Announcing: the Inaugural Program, 2009

The Mind & Faith of William Shakespeare

On July 6, 2009, Living Water College of the Arts will commence a six-week intensive program featuring the work of William Shakespeare.   

An extract of our full curriculum, the inaugural program will contain artistic training, academic study through socratic discussion and daily prayer.   

Students will explore classical sources on tragedy, plays by Shakespeare, and commentaries that illustrate the Bard’s techniques and his faith.  Participants will gain a rich appreciation of the classical education and devout faith that inspired and motivated William Shakespeare.  

Resident clergy will provide daily Mass, Sacraments, and spiritual direction, and students will participate in morning and evening prayer. 

Fine Arts training will integrate with the classical studies, providing a wealth of acting techniques demanded of the Shakespearean actor.  The production of Macbeth will provide a practical means by which students will refine skills of interpretation and performance.   

Why Shakespeare for the first Summer Program?  Because his artistic mastery came from his faith and richly developed mind.  He understood the natural integration of spirituality, philosophy and art, and in an oppressed society, where many of his peers were put to death for expressing truth, Shakespeare witnessed to his faith by means of the intelligent use of his incredible artistic talent.  The same “counter-cultural” wisdom is needed today.  

Joseph Woodard, Director of Liberal Arts, will begin with the timeless works of classical writers such as Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes; the very sources studied by the young William Shakespeare, as he began to understand the role of tragedy in profound human expression.

Frank C. Turner, Director of Fine Arts, will give students the skills they need to accurately interpret and express the art of William Shakespeare.  Intensive practical study of Movement, Staging, Vocal production, Stage-fighting, Characterization and Script analysis will assist students in bringing to life the Characters of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.  The troupe will then take to the road, with a series of public performances. 

Lady Clare Asquith, Author of Shadowplay: The Hidden Beliefs and Coded Politics of William Shakespeare, will travel from England to spend a week unfolding her extensive research which, combined with the world-renowned works of Fr. Peter Milward and Joseph Pearce, demonstrate the consistent Catholic message in the rich symbolism of Shakespeare’s works. 

JP Fournier, Maître d'Armes for the Fight Directors of Canada, will tutor fight training and stage weapon use for the production of Macbeth.

Kenneth Noster, Actor and director, will assist Frank Turner in actor training and the directing of Macbeth.

 

Details 

Application 

• Age:   18 years or older.  Mature students are welcome.
• Essay:  A written essay is required
• Auditions:
  • Performance of a 3-minute Shakespearean monologue
  • held in Edmonton and Calgary
  • remote applicants may send a monologue on DVD

Dates:  July 6 – August 18, 2009 

Accommodations: 

      Men’s and women’s dorms

      Meals included 

Cost:  $2,500 
 
 
 

To apply, please contact Nicole Dunn

(780) 741-2488

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An online application form will be available, Fall 2008 

All information subject to revision.