Assembly: Founder/director Colin Cox and a touring group of artists, much like the troupes who traversed the provinces in Shakespeare's day, make ageless classics more accessible to young audiences. Celebrate the timeless language and classic theatre of Shakespeare's work by selecting a tragedy or a comedy for students to enjoy. Each performance features narration of the story of the play, a presentation of several major scenes, and information about the history and background of the play. These dynamic performances are a great way to intrigue, entrance and educate students about the captivating work of William Shakespeare.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, a rollicking adventure in a forest grove filled with spirits. A delightful introduction to one of the Bard's most beloved comedies. When the play opens,Theseus has been asked to judge a dispute between Egeus and his daughter Hermia. Egeus wishes Hermia to marry Demetrius, but her heart is set upon Lysander. Hermia decides to disobey her father and resolves to elope with Lysander.They plan to meet in the woods near the city the following night.The woods become the major setting for the play as the action unfolds with two pair of lovers (Lysander/ Hermia and Helena/Demetrius); the King and Queen of the fairies and their train; and a group of rustics -- laborers from Athens who are rehearsing a play to perform at the royal wedding. Mischief and magic take place in abundance, but all is set right in the end at a joyous triple wedding celebration.(All ages, Available April, May, June)

A Christmas Carol is a humorous and touching tale by one of England's most beloved authors, Charles Dickens. This story is a non-denominational thematic exploration of poverty, family and giving. True to the Will & Company style, A Christmas Carol is highly interactive - students get the chance to act alongside a group of professional actors and contribute to a delightful rendition of the famous story. (All ages, Available November, December)

The Odyssey, Homer's literary epic is brought to the stage in an adventurous, theatrical style.The production includes innovative use of puppets, mime and choreographed swordplay. A narrator describes the plot as it unfolds, while the company performs major scenes using the convention of a Greek chorus.(All ages, Available April, May, June)

Pinocchio, Based on the 1882 Italian classic by Carlo Collodi, a wooden puppet named Pinocchio learns valuable lessons about kindness, courage and honesty. Students will be introduced to traditional Comedia del Arte characters in a marionette sequence based on an Italian Opera. True to Will & Company style, Pinocchio is highly interactive, including 10 students from the audience alongside 5 professional actors. (K-6, Available January, February, March)

Assembly Price:
One Performance=$690
Two Performances=$1,100
Three Performances=$1,500

Age Group: All Ages
Age Group (Pinocchio): K-5
Capacity: 500 Students
Availability: See Above

Workshop: A veteran Will & Company artist will lead students in specially designed pre-show and post-performance workshops illuminating the characters and story lines of Will and Company repertoire. These workshops sessions give students an in-depth experience featuring Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Homer's epic classic The Odyssey, and the adventures of Robin Hood based on the medieval ballads. Students explore theatre techniques, role-play scenes from the plays and are given cultural and historical content from Ancient Greece, the Middle Ages and Elizabethan London.

Workshop Price:
$100 per 60-minute workshop, plus possible planning fee. Minimum three workshops per day must be scheduled.

Age Group: K-12
Capacity: 1 Classroom (maximum of 35 students, plus regular teacher)
Availability: Year Round

Teacher In-Service Price: $300/hour (2-hour minimum required).
Capacity: 40 Educators

To design an arts education program with this artist, please call (213) 250-ARTS or email schoolprograms@musiccenter.org.

Prices are for services between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010.