Arts Midwest today announced the recipients of $1.17 million in Shakespeare in American Communities grants, with $1 million going to 40 professional theater companies partnering with schools, and $170,000 going to 10 organizations partnering with facilities in the juvenile justice system.
Teaching Artist Symone Williams with students during a classroom session of The Romeo and Juliet Project at Bartlett Freshman Academy in Bartlett, TN in early 2020. Photo by Merit Koch, courtesy of Tennessee Shakespeare Co.
Now in its 19th year, Shakespeare in American Communities is a theater program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. By providing grants to theater companies that produce Shakespeare’s works, the program supports high-quality productions and educational activities in middle schools, high schools, and juvenile justice facilities throughout the United States. These performances and educational events may take place virtually or in person between August 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022.
“After a year filled with ever-changing circumstances within communities, Shakespeare in American Communities is proud to support theater companies and organizations as they work alongside educators to bring live experiences back to students.” said Christy Dickinson, Senior Program Director at Arts Midwest. “Theater educators and teaching artists across America are planning in-person and creative hybrid approaches that connect young people with William Shakespeare’s plays. This programming helps students develop social and emotional skills important to their success.”
“Through its expressive power, the arts have an enormous capacity to connect people across divides,” said National Endowment for the Arts Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. “Delving into the stories and characters of William Shakespeare is particularly fitting now, as we begin to emerge from the pandemic and reengage more fully with the people and issues in our communities.”
Examples of projects supported:
2021 Shakespeare

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Cincinnati, OH

San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
San Francisco, CA

The Classical Theatre of Harlem
New York, NY
Since the program’s inception in 2003, Shakespeare in American Communities has introduced more than three million middle and high school students to the power of live theater and the masterpieces of William Shakespeare. The program has supported more than 13,200 performances and 52,000 related educational activities at more than 11,500 schools and juvenile justice facilities in 4,700 communities in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. One hundred and twenty-seven theater companies and organizations across the United States have taken part in the program, presenting 34 of Shakespeare’s 37 total plays.
Grantee Companies and Organizations for 2021-2022
Below are the theater companies working in schools and the organizations that will work in juvenile justice facilities selected to participate in the program for 2021- 2022.
Theater Company/Organization | City | State | Program |
Alabama Shakespeare Company | Montgomery | AL | Juvenile Justice and Schools |
A Noise Within | Pasadena | CA | Schools |
African-American Shakespeare Company | San Francisco | CA | Schools |
Cal Shakes | Berkeley | CA | Schools |
Marin Shakespeare Company | San Rafael | CA | Juvenile Justice and Schools |
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival | San Francisco | CA | Schools |
The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles | Los Angeles | CA | Schools |
Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum | Topanga | CA | Schools |
Colorado Shakespeare Festival | Boulder | CO | Schools |
Denver Center Theatre Company | Denver | CO | Schools |
Theatreworks | Colorado Springs | CO | Schools |
Shakespeare Theatre Company | Washington | DC | Schools |
Delaware Shakespeare | Wilmington | DE | Juvenile Justice |
Idaho Shakespeare Festival | Boise | ID | Schools |
Chicago Shakespeare Theater | Chicago | IL | Schools |
Shakespeare at Notre Dame | Notre Dame | IN | Juvenile Justice |
Kentucky Shakespeare | Louisville | KY | Juvenile Justice and Schools |
Actors’ Shakespeare Project | Charlestown | MA | Juvenile Justice |
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company | Boston | MA | Schools |
Shakespeare & Company | Lenox | MA | Juvenile Justice and Schools |
Olney Theatre Center’s National Players | Olney | MD | Schools |
Shakespeare Behind Bars | Holland | MI | Juvenile Justice |
Youth Arts: Unlocked | Swartz Creek | MI | Juvenile Justice |
Park Square Theatre | Saint Paul | MN | Schools |
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks | Bozeman | MT | Schools |
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey | Madison | NJ | Schools |
The Acting Company | New York | NY | Schools |
Aquila Theatre | New York | NY | Schools |
The Classical Theatre of Harlem | New York | NY | Schools |
Epic Theatre Ensemble | New York | NY | Schools |
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival | Cold Spring | NY | Schools |
Red Bull Theater | New York | NY | Schools |
Red House | Syracuse | NY | Schools |
Theatre for a New Audience | Brooklyn | NY | Schools |
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | Cincinnati | OH | Schools |
Lantern Theater Company | Philadelphia | PA | Schools |
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival | Center Valley | PA | Schools |
Quintessence Theatre Group | Philadelphia | PA | Schools |
Tennessee Shakespeare Company | Cordova | TN | Juvenile Justice and Schools |
Alley Theatre | Houston | TX | Schools |
Shakespeare Dallas | Dallas | TX | Schools |
Utah Shakespeare Festival | Cedar City | UT | Schools |
Barter Theatre | Abingdon | VA | Schools |
Seattle Shakespeare Company | Seattle | WA | Schools |
Milwaukee Repertory Theater | Milwaukee | WI | Schools |
Shakespeare in American Communities is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.