CST Press Coverage From Over the Years
Richard Gloucester plots his way to the crown. Henry VI, Part 2
Children’s Shakespeare Theatre awarded $30,000 by the New York State Council on the Arts
Nyack, NY – Children’s Shakespeare Theatre announced today a grant award totaling $30,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the recovery of the nonprofit arts and culture sector. Following New York State’s historic investment for the arts, NYSCA has awarded $90 million since Spring 2022 to a record number of artists and organizations across the state.
retrospective of 20 seasons
After 20 years as the director of Children’s Shakespeare Theater, Diana Green will stage Henry VI, Part 2 starting on May 10th as her 90th production. For that accomplishment, Green should be crowned, and after that coronation, she could deservedly feel a bit weary, if not uneasy.
But Diana Green, like spring, and her beloved bard, “hath put a spirit of youth in every thing.” (Sonnet 98, 1-3)
— Bill Batson, Nyack Sketch Log, 2019
King Henry looks on as soldiers mourn their dead. — Henry VI, Part 2, 2019
From an article written by Eric Minton when he was on a journey to see all the plays in the cannon in a single year.
“Is this a play children should be exposed to, let alone performing, and in a generally hilarious staging at that? Absolutely: These actors see racism, rising numbers of hate crimes, and bullying every day through newscasts, on the Internet, in their communities, and, no doubt, at their schools. During a talkback with the entire cast after the play, when 10-year-old Hela Giaever, who plays Jessica, Shylock's daughter, says, "You need to know someone's backstory before you judge them," she's expressing a truism in and about this play that most adults just don't grasp."There are no heroes and villains in life," Massaro, the titular merchant of Venice, adds. "Everybody's much deeper than that."
Touchstone, Silvius and Madame LeBeau backstage at As You Like It, 2007.
Comparing to the pros
“If you’ve seen the inventive and marvelous work of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, lower your sight lines about 2 feet and you’ll be ready for the kids at Children’s Shakespeare Theatre.” — Peter Kramer, The Journal News
Celia and Rosalind instruct Orlando in the ways of love. — As You Like It, 2007
Falstaff fitting his fat suit in an early production of Merry Wives of Windsor, 2004.
The beginning
“The children were lively and confident. The production had pace and rhythm. Nobles were dressed nobly, rustics in homespun, brides in white. The backdrop shimmered. The tree stood tall. The music was perfect. These were wonderful evenings. May CST grow and thrive and bring us many more such productions!”
— Caroline Tapley, The 10964 Newsletter
Savannah Green as Puck in the very first production by Children’s Shakespeare Theatre. April, 2000.