The A.R.T. of Theater
Though it is best known by just three small letters, this fall the A.R.T. has started to achieve a much bigger presence within the Harvard undergraduate community.
The American Repertory Theater is by no means a newcomer to Cambridge. According to Thomas S. Lee, Program Manager of Learning From Performers in the Office for the Arts, the A.R.T. was established in 1980 by Robert Brustein and gradually began to develop a relationship with Harvard undergraduates.
However, under the guidance of new A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane M. Paulus ’87, Lee notes that there’s been a recent shift to forming even closer ties with Harvard College.
“I think we’re really committed as a theater to playing an essential part in every student’s life at Harvard,” said Paulus.
TAKING CENTER STAGE
The A.R.T. is refashioning Shakespeare for the Harvard student and reaching out to undergraduates through academic channels. English 128: “Dream, Theater, Shakespeare”—which meets the General Education requirement for Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding—fills the Fong Auditorium every Tuesday afternoon. The class is taught both by Paulus and William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of English and of Visual & Environmental Studies Marjorie Garber, who is also Chair of the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies.
The class reads three Shakespeare plays—“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Macbeth,” and “A Winter’s Tale”—and students are obligated to attend three A.R.T. performances—part of the A.R.T.’s Shakespeare Exploded festival—during the semester.
According to Antonio J. Hernandez ’11, who is enrolled in English 128, attending A.R.T. adaptations of Shakespeare plays helps enliven the classroom experience. “It makes you more interested when you’re reading to say ‘Oh, that’s interesting—this witch thing would be really great if you adapted that…I wonder what’s gonna happen with that when I see it performed.’”
He also explained that the theatrical element of the class attracts members of the undergraduate theater community.
“You go in the class and you see people who [you] know are interested in theater production and these people will one day probably be some great leaders in the arts world,” said Hernandez.
In addition, The A.R.T.’s Institute for Advanced Theater Training is reaching out to the undergraduate community. The five-semester professional training program that encompasses a residency at the Moscow Art Theater School is teaming up with the Office of the Arts this year and inviting undergrads to participate in an intensive two-week theater training program during J-Term.
THE DRAMA COMMUNITY
While the A.R.T. has begun to reach a larger audience of undergraduates through courses such as English 128, for certain subsets of the Harvard community, the A.R.T. has consistently been a significant presence.
According to Mia P. Walker ’10, director of the Harvard-Radcliffe Drama Club’s (HRDC) production of “Grease,” “If you do student theater under the umbrella of HRDC, you’re automatically really working with the A.R.T.”
Still, she explained that the close relationship has recently gotten closer, and Walker said that she recognizes a “sizeable difference” in the relationship between Harvard and the A.R.T. during the three and a half years she’s been at Harvard.
“There was no liaison between the students and the ART,” she said, “but now I feel like there’s a lot more connection.”
According to Walker, who’s also a Crimson arts writer, every student production on campus is given an A.R.T. mentor. Walker’s mentor last year attended rehearsals, tech week, and even frequently met for coffee to give her advice.
But Walker also notes the A.R.T’s broad appeal for students who might not normally consider attending performances.
“People who I would never thought would go see shows, I see them at the ‘Donkey Show’…People I never expected are talking about the A.R.T.,” said Walker.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
According to Paulus, the Harvard-A.R.T. relationship is likely to get even cozier in the future.
“[The A.R.T.] has been outreaching to the University to open the art for the students to get involved for the productions,” Paulus explained.
She also noted that the A.R.T. is attempting to reach out to Harvard students even after graduation by providing opportunities to continue their theatrical work at the
A.R.T.’s Institute for Advanced Theater Training.
“People who were very involved as undergraduates in theater are now having the opportunity to take the next step after graduation and work at the A.R.T. as part of their training and profession,” said Paulus.
After all, as Paulus stated, “we are a part of Harvard and we are eager to provide a cultural center for Harvard University.”