Shakespeare & Company: Center for Actor Training

04/22/2025

Actors, directors, educators, and all who are interested in acting Shakespeare — the Spring blooms are your sign to develop your artistry with Shakespeare & Company in the beautiful Berkshires! We have a variety of in-person workshops coming up in Lenox, Mass. including:

Weekend Intensive | April 26–27
Two days of voice, movement, and monologue work to unlock the emotional and intellectual power of Shakespeare’s text. Open to all levels. Spots are limited!

Clown Workshop with Michael F. Toomey | May 9–11
Step into the honest, hilarious world of Clown through physical theater, improvisation, and play. No experience (or red nose) required. Just bring your curiosity.

9-Day Intensive: The Foundation | August 20–29
A summer immersion inspired by our signature Month-long. Perfect for mid-career pros, educators, and artists seeking professional development. Includes daily training, show tickets, and an intro to our new Modular Actor Training Program.
🔗 Apply now and learn more: shakespeare.org/actor-training!

04/18/2025

Alumni Alert! Check out alums Mitchell Csermak, Evan Koepnick, and soon-to-be-faculty alumna Madeleine Rose Maggio in A Crucible: a puritanical celebration of Witches and Turkeys, directed by faculty member and alumnus Michael F. Toomey. The show goes on Saturday, April 19 at Under St. Marks Theater as part of , and appears at The Foundry on Saturday, April 26.

NYC Fringe Tix: https://tickets.frigid.nyc/event/6897:1085/

Foundry Tix: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-crucible-a-puritanical-celebration-of-witches-and-turkeys-tickets-1287813497839?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/17/2025

Thank you to the amazing artists who joined us for our recent NYC Intensive in DUMBO! Our next Weekend Intensive will be held at Shakespeare & Company April 26 - 27 in Lenox, Mass. Learn more at https://shakespeare.org/actor-training/weekend-intensives/, or email [email protected].

04/15/2025

May 9 through May 11 in Lenox, Mass., Master Clown Teacher Michael F. Toomey will guide actors through an exploration of the raw, honest, and hilarious space of Clown through physical theater, improvisation, and play. All experience levels are welcome, and being funny is not a requirement. See a few of our past participants in action, and learn more and apply at: https://shakespeare.org/actor-training.

04/11/2025

🎭 Weekend Intensive with Shakespeare & Company
April 26–27, 2025 | Lenox, Mass.

Ready to reconnect with your craft—or dive into Shakespeare for the first time?
This two-day workshop blends voice, movement, and monologue work to help actors unlock the emotional and intellectual power of the text.

-Open to pros, students, alumni, and those new to acting Shakespeare
-On-campus housing available
-Limited to 14 participants

🎯 Apply now to save your spot! https://shakespeare.org/actor-training/weekend-intensives/

04/11/2025

🎭 Summer Shakespeare Intensive 2025
Four weeks. Six days a week. Full Shakespeare immersion. 💥

Geared toward college students, recent grads, and emerging artists, this intensive brings you deep into the heart of classical training—right in the middle of our summer performance season.

📍 Shakespeare & Company | Lenox, Mass.
📅 May 28 – June 22
📲 Apply now at https://shakespeare.org/actor-training/

Summer Shakespeare Intensive 2023. Photos by Oskar Ahlstrom

04/08/2025

Across cultures, the Clown has always been more than a fool. They’re a mischief-maker, a mirror, and a truth-teller.

They reveal what’s most human, most vulnerable, and most ridiculous in us — and invite the world to laugh.
In this three-day Clowning for Actors workshop held from May 8 through May 11 in Lenox, Mass., master clown teacher Michael F. Toomey will guide actors through an exploration of the raw, honest, and hilarious space of Clown through physical theater, improvisation, and play. All experience levels are welcome.

Tuition: $395 | BIPOC Artist & Student: $345, with discounts available for alumni and union members. Learn more and apply at: https://shakespeare.org/actor-training/in-person-specialized-workshops/

The very heart of Shakespeare & Company is its professional actor training. The Company’s programs are internationally recognized as deeply effective training experiences for artists who aspire to bring their talent, intuition, and spirit to a higher level.

04/04/2025

Alumni Alert: Bravo to Zach Gibson, 2023 alumnus of the Center for Actor Training's Month-long Intensive, as he readies to direct Shrek the Musical with the Department of Theatre Arts at SUNY New Paltz!

