by February 27, 2026, and tuition remainder is due in full by March 27, 2026. Limited financial aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications for Financial Aid are due at the time of your audition. For more information regarding Tuition and Financial Aid or to set up a payment plan, please email Education Programs AdministratorMeg Marchione at mmarchione@shakespeare.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shakespeare & Young Company?
Shakespeare & Young Company is a 10-week program through which high school-aged actors can take a huge step forward in their actor training. During the course of the program, participants have the chance to explore voice, movement, clown, and to experience Shakespeare’s text in a more rigorous, deep, and playful way.
How often do we meet?
Shakespeare & Young Company meets one weekday evening and one weekend morning per week, in-person at Shakespeare & Company. Classes are held as normally scheduled during MA/NY April break weeks.
What do I need to do to be a part of this?
Each interested Shakespeare & Young Company participant must apply and audition for this program. To apply, please fill follow the following steps:
- Fill out an application
- Ask a Teacher and/or Director who knows your work to write a one-page recommendation. (If you are a Fall Festival of Shakespeare participant, you may ask your Fall Festival Director for your recommendation)
- Write a few paragraphs telling us about yourself, why you do theater, and why you would like to be a member of Shakespeare & Young Company.
- The application, essay, and letter of recommendation should be emailed to springsyco@gmail.com at least one week prior to your audition time.
For your audition, please prepare (learn by heart) a 12 – 15 line Shakespeare monologue to which you feel a strong personal connection. Auditions will take place in 20-minute time slots with the Directors of the Shakespeare & Young Company Program and an Education Program Administrator. To schedule an audition or to ask questions about how to prepare, please email springsyco@gmail.com. We are happy to help!
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