Huntington-Codman Summer Theatre Institute Celebrates 5th Year With SHREW

Celebrating the fifth year of their award-winning and unique summer partnership, the Huntington Theatre Company and the Codman Academy Public Charter School unite for the Huntington-Codman Summer Theatre Institute's production of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Lynne Johnson. Performances on August 4 and 5 at the Huntington's Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA (Wimberly Theatre) are free and open to the public.

The Huntington-Codman Summer Theatre Institute is a four-week program for Codman students and alumni that provides participants the opportunity to explore Shakespearean text and the theatrical production process in depth. The daily rehearsals, improvisational games, and theatre exercises culminate each session with a full production of one of Shakespeare's plays. The Institute's secondary goals are to instill the value of individual focus and commitment that are necessary for success and to provide a safe environment for the participants who come from some of Boston's most challenging urban neighborhoods. This program is supported by My Summer in the City, a Boston Foundation Funding Initiative.

"It is truly rewarding to see these young actors take the next step in both their intellectual and creative engagement with Shakespeare's text," says Huntington Associate Director of Education and Institute Director Lynne Johnson. "Every year, an increasing number of students are interested in the Huntington-Codman Summer Institute and its offerings."

The Taming of the Shrew is the story of Petruchio's courting of the headstrong and sharp-tongued Katherine and the competitive wooing of Katherine's younger sister, Bianca. A full company list noting Institute participants' hometowns is included at the end of the release.

"Our students and alumni welcome the opportunity to perform at the Huntington's Calderwood Pavilion during the summer when they can focus all of their attention on the exciting experience of putting on a play" says Meg Campbell, founder and executive director of Codman Academy. "The lessons from the summer extend into the school year, particularly each December when our students participate in the English Speaking Union's National Shakespeare Competition. The Summer Institute is a real confidence builder."

The Huntington's partnership with Codman Academy, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, is the showcase of the theatre's acclaimed and wide-reaching youth, education, and community initiatives. Since 2001, the Huntington and Codman have collaborated to create an innovative, interdisciplinary Humanities program that has been recognized both locally and nationally as a model for improving urban students' reading, speaking, writing, and presentation skills. The partnership was awarded the Commonwealth Award, the state's highest award in arts and culture given by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Codman Academy is the only public school to receive this recognition.

Each year, Codman students study texts being produced by the Huntington in the classroom and attend productions at the theatre. In addition, ninth and tenth graders work with Huntington staff and teaching artists twice each month to immerse themselves in the workings of a professional theatre.

The partnership engages and inspires students from neighborhoods often excluded from Boston's dynamic cultural life, enabling them to develop both an understanding of and appreciation for the theatre by studying and attending Huntington performances, observing behind-the-scenes activities of the theatre, and participating in hands-on work in the theatre arts. The program leverages that engagement and inspiration to improve performance in academic areas, particularly literacy, and in the development of social capital by building core skills such as teamwork and priority-setting.

"Our partnership has demonstrated that performance-based drama and poetry are powerful, life-transforming strategies for improving adolescent literacy and self-awareness," says Campbell. "For adolescents, drama is a face-saving way to study Shakespeare and other great playwrights."

Thanks in part to the programs designed and administered by the Huntington, 99% of Codman Academy's tenth graders pass the English Language Arts portion of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam, a requirement for graduation.

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