Zach is a Muslim multi-hyphenate theater artist living in New York's Hudson Valley. He is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz’s Department of Theatre Arts, where he studied acting and directing. He has worked locally in the Hudson Valley at venues including Shadowland Stages in Ellenville; Ellenville Central School District; Denizen Theatre in New Paltz; and Performing Arts of Woodstock.

Shrek the Musical runs April 17-19 & 24-27 at Parker Theatre!
Are you an alum of the Month-long Intensive, Summer Shakespeare Intensive, or Conservatory Programs? Share your information with us at shakespeare.org/actor-training.

Intensive photo: Zach Gibson as Romeo in ROMEO AND JULIET, Act II, scene ii, during the Month-long Intensive Scene Sharing. Photo by Christina Lane.

04/04/2025

Last Call: Audition Crash Course & Lenox Weekend Workshops! Visit shakespeare.org/actor-training to learn more and apply.

03/20/2025

🎭 Ready to bring Shakespeare’s words to life? The Summer Shakespeare Intensive is an unforgettable, heart-centered experience for college theater students and early-career actors. Over the years, so many participants have found deeper connections, confidence, and mastery of Shakespeare’s language. Check out some of our amazing alumni and learn more at shakespeare.org/actor-training/summer-shakespeare-intensive/ !

03/11/2025

🎭 Immerse Yourself in Shakespeare This Summer! 🎭

Calling all passionate, early-career actors: Our Summer Shakespeare Intensive May 28 – June 22 is the perfect opportunity to dive deep into the world of Shakespeare with a full-time, four-week training experience during our summer performance season! Undergrad theater students, recent college graduates, emerging professional actors, and performers looking to sharpen your craft — this is for you.

Learn more and apply today at https://shakespeare.org/actor-training/summer-shakespeare-intensive, or email [email protected] for more info.!

The very heart of Shakespeare & Company is its professional actor training. The Company’s programs are internationally recognized as deeply effective training experiences for artists who aspire to bring their talent, intuition, and spirit to a higher level.

03/02/2025

Look who’s out and about! Faculty member Andrew Borthwick-Leslie meeting up with recent Center for Actor Training alums Bridget Kelso and Nancy Ma in NYC.

Are you one of our Month-long Intensive, Summer Shakespeare Intensive, or Conservatory programs alumni? Visit shakespeare.org/actor-training to submit or update your information for our alumni network, or tag us to share a photo from today or days gone by!

03/01/2025

🎭 Actors: Ready to immerse yourself in the power of Shakespeare? Join Shakespeare & Company’s NYC Weekend Intensive on March 22-23, 2025! Explore voice, movement, and monologue work with world-class faculty in a transformative two-day workshop. Space is limited — register now at shakespeare.org/actor-training!

The very heart of Shakespeare & Company is its professional actor training. The Company’s programs are internationally recognized as deeply effective training experiences for artists who aspire to bring their talent, intuition, and spirit to a higher level.

02/27/2025

We wish long-time Company Artist, former Center for Actor Training Administrative Director, and alumna of the Center for Actor Training MaConnia Chesser a very happy milestone birthday!

Pictured here at left with Director of the Center for Actor Training Sheila Bandyopadhyay (center) and Training Programs Manager Kristen Moriarty (right), We are so proud of everything has accomplished as she continues to slay!

We always want to hear what our alumni are up to, be it a new role, an exciting life event, or even a snapshot of you wearing your favorite swag. Tag and share away! To update or add your information in our alumni network, visit shakespeare.org/actor-training.

02/18/2025

In 2024, Shakespeare & Company launched the Tina Packer Women of Will Directing Fellowship to support early-career women directors passionate about Shakespeare.

The 2025 fellowship will focus on The Taming of the Shrew, co-directed by Tina Packer and Allyn Burrows, from July 21 to August 16. The Fellow receives a $3,500 stipend, housing, and travel reimbursement.

**Applications are due by February 28, 2025 at 11:59 pm. **

Final interviews will be in March.
For full details, visit shakespeare.org, internships and fellowships, or the link in our bio!

02/17/2025

🎭 We’re thrilled to offer a limited number of BIPOC scholarships and financial aid packages for our 2025 Summer Shakespeare Intensive in Lenox, Mass.!

Don’t miss out — applications must be completed by March 10. After submitting your application, you’ll receive instructions to submit an audition video and a link to schedule an interview.

Important deadlines:

Applications are due by March 10

Audition videos & interviews are due by March 21

Scholarship decisions will be announced the week of March 31

Please note: Most scholarships/financial aid cover partial tuition and are awarded based on talent, potential, need, and available funds.

Learn more and apply now at shakespeare.org/actor-training! 🎓