Grassroots Shakespeare: "I love Shakespeare, and I live here": Amateur Shakespeare Performance in American Communities

Abstract:In early 2020, at least 365 performance organizations devoted to Shakespeare were actively performing or planning productions in the United States of America. Approximately 130 of these, around one third, constitute grassroots or amateur performance companies. These organizations, spread throughout the country, have a long, rich, and largely undiscovered history in the United States. This article provides historical and contemporary context for amateur Shakespeare performance through case studies drawn from Maine, Kansas, and California. These case studies illustrate discernable patterns and trends within the grassroots performance model that have endured for over a century. In Maine, I examine two amateur performance companies that entwine original work with local civic engagement. Next, to understand the desire for recurring performances aided by large-scale casts, I trace the forgotten legacy of the Shakespeare festival in Kinsley, Kansas, and its lasting impact on the contemporary regional stage. Finally, I analyze an amateur organization, the Pasadena Community Playhouse, the first company in the US to perform the entire canon. Ultimately, this article posits that these grassroots organizations, united around a versatile canon of plays, are a vital and enduring part of a widespread performance ecosystem in the United States.