The Saratoga Shakespeare Company is thrilled to celebrate its 20th Anniversary this summer!
Saratoga Shakespeare, founded in 2000, is Saratoga County’s only professional theatre company. SSC is a member of the international Shakespeare Theatre Association and is one of only four Shakespeare companies in the country that provides free and open access professional productions in public parks.
MISSION
The mission of The Saratoga Shakespeare Company is to enrich the summer cultural life for the residents and visitors of New York’s Capital Region through the presentation of free, accessible, professional Shakespeare productions.
HISTORY
“O for a muse of fire”
In July of 2000, the Saratoga Shakespeare Company’s first production, Twelfth Night, was presented in Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, NY. The production was brought to life through the vision of its founding member’s, William Finlay & Michaela Reilly Wilson who sought to bring free and accessible productions to the Saratoga Springs community. Since then SSC has produced more than 25 productions.
As we enter a new era, SSC is deeply committed to continuing the nimble, edgy and innovative work that has defined the company for more than two decades.
“Shakespeare’s work is not a ‘sacred’ text but a roadmap for our lives.” According to Marcus Dean Fuller, the current Executive and Artistic Director, “It reminds us that as we struggle with the same themes and challenges that collectively we always have; love, death, turbulent politics, that to get through this play called life we need each other. The performing of Shakespeare is nothing less than the celebration of the human condition engaging us not just as individuals but as a community.”
We will continue to seek out new and exciting collaborative partnerships with local arts organizations, as we have done with SPAC and as well as maintain our long-standing partnership with Skidmore College, which enables students from top colleges and graduate schools to receive academic credit for their work in Saratoga Shakespeare Company’s Professional Training Program (PTP).
SSC is a 501(c)3 charitable corporation, therefore all donations are tax-deductible. Funding of the company is through business sponsorship, grant writing, patronage and donations.
Saratoga Shakespeare is a member of the Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA), the Adirondack Region Theatre Association, and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce.
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