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Charlotte Shakespeare was a professional, non-profit theatre company in
Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
. The company specialized in intimate and accessible performances of traditional and modern classics, with an emphasis on the plays of
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
and with a mission of presenting plays "that reflect timeless truths about the human condition and honor Shakespeare’s genius for storytelling and language".


History

The company was founded by Elise Wilkinson and Joe Copley in 2006 under the name Collaborative Arts Theatre. It was granted status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2008. The name was changed to Charlotte Shakespeare in 2012. Charlotte Shakespeare has never had a performance venue of its own. In its first two years productions took place in a tavern, in a series of apartments, and on the Green. Since that time all plays have been produced in theaters at Spirit Square or on The Green. The company went on hiatus in the summer of 2015 and has not reopened.


Production history

2012 Season * ''
The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as ...
'' by William Shakespeare August McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square * '' The Tempest'' by William Shakespeare June outdoors at The Green * ''Bad Dates'' by
Theresa Rebeck Theresa Rebeck (born February 19, 1958) is an American playwright, television writer, and novelist. Her work has appeared on the Broadway and Off-Broadway stage, in film, and on television. Among her awards are the Mystery Writers of America's ...
March Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square 2011 Season * '' Time Stands Still'' by
Donald Margulies Donald Margulies (born September 2, 1954) is an American playwright and academic. In 2000, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play ''Dinner with Friends''. Background and education Margulies attended John Dewey High School in Broo ...
November Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square * ''
King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane ...
'' by William Shakespeare August McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square * ''
Tartuffe ''Tartuffe, or The Impostor, or The Hypocrite'' (; french: Tartuffe, ou l'Imposteur, ), first performed in 1664, is a theatrical comedy by Molière. The characters of Tartuffe, Elmire, and Orgon are considered among the greatest classical thea ...
'' by Moliere June outdoors at The Green * ''Women of Will'' Shakespeare’s heroines March Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square 2010 Season * ''Incorruptible'' by
Michael Hollinger Michael Hollinger (born January 13, 1962 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania) is an American playwright who is currently an associate professor of theatre at Villanova University and an alumnus of New Dramatists. He received a Bachelor of Music in viola p ...
November Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square * '' Othello'' by William Shakespeare August McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square * ''
The Comedy of Errors ''The Comedy of Errors'' is one of William Shakespeare's early plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play. ...
'' by William Shakespeare June outdoors at The Green 2009 Season * ''
Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, ...
'' by William Shakespeare August McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square * ''
Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...
'' by William Shakespeare May–June outdoors at The Green 2008 Season * ''Sitcoms Live!'' Classic television sitcom episodes performed live September Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square * ''
Much Ado About Nothing ''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' ( W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. 1387 The play ...
'' by William Shakespeare August McGlohon Theatre at Spirit Square * '' Romeo and Juliet'' by William Shakespeare June outdoors at The Green * ''
Closer Than Ever ''Closer Than Ever'' is a musical revue in two acts, with words by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire. The revue contains no dialogue, and Maltby and Shire have described this show as a "bookless book musical." The show was originally co ...
'' by Richard Maltby and
David Shire David Lee Shire (born July 3, 1937) is an American songwriter and composer of stage musicals, film and television scores. The soundtracks to the 1976 film '' The Big Bus'', '' The Taking of Pelham One Two Three'', ''The Conversation'' and ''All ...
March Duke Power Theatre at Spirit Square 2007 Season * ''The Sublet Experiment'' by Ethan Youngerman October various venues * '' As You Like It'' by William Shakespeare June outdoors at The Green * ''Fiction'' by
Steven Dietz Steven Dietz (born June 23, 1958) is an American playwright, theatre director, and teacher. Called "the most ubiquitous American playwright whose name you may never have heard", Dietz has long been one of America's most prolific and widely prod ...
March Duke Power Theatre at Spirit Square 2006 Season * ''Bad Dates'' by
Theresa Rebeck Theresa Rebeck (born February 19, 1958) is an American playwright, television writer, and novelist. Her work has appeared on the Broadway and Off-Broadway stage, in film, and on television. Among her awards are the Mystery Writers of America's ...
September A luxury apartment at 1315 East Condominiums * '' A Midsummer Night's Dream'' by William Shakespeare May outdoors at The Green * ''Tavern Shakespeare'' by Jocelyn Rose and Elise Wilkinson March Ri-Ra Irish Pub, near 208 N Tryon St


Charlotte Shakespeare Festival

Each summer Charlotte Shakespeare produced the Charlotte Shakespeare Festival which began in June with a show presented outdoors on The Green, an uptown pocket park. ''Charlotte'' Magazine described the annual return of Shakespeare on the Green as, "one of the best cultural gifts Charlotte will get all year". Admission was free and the company depended on voluntary donations. A second show was presented in August at Spirit Square. Most productions were from the Shakespeare canon, but an exception was made in 2011 when the outdoor summer play was
Tartuffe ''Tartuffe, or The Impostor, or The Hypocrite'' (; french: Tartuffe, ou l'Imposteur, ), first performed in 1664, is a theatrical comedy by Molière. The characters of Tartuffe, Elmire, and Orgon are considered among the greatest classical thea ...
by Moliere.


