Heart of America Shakespeare Festival

Our mission is to make the works of Shakespeare and Shakespeare-inspired works accessible to a diverse audience through a free, professional, outdoor festival, and additional free and paid performances and educational programs.

How to Register: Please review GSKSMO's registration requirements before registering. Unless otherwise stated in program description, contact Matt Rapport, Director of Education at 816-531-7728 or email mrapport@kcshakes.org.

Cost per girl: $15/girl ($100 minimum/workshop) for in-person workshops. $12/girl (no minimum) for virtual workshops. Workshops include a Heart of America Shakespeare Festival fun patch.
Cost per adult: N/A

Location: Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, 3732 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. Can also travel to troops; fees apply for distances over 30 miles.

Additional info: All workshops can be customized to best serve your troop's needs. Contact Director of Education, Matt Rapport, at mrapport@kcshakes.org to discuss the possibilities. Additional costs may apply.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Girl Scout Night at the Shakespeare Festival

All Levels
Tues, June 20 6:00 PM - 10:30 PM

YOU SCHEDULE IT! OPPORTUNITIES:

Women of Shakespeare*: All Levels

Explore the role of women in history through the eyes of the timeless and compelling female characters created by William Shakespeare. Using these dynamic women as a springboard, participants will learn how to create a role of their own and how these roles fit into today’s society. Characters explored include Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth, Joan of Arc, and other favorites. 60 minutes.

Additional info: Juniors working on their Playing the Past badge can complete all 5 steps.

Badge Connections: Junior Badge: Playing the Past

Journey Connections: Brownie Journey: A World of Girls, Junior Journey: aMUSE, Junior Journey: Agent of Change, Senior Journey: GIRLtopia

Outcomes: Develops a strong sense of self, Seeks challenges and learns from setbacks
Learn more about the 5 Girl Scout Outcomes.
The Art of Argumentation! *: All Levels

Portia’s Persuasion: the story of The Merchant of Venice is a dynamic backdrop for students to explore the power of persuasion and debate tactics through the lens of one of Shakespeare’s most dynamic female characters. 60 minutes.

Journey Connections: Junior Journey: aMUSE, Ambassador Journey: Your Voice Your World

Outcomes: Develops a strong sense of self, Seeks challenges and learns from setbacks
Learn more about the 5 Girl Scout Outcomes.
Everyone Can Juggle!*: All Levels

Juggling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment on the planet. Let our experienced instructors teach you this ancient art form. Build hand eye coordination, discipline, and concentration skills all while having fun! Open to all ages, juggling is also great low-impact exercise for everyone. Students must provide their own juggling supplies (balls, scarves, rolled up socks, etc.). 60 minutes.

Additional info: Brownies working on their Making Games badge can complete steps 2 and 5.

Badge Connections: Brownie Badge: Making Games

Journey Connections: Junior Journey: GET MOVING!

Outcomes: Develops a strong sense of self, Seeks challenges and learns from setbacks
Learn more about the 5 Girl Scout Outcomes.
En Garde Bard! Stage Combat*: All Levels

Learn the art of stage combat from the masters at The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. Take up a wooden sword(or whatever you have!), and join this interactive lesson in which you’ll learn the basic techniques of armed and unarmed stage combat used on stages and screens around the world. All ages. 60 minutes.

Journey Connections: Junior Journey: GET MOVING!

Outcomes: Develops a strong sense of self, Seeks challenges and learns from setbacks
Learn more about the 5 Girl Scout Outcomes.
Bard Basics: An Introduction to Shakespeare*: All Levels

Bard Basics is an exciting way to introduce students of all ages to the Elizabethan world through the eyes of William Shakespeare. In addition to learning about Shakespeare’s life and times, professional teaching artists will teach students basic acting techniques and exercises culminating in a presentation of scenes and monologues from A Midsummer’s Night Dream. 60 minutes.

Additional info: Cadettes working on their Public Speaker badge can complete steps 1, 2, and 5. Seniors working on their Troupe Performer badge can complete all 5 steps.

Badge Connections: Cadette Badge: Public Speaker, Senior Badge: Troupe Performer

Outcomes: Develops a strong sense of self, Seeks challenges and learns from setbacks
Learn more about the 5 Girl Scout Outcomes.
Shakespeare Off the Cuff: The Art of Improvisation*: All Levels

Shakespeare Off the Cuff is an introduction to the world of improvisational acting. Every student will get on their feet and work with their classmates to learn the basics of creating characters, gaining self-confidence and utilizing their creativity. Students will participate in acting games that do not rely on any scripts – the magic lies in their own imaginations. All ages. 60 minutes.

Additional info: Brownies working on their Making Games badge can complete steps 2-5. Juniors working on their Playing the Past badge can complete steps 1, 3, 4, and 5. Cadettes working on the Public Speaker badge can complete steps 1, 2, and 5. Seniors working on their Troupe Performer badge can complete all 5 steps.

Petal/Badge Connections: Daisy Petal: Honest and Fair, Daisy Petal: Responsible for What I Say and Do, Daisy Petal: Make the World A Better Place, Brownie Badge: Making Games, Junior Badge: Playing the Past, Cadette Badge: Public Speaker, Senior Badge: Troupe Performer

Journey Connections: Brownie Journey: Brownie Quest, Brownie Journey: A World of Girls, Senior Journey: GIRLtopia, Ambassador Journey: Your Voice Your World

Outcomes: Develops a strong sense of self, Seeks challenges and learns from setbacks, Learns to identify and solve problems in her community
Learn more about the 5 Girl Scout Outcomes.
Sonnet ShakeUP*: Junior Cadette Senior Ambassador

Sonnet ShakeUP is a writing workshop that will give students all the tools they need to write their own sonnets. Teachers will give a brief history of the sonnet and help guide students as they learn to express themselves through this centuries old style of poetry. 60 minutes.

Additional info: Juniors working on their Scribe badge can complete steps 1, 3, and 5.

Badge Connections: Junior Badge: Scribe

Outcomes: Develops a strong sense of self, Seeks challenges and learns from setbacks
Learn more about the 5 Girl Scout Outcomes.
Shakespeare Scavenger Hunt*: Brownie Junior Cadette Senior Ambassador

This dynamic and interactive workshop begins with students learning skills and exercises fundamental to Shakespearean acting. Once they have the basics, students will then be given suggestions based on plot points, events, characters, and props found in Shakespeare’s plays. With those tools they will create a brand new “Shakespeare” play through group interaction and cooperation. The new play will then be performed at the end of the session. Ages 8 and up. 120 minutes.

Additional info: Brownie working on their Making Games badge can complete steps 1-4. Seniors working on their Troupe Perfomer badge can complete steps 1-5.

Cost per girl: $25 (includes Heart of America Shakespeare Festival fun patch)

Badge Connections: Brownie Badge: Making Games, Senior Badge: Troupe Perfomer

Journey Connections: Brownie Journey: Brownie Quest, Junior Journey: aMUSE

Outcomes: Develops a strong sense of self, Seeks challenges and learns from setbacks
Learn more about the 5 Girl Scout Outcomes.