MONROE - Shakespeare would be proud.
Shakespeare on the Edge, founded and directed by Jennifer Edge Bethel, is expanding its services to people in southern Wisconsin.
The company began with the Shakespeare Project in 2004. Its intent was to reach at-risk youth and teens ages 11-18 to create positive, enriching experiences, guiding them to bond and make good life choices.
"My hope through creating the Shakespeare Project was to reach youth and teens to create positive, enriching experiences, guiding youths and teens to bond and make good life choices," Bethel said.
Bethel has added The Core Company and adult programming to Shakespeare on the Edge.
The Core Company is a youth core company of 10 to 12 kids and teens offering full-length Shakespeare and focused workshops that address issues of bullying, communication, anti-peer pressure, parent-child communication and relationships, diversity and tolerance as outreach to schools and organizations throughout a six-county area, including Green and Lafayette counties.
The Core Company also promotes literacy and keeping the art of Shakespeare alive.
Bethel said the group's 12 members are practicing 15 to 20 hours a week for performances. They perform the second Monday of every month at the Monroe Main Street Market on the Square.
The group will perform at Cheese Days in September and has two performances scheduled in Madison in July and December.
The Core Company also will perform at The Shakespeare Project's annual fund raiser, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 5 at The Piazza outside of Monroe on Wisconsin 69.
Bethel's intention is to have the group start getting into area schools in the fall.
It is Bethel's hope that in the spring of 2009 the Core Company will travel to New Orleans "to bring our outreach programming ... to youth and families rebuilding their lives in New Orleans."
Bethel said if the group doesn't go in the spring of 2009, it will go in the spring of 2010.
"The need is always going to be there in New Orleans. It's a pretty turbulent place even without Katrina," Bethel said. "It's just a violent place for children and teenagers."
Adult programming will involve adults coming together to experience the therapeutic value of Shakespeare's work, while having the opportunity to explore Shakespeare's characters, plays and themes and how they apply to today's world.
Bethel said the adult programming will start after Cheese Days, when she hopes performances intrigue enough adults to join.
Branching out has been exciting for Bethel.
"We've always held true to our mission of helping individuals find greater self-esteem through the arts," Bethel said. "As we've grown, we've seen a need to reach out beyond the kids we help here every day.
"The kids are ready to do more."
Shakespeare on the Edge, founded and directed by Jennifer Edge Bethel, is expanding its services to people in southern Wisconsin.
The company began with the Shakespeare Project in 2004. Its intent was to reach at-risk youth and teens ages 11-18 to create positive, enriching experiences, guiding them to bond and make good life choices.
"My hope through creating the Shakespeare Project was to reach youth and teens to create positive, enriching experiences, guiding youths and teens to bond and make good life choices," Bethel said.
Bethel has added The Core Company and adult programming to Shakespeare on the Edge.
The Core Company is a youth core company of 10 to 12 kids and teens offering full-length Shakespeare and focused workshops that address issues of bullying, communication, anti-peer pressure, parent-child communication and relationships, diversity and tolerance as outreach to schools and organizations throughout a six-county area, including Green and Lafayette counties.
The Core Company also promotes literacy and keeping the art of Shakespeare alive.
Bethel said the group's 12 members are practicing 15 to 20 hours a week for performances. They perform the second Monday of every month at the Monroe Main Street Market on the Square.
The group will perform at Cheese Days in September and has two performances scheduled in Madison in July and December.
The Core Company also will perform at The Shakespeare Project's annual fund raiser, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 5 at The Piazza outside of Monroe on Wisconsin 69.
Bethel's intention is to have the group start getting into area schools in the fall.
It is Bethel's hope that in the spring of 2009 the Core Company will travel to New Orleans "to bring our outreach programming ... to youth and families rebuilding their lives in New Orleans."
Bethel said if the group doesn't go in the spring of 2009, it will go in the spring of 2010.
"The need is always going to be there in New Orleans. It's a pretty turbulent place even without Katrina," Bethel said. "It's just a violent place for children and teenagers."
Adult programming will involve adults coming together to experience the therapeutic value of Shakespeare's work, while having the opportunity to explore Shakespeare's characters, plays and themes and how they apply to today's world.
Bethel said the adult programming will start after Cheese Days, when she hopes performances intrigue enough adults to join.
Branching out has been exciting for Bethel.
"We've always held true to our mission of helping individuals find greater self-esteem through the arts," Bethel said. "As we've grown, we've seen a need to reach out beyond the kids we help here every day.
"The kids are ready to do more."