Elm Shakespeare Company Builds Its Outreach with Addition of Education Program Manager Sarah Bowles

Elm Shakespeare Company welcomes new full-time staff member Sarah Bowles as Education Program Manager, who will oversee all of Elm's arts education programing throughout the year.

Ms. Bowles is a former Circus performer and instructor as well as an actor, director, teacher and facilitator who has worked with young people and adults for over ten years on a wide variety of theatre projects including at the American Shakespeare Center, Shakespeare & Company and Hamptons Shakespeare Festival. Ms. Bowles is a graduate of the City University of New York (CUNY) and holds a Master's Degree in Applied Theatre, specializing in Augusto Boal's work with diverse communities. She is moving to the New Haven area from New York City to join the company.

With preparations already in full swing for the 2017 free summer production, The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet, Ms. Bowles with be at the helm of ESC's burgeoning education wing lending her experience to the company's many community-based, student-centered education programs that have expanded under the leadership of Producing Director Rebecca Goodheart.

"We are so lucky as a community to have Sarah," say Goodheart, "She has a true gift for fostering the voices of whoever she works with and helping them to be their most creative selves. Her work is inspiring, inclusive, and so much fun. I can't wait to see how Elm Education grows with her input."

Elm Education, the educational program wing of Elm Shakespeare Company, has grown exponentially in the past two years, more than doubling the number of students the company works with, and adding six new programs. Opportunities on the horizon include the Elm Scholars long running summer internship for high school students, and an encore of last year's successful Players Camp for children 7-12, as well as the development of new programs dedicated to social justice and urban youth.

Players Camp introduce younger students to the magic of theater and Shakespeare. Students spend two weeks immersed in an imaginative, inclusive, and fun environment exploring acting, movement, design, and stage combat while preparing a 30-minute performance of a Shakespeare play for family and friends. This year Players Camp is offered in three summer sessions (June 19-30, July 10-21 and Aug 7-18) at SCSU Lyman Center for the Performing Arts. At this time all camp sessions are more than half full and we have significant scholarship funds available to assist those in need. For registration & tuition details see www.elmshakespeare.org/camp

For almost two decades, Elm Shakespeare's flagship education program, the Elm Scholars summer internship, has been a rewarding and challenging program for teens who love and live for theatre. The program integrates the students into the professional Shakespeare Company. Scholars get to choose between are tracked as either actors or techs, and workalongside the professional actors, directors, designers, and production personnel during the Free Shakespeare in the Park summer production. Information sessions and interviews are already underway for prospective Elm Scholars with an extended application deadline of April 29. For the full schedule of info sessions and application details seewww.elmshakespeare.org/elm-scholar-application

"I'm excited to build on the great programs Elm Shakespeare has created over the years, and to deepen its connections with the community," shared Ms. Bowles, " It seems like such a welcoming environment and I'm excited to jump in, and create even more inclusive, warm, and empowering experiences for New Haven's kids."

All inquiries regarding Elm Shakespeare programs can be directed to the main office number (203) 392-8882 or toEducation@elmshakespeare.org

The 2017 Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Shakespeare's beloved and iconic story of ill-fated love, The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet will run Thursday, August 17th through Sunday, September 3rd, Tuesday-Sunday at 8:00pm in Edgerton Park in New Haven located at 75 Cliff Street. As always the performances will be free to the public and picnicking prior to the performance is encouraged.

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