Compass Shakespeare Ensemble, Mary Baldwin’s master of fine arts (MFA) company for 2016–17, wrapped up their successful season of five Shakespeare productions with a final showing of their hour-long educational touring show, Macbeth, during the Mary Baldwin All-Alumni Homecoming weekend.
Compass Shakespeare focused on community performances, creating theatrical engagements with and for local audiences. The company created collaborative, playful, and accessible theatre and education initiatives designed with the diverse population of Staunton in mind and to foster cultural literacy, creativity, and acceptance through artistic engagement with theatrically under-approached audiences in the Shenandoah Valley and beyond.
The Virginia Institute for Autism in Charlottesville was one such notable experience.
“Within their productions, they put a great deal of emphasis on production value and took risks by embracing new performance styles,” said Assistant Professor of Shakespeare and Performance and company advisor Doreen Bechtol.
For instance, the ensemble created a commedia dell’arte-infused production of Shakespeare’s classic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in collaboration with guest director, John Bellomo from Philadelphia. Bellomo is an award winning director, actor, movement specialist, and teacher as well as current assistant professor of theatre at West Chester University.
Compass Shakespeare also produced two small-scale shows, which required them to divide the company in half and perform full texts with very few actors playing all the parts.
Standing on the shoulders of prior MFA companies, Compass attracted a broad audience base; especially targeting the undergrads at Mary Baldwin largely through the efforts of the company’s marketing techniques.
Compass enjoyed a robust touring circuit to several colleges and universities in the area over the course of the academic year, including; James Madison University, Bridgewater College, Virginia Tech, Piedmont Virginia Community College, and Hollins University.
Here is a glimpse of the Compass Shakespeare’s full season:
Devised Show: A Latin Lesson
Education Show: Macbeth
Small Scale Shows: Troilus and Cressida & The Comedy of Errors
Blackfriar’s Show: A Midsummer Night’s Dream