Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a budding performer, studying Shakespeare offers many benefits. From language mastery and versatility to emotional depth and physicality, diving into the world of William Shakespeare offers actors a chance to grow artistically, intellectually, and emotionally. Let’s explore some of the exciting classes and programs available in the area, including right here at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

FOR ADULTS

THE BARD’S BOOK CLUB

Online by Zoom
Oct 9, Nov 6 & Dec 9
The Oresteia, The Spanish Tragedy and Hamlet

Since 1958, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, a professional theatre company in association with the University of Colorado Boulder, has celebrated and explored Shakespeare and his continuing influence. This fall, explore three revenge tragedies in this monthly Shakespeare-themed book club. CSF staff will lead the conversation, discussing each play’s plot, themes, characters, and connections to our world.

DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

1101 13^th St.,  Denver
Sep 21 – Oct 26
Shakespeare’s Monologues and Soliloquies  

Led by Colorado Shakespeare Festival veteran, Geoffrey Kent, this class tackles Shakespeare’s most powerful speeches. Unravel the complexities of the Bard’s text, learn to navigate verse with precision, and infuse your performance with energy and intention. Over six sessions, you’ll walk away with a deep understanding of the language and a rich interpretation of Shakespeare’s timeless works.

VISIONBOX STUDIO THEATRE

7108 E. Lowry Blvd., Denver
Nov 18–Dec 12
Shakespeare Scene Study Intensive

Visionbox provides student and professional acting and design training rooted in a graduate-level curriculum, which is led by theatre professionals. Dive into the world of Shakespeare with its scene study intensives and solo projects, where you can bring a Shakespearean character to life in your unique way. Beginning in September, Visionbox offers ongoing classes in five-week sequences that culminate in scene study performances.  

FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS

ACADEMY OF CHILDREN’S THEATRE

481 Windchime Pl., Colorado Springs
Aug 23–Dec 13 (no class Nov 29)

For those who live a bit further south, expand your skills and explore more of Shakespeare’s work at ACT. This class covers improv, basic stage combat and acting techniques that help students create exciting Shakespearean characters for an end-of-semester performance.  

DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

1101 13^th St.
Sept 21-Nov 9
Shakespearean Lab (Grades 4-5)
Middle School Teen Company: Shakespeare Goes Broadway (Teens)

For younger students, DCPA Teaching Artists will apply the fundamentals of improv to the characters and plots of Shakespeare’s greatest plays while Middle School participants will combine acting techniques with a little song and dance to create the next great Shakespeare-inspired musical. Friends and Family join both groups on November 9 for a final performance.

MILE HIGH YOUTH THEATRE

940 Fillmore St., Denver
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Audition (Aug 25)
Beginning Hand-to-Hand Stage Combat (Aug 29-Oct 3)

Audition take place on August 25 for the Mile High Youth Theatre production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Students learn the basics of acting as they prepare for final productions in November. Also, the company offers a six-week stage combat series for students age 10+ that teaches the basics of hand-to-hand stage combat, including slaps, punches, kicks, and more — all skills any Shakespearean actor needs.

FOR SCHOOLS

CSF: SHAKESPEARE & VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Available for area schools
2024/25 School Year
Twelfth Night (30-minute performance, recommended for grades 3 to 5)
Much Ado About Nothing (45-minute performance, recommended for grades 6 to 12)

Colorado Shakespeare Festival brings Shakespeare to schools in a touring program that blends live performances with the latest bullying and school violence research. Students improve their Shakespeare literacy and learn effective intervention strategies when they see mistreatment around them.

DCPA: SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKING LOT

Available for area middle and high schools
Fall and Spring

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts takes the Bard on the road to area schools. Using its pickup truck as the stage, the troupe performs abridged versions of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream before joining students in the classroom for interactive workshops that pair the plays’ themes to contemporary issues.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE WILD

Available for area schools
2024/25 School Year
“10 Things I Love About Shakespeare”

In collaboration with Sasquatch Productions, this traveling show combines live performances and clips from popular movies to bring Shakespeare’s words to life for high school students.