American Shakespeare Center

Empowering education:asc brings shakespeare to life for students of all ages through matinees, workshops, and immersive programs that inspire a passion for storytelling and performance while also teaching skills of communication, confidence, and collaboration. The blackfriars playhouse serves as a center of discovery, where students explore shakespeare beyond the classroom.this year, we reached over 700 students in workshops, provided more than $14,000 in camp scholarships, and hosted more than 7,600 students for matinee performances. Asc met 100% of student matinee financial aid requests, marking a 65.2% increase in students served compared to 2022. See schedule o for continuation.we expanded our educational offerings with 3 new programs: the asc book club for adults, a new drama club for ages 14-18, and no kidding drama programs for adults.

Building community & fostering accessibility:asc is committed to being a theater for all, welcoming new audiences and fostering connections through accessible programming and outreach. This year, we welcomed over 19,700 new visitors and grew our virginia patron base by 45.1%. We support staunton and the surrounding community through student aid, local partnerships, and collaborations with universities, businesses, and cultural institutions, strengthening the ties between arts, education, and culture.through initiatives such as pay-what-you-will performances, local rush nights, and veterans' discounts, asc works to remove barriers to live performance. See schedule o for continuation.launched this year at 11 local libraries, the library culture pass provided 177 blue ridge mountain residents with free access to asc productions. Asl interpretation was also offered for julius caesar, allowing students from the local virginia school for the deaf and blind to engage with the production.