History

Shakespeare Carolina is the Metrolina area's only theatre company devoted to the Classical canon. Straddling the border between North and South Carolina, we strive to provide the area with innovative, thought-provoking productions of the classics. WE ARE NOT YOUR FATHER'S SHAKESPEARE COMPANY.

Founded in 1997 by former board members of the Rock Hill Community Theatre, Shakespeare Carolina produced outdoors in Fewell Park for four years, before moving into the McCelvey Center in York  SC, for it's production of Othello.

In 2001, Shakespeare Carolina was invited to perform at the Historic Footlights Theatre as a part of Charleston, SC’s Millenium Celebration, on New Years Eve 1999. Written by the company,  Illuminari.

It was the demise of Off Tryon that inspired Chris to gather up OTTC’s Managing Director, John Hartness and give Shakespeare Carolina another go. Spring and Summer of 2007 saw the rebirth of Shakespeare Carolina with their outdoor production of a reimagined Taming of The Shrew performed in Downtown Rock Hill, before moving north to Theatre Charlotte, along with John Hartness’ Hamlet, which comprised the first ever Queen City Shakespeare Festival.

In Summer 2008 Shakespeare Carolina forged ahead with ambitious fully  realized productions of Richard III and Twelfth Night, making the 2nd Annual Queen City Shakespeare Festival an enormous success, as ticket sales easily quadrupled that of the 2007 Festival.

2009 saw the company returning once again to Theatre Charlotte, pushing the envelope once again with the seldom produced Antony & Cleopatra to rave reviews. Following the 2009 season, company member Iesha Hoffman was named Producing Artistic Director.

                                                                         Productions

                                                                                    The Taming of The Shrew (1997)

Much Ado About Nothing

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Illuminaria (At Charleston SC Millenium ) (2000)

Othello (2001)

The Taming of The Shrew  (2007)

Hamlet (2007)

Twelfth Night (2008)

Richard III (2008)

Antony & Cleopatra (2009)

Macbeth (2010)

Much Ado About Nothing (2010)

Cymbeline (2010)