The premiere classical theater of Detroit will present a youth production of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, with support from Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation and Gilbert Family Foundation

DETROIT — Shakespeare in Detroit (SiD), celebrating more than a decade of excellence, announces a youth production of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, directed by Detroit native Asia Mark on Aug. 10, 2024 at 2 PM at Clark Park in Southwest Detroit. The play is free to the public.  

The youth production is an extension of the organization’s Shakespeare STEAM program which teaches the Science of lighting, the Technology of sound design, the Engineering of costume making, the Art of classical performance and the Mathematics of set building to students in Detroit schools in grades 3 through 12. 

Some of its former and current school partners include: The James and Grace Lee Boggs School, Cass Technical High School, Clippert Multicultural Magnet Honors Academy, Detroit School of Arts, The School at Marygrove and Western International High School. 

“I am so proud of the impact Shakespeare in Detroit has made for more than 3,000 students since we launched the program in 2019,” says Sam White, Shakespeare in Detroit Founder. “We are embedded with teachers day-to-day and our summer conservatory is an extension of that work for high school students who want to spend more time learning about the technical and onstage aspects of live performance with this year marking nearly $60K in scholarships given to Detroit youth.”

Mark is excited to helm the fourth year of the summer program for Shakespeare STEAM’s summer youth conservatory. 

“It’s so refreshing working with these talented young people from Detroit who are excited to bring this story to life. Within our production, we are exploring the consequences of what happens when we are unsure of who we are and allow others to easily sway our decisions,” says Mark. “These young people are not only learning how to do Shakespeare but also how these tools can translate over into just about anything they desire to do.”

Since 2020, the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation has donated more than $350K, empowering Shakespeare in Detroit to launch the summer STEAM program and sustain the impact for years to come. 

“The Fisher Foundation is so proud to partner with Shakespeare in Detroit on their summer conservatory program,” said Chelsea Landry, Arts and Culture program partner at the Max M. and  Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation. “This is an exceptional opportunity for students to learn and grow over the summer months, deepening their engagement with all aspects of theater production in an exciting and fulfilling way.”

In 2023, Gilbert Family Foundation supported Shakespeare in Detroit’s 10th anniversary show, The Tempest, a tribute to Detroit Techno. The organization is now proud to be a supporting partner of the STEAM program.

In addition to sponsoring the upcoming production of Julius Caesar in Clark Park, Gilbert Family Foundation is supporting Shakespeare in Detroit’s STEAM initiatives by expanding the program’s educational offerings to Detroit’s recreation centers. This includes a recently completed 10-week residency at Crowell Recreation Center and summer workshops for students at Crowell, Butzel Family Center and the Adams Butzel Complex in August.

“Arts and culture programming is essential to building stronger, more connected communities,” said Laura Grannemann, Executive Director, Gilbert Family Foundation. “Shakespeare in Detroit’s innovative approach exposes students to a diverse array of career pathways in the arts, while also fostering creativity and play.”

Shakespeare in Detroit will present one matinee performance of Julius Caesar, a culmination of five weeks of intensive theater training for youth via its summer conservatory, an extension of Shakespeare STEAM. The performance begins at 2 PM. Audiences are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets to watch the performance. There is no contingency plan for weather. However, a prior dress rehearsal will be filmed to share on Shakespeare in Detroit’s Youtube page in Fall 2024 for the public. 

Learn more about Shakespeare STEAM: https://www.shakespeareindetroit.com/steam.  Made possible by Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation and Gilbert Family Foundation.