There's much ado about something new in the Rochester theater scene. The Rochester Shakespeare Theatre organization is working to make Shakespearean works more accessible. The group's bylaws state its mission is "to produce and perform Shakespeare and Shakespeare related works, of excellent quality, with local talent, to entertain and educate the community, and enhance quality of life in the greater Rochester area, and to engage and develop community artists, crafts persons, and dedicated supporters of the arts.
" The Rochester Shakespeare Theatre presented its first production last summer when they performed "Twelfth Night" in the Rochester Civic Theatre Black Box. Since then, the group has offered a variety of classes including Shakespeare performance classes offered by Will Sturdivant, who has performed many Shakespearean roles at the Great River Shakespeare Festival, the Guthrie Theatre, and off-Broadway. In July, they recently offered classes in stage combat, including fencing, with certified instructor Mike Speck.
"We want to produce and perform Shakespeare and related works, and do them well," says Rebecca Brokaw-Sands, the founder, board president and managing director of the Rochester Shakespeare Theatre. "We want to educate in the craft of theater and performance in general, and Shakespeare in particular, equipping artists with the skills they need to present excellent work, and equipping the audience with knowledge and understanding to thoroughly enjoy what's being .