Awards & reviews


Metrolina Theatre Association awards

The Metrolina Theatre Association (MTA) is a Charlotte organization which gives awards each year to support and advocate for local theatre, and these awards are a major source of public recognition for theatres, shows, and individuals. A selected list of MTA awards won by Collaborative Arts is shown below. * 2011 Outstanding Supporting Actor - Female - comedy: Meghan Lowther (Dorine) - ''Tartuffe'' * 2011 Outstanding Costume Design - drama: Suzy Hartness - ''King Lear'' * 2010 Outstanding Production - comedy: ''Incorruptible'' * 2010 Outstanding Direction - comedy: Peter Smeal - ''Incorruptible'' * 2010 Outstanding Supporting Actor - Male - comedy: Joe Copley (Brother Martin) - ''Incorruptible'' * 2010 Outstanding Costume Design - comedy: Erin Dougherty - ''The Comedy of Errors''Annual Metrolina Theatre Awards: 2009-2010
* 2010 Outstanding Cameo: Alan England (Duke/Musician) - ''Othello'' * 2008 Other Exemplary Performance/Element - comedy: ''Sitcoms Live!''Metrolina Annual Theatre Awards: 2008-2009
* 2008 Outstanding Set Design - comedy: Chris Timmons - ''Much Ado About Nothing''Annual Metrolina Theatre Awards: 2007-2008


Creative Loafing's Annual Charlotte Theatre Awards

Creative Loafing Creative Loafing is an Atlanta-based publisher of a monthly arts and culture newspaper/magazine. The company publishes a 60,000 circulation monthly publication which is distributed to in-town locations and neighborhoods on the first Thursday of ...
(CL) is a publisher of newsweeklies and their associated websites focusing on local affairs, including arts and entertainment. A selected list of CL awards won by Collaborative Arts is shown below. * 2011 Best Supporting Actress - drama: Christine Dougan (Emilia) - ''Othello''Creative Loafing, A full list of all the winners, by Perry Tannenbaum, May 24, 2011
/ref> * 2011 Top 20 Shows: ''Othello'' * 2011 Top 20 Shows: ''Incorruptible '' * 2010 Outstanding Costume Design - comedy: Erin Dougherty - ''The Comedy of Errors''CL's 2010 Annual Charlotte Theater Award winners
/ref> * 2010 Outstanding Cameo - drama: Alan England (Duke/Musician) - ''Othello'' * 2007 Best Performing Arts Overachiever: Elise Wilkinson * 2007 Best Supporting Actress - drama: Elise Wilkinson (Abby) - ''Fiction''CL's 21st Annual Charlotte Theater Awards
/ref> * 2007 Sweet 16 Award: ''The Sublet Experiment'' * 2007 Sweet 16 Award: ''Fiction'' * 2006 Theater Event of the Year: Shakespeare on the GreenCL's 20th Annual Charlotte Theatre Awards
/ref> * 2006 Sweet 16 Award: ''Bad Dates'' * 2006 Sweet 16 Award: ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''


Selected Reviews

* ''Tavern Shakespeare'' * ''Tavern Shakespeare'' * ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' * ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' * ''Bad Dates'' * ''Bad Dates'' * ''Fiction'' * ''Fiction'' * ''As You Like It''
/ref> * ''As You Like It'' * ''The Sublet Experiment'' * ''The Sublet Experiment'' * ''Closer Than Ever'' * ''Romeo and Juliet'' * ''Romeo and Juliet'' * ''Much Ado About Nothing'' * ''Much Ado About Nothing'' * ''Sitcoms Live!'' * ''Sitcoms Live!'' * ''Twelfth Night'' * ''Julius Caesar'' * ''Julius Caesar'' * ''The Comedy of Errors'' * ''The Comedy of Errors'' * ''Othello'' * ''Incorruptible'' * ''Incorruptible'' * ''Women of Will'' * ''Women of Will'' * ''Tartuffe'' * ''King Lear'' * ''King Lear'' * ''Time Stands Still'' * ''Bad Dates'' * ''The Tempest'' * ''The Merchant of Venice'' * ''The Merchant of Venice'' * ''Opus'' Musical chairs at the White House - The violin's the thing in Charlotte Shakespeare's latest production, by Perry Tannenbaum, Creative Loafing, October 18, 2012
/ref>


References

{{reflist, 2


External links


Charlotte Shakespeare Festival on the Green in Uptown
A Retrospective Photo Essay Former theatres in the United States Theatre companies in Charlotte, North Carolina Culture of Charlotte, North Carolina Shakespearean theatre companies Regional theatre in the United States Arts organizations established in 2006