Back to Article Index

Main Street Theater Receives $25,000 NEA
Shakespeare Grant for Third Year Running

For the third year in a row, Main Street Theater is the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for the 2008-2009 Shakespeare for a New Generation Program. This year Main Street is 1 of only 40 theaters nationwide – and is once again the only theater in Texas to be awarded this prestigious grant for 08-09. “Three years!” says Youth Theater Producing Director Vivienne M. St. John. “We are thrilled. This renewed grant will allow us to keep reaching new groups of students through Shakespeare, a rarity these days when fewer and fewer older students can take field trips to see productions.” Each theater company will receive $25,000 for a total NEA investment of $1,000,000.

Through Main Street Theater’s Youth Theater program, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will tour middle and high schools in the spring of 2009. “The feedback from schools has been overwhelming,” says St. John. “The students are excited, the teachers are excited. They see the play, they have a chance to ask the actors questions after the show, then further explore Shakespeare with teaching artist led workshops. The live experience of theater – and the experience of accessible, tangible Shakespeare – moves them. And it’s phenomenally rewarding for us as well.”

Main Street Theater Executive Artistic Director Rebecca Greene Udden will direct the NEA tour for the third year in a row. She’s particularly pleased to be doing Midsummer. “It’s so joyful, so much fun!” says Udden. “It’s a fool-proof comedy, and most importantly, it’s just so accessible. Students are instantly drawn in and have a ball.”

Each school that books a performance will also receive accompanying educational materials. After the very positive experience of sending teaching artists to each school after the 07-08 NEA performances to expand on the themes discussed in The Merchant of Venice, Main Street will continue this supplemental education package for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

This tour is available to all Title 1 schools in the state of Texas at no cost (excluding travel expenses). There is a minimal fee for non-Title 1 schools.

Student groups can call 713-524-9196 x 101 for more information or to schedule a performance.

Since 1975, Main Street Theater has produced high quality professional theater for audiences of all ages through its MainStage productions and Main Street Youth Theater. The Main Street Theater Kids On Stage program offers performing arts classes and camps for children 5 years to 14 years of age. The organization produces plays at two locations, 2540 Times Boulevard in Rice Village and 4617 Montrose Boulevard at Chelsea Market.

Main Street Theater is a member of the Fresh Arts Coalition, a collaboration of 22 arts organizations that work collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts in Houston, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theaters. Main Street Theater offers a lively year-round repertory of classic and contemporary plays for audiences of all ages and provides a much-needed showcase for Houston theater professionals. Main Street Theater is also a member of Actors’ Equity Association and of ASSITEJ, the world theatre network of theatre for children and young people. Main Street Theater is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County.