ACT THREE As You Like It Say What ? ? Shakespeare’s influence on the English language runs deep. Here are a handful of the 1,700 words he coined: Shakespeare’s works are required reading for high school students. They have been performed in almost every language, on stage and screen and at festivals around the world. So how do you attract new audiences to see plays that are more than 400 years old? “We start with a brilliant director, so that they can, in turn, coach the actors,” Byrd said. “And we try to twist it up a little bit. Add a person of color in the lead — a lot of people haven’t seen that. They don’t know what it’s like for an Egyptian tawny-colored Cleopatra to hit the stage.” At Southwest Shakespeare, women sometimes play title roles that were meant to be played by men. It’s part of a reckoning in the theater community with entrenched biases. “I don’t like to choose artists just because they’re people of color, but if they are people of color, and they do have the skill sets, then I’d like to give them an opportunity,” Byrd said. At Southwest Shakespeare, representation matters. “People of color, women, LGBTQ, people of different physical abilities — when we talk inclusion and diversity, we mean all of that. So that no one feels kept out, shut out or left out,” Byrd said. Mary Way agrees, especially when it comes to the company’s education outreach. She ticks off Arizona’s latest Census numbers, noting that she wants Southwest Shakespeare productions to reflect the full breadth of the state and their audiences. “Kids that come to our shows love it when they see themselves represented on the stage. It can encourage and change lives,” she said. bandit bloodstained cold-blooded critic dauntless dwindle gloomy hoodwinked jaded madcap scuffle skim-milk swagger tongue-tied zany 56 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE

ACT FOUR The Short and Long of It Shakespeare had a sixth-grade education, and both his parents were likely illiterate. Yet he is considered one of the greatest literary geniuses of all time. Mary Way sees him as a perfect role model for children. “How many children in Arizona have parents that don’t read and write in English?” she said. As a key part of its mission, Southwest Shakespeare performs in schools across the state, bringing the magic of an expertly executed theatrical illusion to students. “The best kind of education comes when you’re being inspired and entertained,” Way said. “When the brain is open and receptive, the student teaches themselves. They take what they want or need to learn from what they’re watching.” In his 38 plays and 154 sonnets, Shakespeare used about 17,000 words — and invented about 10 percent of them. This cavalcade of creativity appeals to kids on a visceral level. “There’s something about that Early Modern English, where they actually have to engage and seek understanding. Once you crack the code, it’s remarkable what happens,” Way said, citing studies that show that studying Shakespeare has a powerful effect on students’ critical thinking skills, engagement in school and empathy. Education outreach is a passion at Southwest Shakespeare, and expansion is a goal. The company wants every child in Arizona to have access to the Bard, no matter where they live. “Shakespeare builds minds and characters and shows people the best and worst of the human experience,” Way said. “We can see domestic violence, broken homes and suicides, along with joy, forgiveness and true love. We can see everything in Shakespeare that exists in kids’ lives today that might help them come to terms with their story.” FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE | 57