Mission

Boston Shakespeare Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, provides free arts and humanities enrichment programs to Boston’s under-resourced youth. We strive to promote a spirit of community and collaboration between local schools and universities, using Shakespeare as a bridge to connect young students with the dynamic undergraduate and graduate student scholars, writers, actors, and directors who deliver our educational outreach programs to the community.

What We Do

We offer free theatre arts and literary arts programs to more than 2,000 under-resourced youth in the Greater Boston area each year. Our programs include:

SHAKESPEARE IN MOTION (Theatre Arts Programs):
PERFORMANCES
Our touring troupe of undergraduate actors, writers, and directors brings imaginative, abbreviated versions of Shakespeare's plays into Greater Boston's elementary and middle schools. Our performances are adapted especially for younger audiences (grades 4-8) and offer an inspiring, accessible, and energizing introduction to Shakespeare’s works. Optional pre- and/or post-performance workshops are available to help students deepen their understanding of Shakespeare’s characters, themes, and language.

ACTING WORKSHOPS
Our semester-long, after-school residency program invites middle school students to explore Shakespeare's enduring characters and themes through the eyes of an actor. University teaching fellows guide participants through a variety of theater games and activities, sharing the essentials of acting and directing, and helping students to discover the possibilities that unfold when you bring Shakespeare's language to life. The program culminates with student performance pieces. Our focus on this creative process helps to develop skills related to communication, collaboration, teamwork, confidence, and self-expression.

CITY LIGHTS (Literary Arts Programs):
City Lights is an after-school program that offers middle school and high school students a place to go and work on creative and expository writing projects with undergraduate and graduate student writing instructors. Programs include poetry workshops, prose workshops, readings, tutoring for academic writing, and college preparation. Our writing programs focus on developing creative critical thinking skills and encouraging students to explore a sense of community and place through language.