Performances on March 25 and 26 2022 are free for veterans and active-duty military.
Baltimore, Md. (March 10, 2022) – Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s military veterans’ ensemble will present “To Be a Soldier,” a collection of Shakespeare scenes on military experience, at 8 p.m. March 25 and 26 at the theater at 7 S. Calvert St. in Baltimore. Tickets are free for veterans and active-duty military.
Olive Branch and Laurel Crown, CSC’s veterans’ ensemble, has worked on the presentation for several months as part of the Studio at CSC’s veterans’ programming supported by a Creative Forces grant. “To Be a Soldier” is the ensemble’s third original compilation, with six vets in the program choosing Shakespeare scenes that reflect their personal experience in the military. “To Be a Soldier,” directed by Lauren Davis, was first performed at the 2022 Shakespeare Theatre Association’s annual conference in January in Harrisburg, PA.
The March 25 and 26 performances at CSC will be the only ones in Baltimore before the acting troupe brings “To Be a Soldier” to veterans conferences and centers in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. in the spring and summer.
CSC’s classes encourage veterans to use William Shakespeare’s plays as inspiration to reflect on their personal experiences, in the military and in their return to civilian life. CSC Director of Education Ron Heneghan teaches classes in-person and virtually at the Perry Point VHA. The next class for veterans at CSC begins in April for a 10-week session, which meets on Saturdays, and is free to military veterans. CSC started the veterans programming in 2017 and 26 veterans have participated so far.
“I enjoy the material we work on, I am learning about the acting process, and I enjoy the company of the other members in the Ensemble. I have bared my heart and soul to them,” says Matthew Imholte, who has participated in several sessions of CSC’s program and spent 10 years in the U.S. Army. “These veterans in the Ensemble have become my closest friends.”
A Marine combat engineer from 1987 to 1993, David M. Hanauer, who served in Kuwait during the first Persian Gulf War and later Kosovo, told The Baltimore Sun of his first experience in the program in 2017: “The whole program has been a great way for us to display different emotions. We all had exposure to many of the same things which we are now able to see and express through the eyes and words of Shakespeare’s characters.”
For more information about this production or Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, visit ChesapeakeShakespeare.com.
ABOUT CSC VETERANS PROGRAMMING:
The Olive Branch and Laurel Crown Ensemble exists within the ranks of the CSC Resident Artists. It was born from classes sponsored by and in partnership with VetArts Connect, finding ways for health and wellness through the arts. The Ensemble accepts new members upon completion of the CSC Vets Acting Class.
WHERE:
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is located at 7 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The theater is located two blocks north of the Inner Harbor. Parking is available for the discounted rate of $5 at the Arrow Parking covered lot on 204 East Lombard Street. The theater is also accessible using the FREE Charm City Circulator and is located on the Purple Route. For more detailed information about directions, parking, and public transportation, click here.
TICKETS:
Tickets can be purchased by ordering online at ChesapeakeShakespeare.com, calling 410-244-8570, or visiting the Box Office in person. General admission tickets are $22, and free for veterans and active-duty military. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
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ABOUT CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY:
Founded in 2002 with the goal of producing “Shakespeare that’s not stuffy”, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (CSC) is dedicated to bringing the plays of Shakespeare and other classic playwrights into the lives of as many people as possible in ways that are personally meaningful, educationally inspiring, and theatrically compelling. Our mission is to engage our communities in the exploration of what makes Shakespeare so timeless and relevant while strengthening the connection between audience and artist. In 2012, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company acquired the Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust Company building in downtown Baltimore, renovating it into a modern Globe Theater for indoor performances, while continuing to produce outdoor Shakespeare every summer at the PFI Historic Park in Howard County. The organization regularly serves 30,000+ people annually through artistic projects and community engagement initiatives, and vibrant and continually growing education activities. CSC’s education program includes both an extensive matinee series, camps, classes, and in- and out-of-school residencies.
