The Delaware Shakespeare Community Tour aims to bring professional Shakespeare performances to the full spectrum of humanity in our state.
The centerpiece of the tour is eighteen performances at homeless shelters, detention facilities, community centers and other non-traditional locations where people may have limited access to the arts.
Many of the tour performances are open to members of the general public and represent a powerful viewing experience. Individuals must RSVP. Open seats are limited so as to maintain the focus of each performance on the individuals served by each partner venue. EMAIL INFO@DELSHAKES.ORG TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE.
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE TOUR SCHEDULE
Wednesday 10/24 at 6pm
Ministry of Caring/Sacred Heart Village (Wilmington)
Thursday 10/25 at 6pm
University of Delaware hosted by the Jewish Studies Program (Newark)
Friday 10/26 at 7:00pm
Christina Cultural Arts Center (Wilmington)
Wednesday 10/31 at 4pm
First State Community Action Agency (Georgetown)
Thursday 11/1 at 7:00pm (Ticket requests are no longer being accepted for this performance; contact if you would like to be placed on a waiting list)
Siegel JCC (Wilmington)
Saturday 11/3 at 7pm
CAMP Rehoboth (Rehoboth Beach)
Sunday 11/4 at 2pm
Route 9 Library & Innovation Center (New Castle)
Wednesday 11/7 at 6pm
Delaware Center for Homeless Veterans (Wilmington)
Thursday 11/8 at 5:30pm
Groves Adult High School – Red Clay (Stanton)
Friday 11/9 at 6pm
Latin American Community Center (Wilmington)
Sunday 11/11 at 2pm
Dover Public Library (Dover)
Tuesday 11/13 at 5:30pm
Group performance for Georgetown-area substance abuse treatment facilities (Georgetown Public Library)
Wednesday 11/14 at 6pm
Polytech Adult High School (Woodside)
Friday 11/16 at 2pm
Delaware Psychiatric Center (Wilmington)
NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution, Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, Sussex Correctional Institution
The Community Tour commenced in November 2016 by offering performances of Pericles, Prince of Tyre in all three Delaware counties, serving 619 individuals. Ten of the tour performances were open to the general public to attend as guests at our community venues, creating wonderful audiences from all walks of life.
The feedback Delaware Shakespeare received from audience members for Pericles was extraordinary, some of which is included below.
“I would like to thank you very much for being willing to share your talent with us. I am happy that I was open about coming to see the play. I never in a million years that I would see a Shakespeare play and boy was it a good one. I will follow the Festival upon my release because I will go to see another one.”
– Inmate, Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute
“I felt like Shakespeare wanted to send us angels, to tell us we’re all kings and queens.”
– Patient, Delaware Psychiatric Center
“This was really nice. It was so nice that you came right here to us, because a lot of us, we can’t leave here. So we don’t get to do things like this.”
– Patient, Delaware Psychiatric Center
“I had never seen some of these boys smile and laugh before…you just don’t see it often. And I would say the same for some of the staff! So that was something really nice, to be able to smile and laugh together, for a change.”
– Staff Member, Ferris School for Boys
“I’m not a theater guy, I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen or read anything to do with Shakespeare since high school, which has been a looong time. But okay, you got me. I really liked the parts with action and music, and it was just really good overall. I might just have to come out in the summer to see the next one.”
– Audience Member, Absalom Jones Senior Center
