“Six years ago I heard about the Young Shakespeare Workshop and longed to be a part of the summer program but due to certain circumstances was never able to. Through other avenues within the program at Cleveland H.S. I was able to get to know the director and alumni and develop various skills. Being a part of this program has not only provided me with great opportunities such as acting, learning about Shakespeare and helping in high schools. It provided a lot of personal growth and freedom.
This summer I was finally able to join the YSW summer program. Having the opportunity to play Rosalind from As You Like It is something I am so grateful for. Rosalind is a character I admire so deeply because she is many things I have wished to be. I met Rosalind briefly in a very adapted version of the play, in Young Shakespeare Workshop’s after school production of Not As You Like It at Cleveland high school. When asked to play her again this summer in her entirety I was afraid I could not live up to the massive character she is known to be but I said okay anyway.
It is hard to put in words what this summer has been for me. Rosalind’s bravery, cleverness, openness, love for life and living in its fullness, with the help of YSW, I learned how to create that on stage and apply to my life. I learned how to be more of a whole person because of her and let go of the fear that kept me from doing that. This program provided me a community as well. I never thought I would fall in love so fast. My cast mates came from all different paths. They are some of the raddest people in world and now are some of my favorite people. They know how to act, cry, scream, be idiots, and make you laugh until it hurts. I got to spend my whole summer with them and it was great. This program has filled my heart to the brim and has given me one of the best summers of my life.” -Brittany Cleveland H.S. residencies 2010 – 2014, Returning Student 2016, Revolving Company 2017
Give now, your support will keep us going!
Go to Washington Gives, click below, if you would like to give online. (We are no longer using ClickandPledge due to new prohibitive monthly charges).
https://www.wagives.org/organization/Young-Shakespeare-Workshop
Rosalind and Orlando
Thank you to our partners!
