Behind the Bard - Avant Bard Theatre

Avant Bard is raising $5,000 for the “Behind the Bard” film project, which will directly support Arlington County educators by providing free resources for middle and high school students.

WHY DONATE:

This financial support will enable us, during the current 2024-25 season, to film scenes from our rehearsals of The Margriad (which comprises scenes from Henry VI and Richard III) and Hamlet. Alongside these scenes, we will film interviews with actors, directors, and designers, giving an insider’s look into how we bring Shakespeare’s works to life on stage. The footage will enrich English, Social Studies, and Theatre curricula in Arlington County Public Schools

Kathleen Akerley, Avant Bard Artistic Associate for Production & Education, and HB Woodlawn Film Teacher

THE NUMBERS …

Personnel and Equipment ($2,000): We will hire an assistant videographer and production assistants (local college students or recent grads) and rent high-quality equipment to capture professional-grade footage.
Post-Production Editing ($1,500): We will edit the scenes, interviews, and commentary into engaging 15-minute videos, making them classroom-ready with subtitles and visuals.
Content Distribution and Hosting ($500): We will host the videos on accessible platforms, such as YouTube, and ensure distribution to local teachers.
Educator Engagement and Feedback ($1,000): We will collaborate with teachers to promote the content and gather feedback to meet their needs.

This project directly invests in Arlington schools, giving teachers high-quality content that brings Shakespeare to life for their students. It also builds on Avant Bard’s commitment to accessibility, a priority we established last season by making all Avant Bard shows permanently free to APS middle and high school students.