Shakespearience 2024
Encore and a group of young performers had the joyous opportunity to travel to Cedar City last weekend to attend the Utah Shakespeare Festival for what we affectionately call a “Shakespearience.” This event included three performances and several educational workshops, but to our group of 30 young artists, it was an insightful and unforgettable experience!
30+ Encore Young Artists gather at the Utah Shakespeare Festival
Upon arrival, we gathered outside the Randall L. Jones Theater, where we caught the tail end of a pre-show speech by the Festival’s Managing Director, Michael Bahr. He always provides welcoming insights into the Shakespeare Festival’s programs. We were then treated to a highly entertaining and witty performance of Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Encore friend and supporter Brad Carroll. The show was wonderful and, for many of our students, their first exposure to live, professional Shakespearean theater.
After the performance, our staff and students had the privilege of a private Q&A with three of the actors and the Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director, John DiAntonio. Our youth asked insightful questions about the performance, the story, and the actors’ experiences and advice.
Some of the highlights of the Q&A included:
Question: How has being in theater impacted your life?
Answer: Theater creates community, family, and relationships that last a lifetime. It teaches confidence, communication, and teamwork. One actor mentioned that theater is not a solitary art form but a team effort.
Question: What advice do you have for performers who audition for lead roles but don’t seem to get them?
Answer: Keep trying! Your time will come. It’s not always about your ability; it’s often about who is right for the part. One actor said that when you finally get the role you want, you will realize that every role before it helped you get there.
Question: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Answer: Relax! Don’t be so uptight, and don’t take yourself too seriously.
After the Q&A and dinner, we returned to the campus to enjoy the Green Show presentation of Comedia, written and directed by Britannia Howe, a longtime friend and supporter of Encore, who also directed our production of Newsies in 2023. It was a blast!
From there, we made our way back to the Randall L. Jones Theater for a performance of 39 Steps. This comedic roller coaster had our students literally rolling in the aisles. As much as we loved the performance, the highlight was a brief post-show meet-and-greet with one of the four ensemble actors, Michael Doherty. Michael graciously made an impromptu visit to our group, sharing insights and advice with our young artists.
We are incredibly grateful to the amazing performers and staff at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for hosting such a wonderful and memorable experience for the Encore students and staff. We encourage everyone to experience the Utah Shakespeare Festival and their productions.
We also want to thank our Hadestown Teen Edition Director, Rhett Guter, Vocal Director, Vanessa Sierra, and our incredible staff and parents who ensured that our students had the best experience possible.