Shakespeare montage excites area students

High school students around the state are getting excited about Shakespeare, thanks to Bard to Go, an educational outreach program presented by Grand Valley State University, as one element of the university's Shakespeare Festival.

Last year Bard to Go performed at nine Michigan schools to more than 1,450 students. This year 10 performances will be done in schools during October and November. (See complete schedule below.)

A new presentation, entitled "The Charm's Wound Up: Magic in the Making," explores the many sides of miraculous enchantment and dangerous illusion. This 50-minute montage of Shakespearean scenes draws from Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Shakespeare's sonnets. 

Media are invited to attend, with prior arrangements. School performances are scheduled for:

October 12, Northview High School, 8:15 a.m.
         Grandville Middle School, 1:15 p.m. 
  
October 19, Wayland High School, 9 a.m.
               Thornapple-Kellogg, 1:09 p.m.
  
October 26, East Grand Rapids Middle School, 10:14 a.m.
               East Grand Rapids High School, 2:06 p.m.  
  
November 2 the troupe travels to Okemos and Lansing for three performances.

On November 3, the troupe returns for a free local performance at 1 p.m. in the Loosemore Auditorium at the DeVos Center, 401 W. Fulton, on Grand Valley's Pew Grand Rapids Campus. 

Bard to Go promises to once again present a rollicking and engaging introduction to Shakespeare for 21st century audiences. "We're jumping into richness of the comedy, the fullness of the tragedy, the delight of the language, and the possibilities of the plays," said Karen Libman, Bard-to-Go director and associate theatre professor at Grand Valley.    

For more information contact Karen Libman in Grand Valley's School of Communications at (616) 331-3510 or visit www.gvsu.edu/shakes .