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The following article appeared in The Islander
on April 11, 2006

"Shakespeare Alive and Well in The Champlain Islands"

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” So says Shakespeare in Act II of As You Like It.  On March 27 and 28, the players were 7th and 8th grade students at schools all over Grand Isle County. 

Vermont Shakespeare Company brought WILL-FULL!, their Shakespeare school workshop to the Folsom School, Grand Isle School, North Hero School and Alburgh School.  Close to 100 students worked with professional actors to learn about acting and Shakespearean theatre. 

Students enjoyed the performance of a scene from Romeo and Juliet by Vermont Shakespeare Company Artistic Director Jena Necrason and actress Aidan Koehler.
This was followed by a fun-filled physical and vocal warm-up and an introduction to Shakespeare and his language and poetry.  Amidst jumps, squats, tongue twisters, stage whispers and speaking “from the belly”, students gave in to the joyous spirit of theatre.

The adventures continued as the students took on roles from the play Romeo and Juliet.
As they read through the scenes with a new understanding of the language, they began playing the characters with their own unique flair and creativity. 

Vermont Shakespeare Company Executive Director John Nagle said “These young people were fantastic to work with.  We hope that our time with them will inspire them to be active participants in the tradition of live theatre.”  The workshops were sponsored by Island Arts.

Vermont Shakespeare Company will be performing Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, this July 6-8 at the Islands Center at Knight Point State Park.

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