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Interactive & Original

Montana Shakes! brings interactive, original plays featuring scenes from Shakespeare to 60 elementary schools each spring. The plays are accompanied by exciting theatrical workshops which introduce Shakespeare to young people in a way that is based on engagement and not apprehension. Montana Shakes! begins with a 45-minute performance of accessible Shakespeare followed by a 10 to 15 minute question and answer to give the students an opportunity to learn more about the production. Three workshops are offered, designed to fit the age of the students and meet Montana Common Core standards. 

Good in Everything

This spring, the Montana Shakes! program is proud to present Good in Everything, an original play written by Matt Foss based on Shakespeare's As You Like ItGood in Everything is a comical and high-octane adventure of two best friends - Rosalind and Celia.

Blending Shakespeare’s classic text along with original, contemporary language - Montana Shakes! is known for creating impactful and enjoyable plays for children and adults alike with important lessons not only about language and words, but feelings using some of the most famous plays in the English language.

About MT Shakes!

Now in it's 18th season, the Montana Shakes! program features a 45-minute original, interactive play, a post-show talkback with the actors, followed by various theatrical workshops making for a fun-filled day of engagement for students K-6. This program meets many of Montana’s Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy.

MSIP only charges schools one-third of the actual cost of keeping the program on the road. The other 2/3 is supported through a combination of grants and individual donations. School administrations typically cover the program fee, but sometimes parent-teacher organizations or community groups help to pay for part or all of the program.

If there is a school in your community that you feel would benefit from the Montana Shakes! program, please contact:

Liz Johnson at elizabeth.johnson25@montana.edu for more information.

Past Performances

2008 – All The West’s A Stage

2009 – No Tour

2010 – All The West’s a Stage

2011 – AWS: A Fool’s Gold

2012 – AWS: Good Knight, Sweet Prince, Great King!

2013 – AWS: Brave New Words

2014 – AWS: What Country, Friends?

2015 – AWS: Star Crossed Stagecoach

2016 – AWS: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2017 – AWS: Good Knight, Sweet Prince, Great King!

2018 – AWS: The Tempest

2019 – As You Like It: Books in Brooks

2020 –

2022 – Bottom’s Dream

2023- Hamlet Sandwich

2024 - Goofs, Gaffes, Flubs, & Fumbles

2025 - Faithful Friends

2026 - Good in Everything

Actors

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Samual Cheeseman, Actor & Tour Manager

Marcus Cunningham

Marcus Cunningham, Actor

Emily Hawkins NEW 2024

Emily Hawkins, Actor

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Nadja Simmonds, Actor

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Matt Foss, Director and Playwright

Katherine website

Katherine Norman, Education Director

Shakes! In The News

Season Sponsors:

Questions?

(406) 994-3310