The Shakespeare Wagon
It has always been a core element of CSC’s mission to connect arts to our communities, and especially to those who might not traditionally interact with classical theatres or arts institutions. Shakespeare Beyond the Walls will bring traveling arts and cultural programming into neighborhoods and towns across Baltimore and Maryland—with emphasis on reaching those with limited access to the arts. We will create a mobile performance unit (the “Shakespeare Wagon”) and portable learning center, staffed by performers and teaching artists. This traveling unit will visit dozens of communities each summer – urban, rural, and suburban – to reach new audiences where they are.
The Shakespeare Wagon is coming to town presenting free performances of
A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Patterson Park - July 20th and 22nd at 7:00PM
2601 E Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21224 • Performance location: Observatory Tower
Park Heights - July 24th and 25th at 7:00PM
4801 Park Heights Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215 • Rain Date July 26th
Middle Branch Park - July 27th and 28th at 7:00PM
3301 Waterview Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230 • Performance location: by the Boat House
Carroll Park - July 29th and 30th at 7:00PM
1500 Washington Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21230 • Performance location: Mount Clare Museum House lawn • Rain Date July 31st.
About Shakespeare Beyond
Rendering by Chester Stacy
Our custom portable performance unit is specifically designed for outdoor touring performances, enabling us to reach communities beyond our backyard with flexible, agile, movable programming.
Rendering by Chester Stacy
Our traveling Shakespeare Wagon will allow us to set up camp in community spaces where we will offer free performances, workshops, learning experiences, collaborations, and eventually, an arts residency program with a jobs training component. Once the program is at full capacity, we aim to be mounting over sixty performances per summer, along with the accompanying workshops and arts residency activities.
Rendering by Chester Stacy
Beyond connecting people to the arts, which we know to be crucial for building and sustaining healthy communities, Shakespeare Beyond the Walls will also facilitate community revitalization. By establishing a presence in underserved communities across Baltimore and Maryland, we aim to bring resources, people, and positive attention to parks and public spaces in the neighborhoods served, partnering with local community organizations who best know what their neighborhoods need to thrive.
2023: Launch pilot program in Baltimore City
2024: Apply lessons learned from pilot year, incorporate the arts residency program, and expand into more sites across Baltimore City
2025: Expand into other parts of Maryland through the addition of a second traveling unit
CSC is immensely grateful to the following supporters who believed and invested in this initiative from the beginning
Institutional
Baltimore Community Foundation
The Helm Foundation
State of Maryland
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