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Mark Woods and Stuart Brooks founded The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival in February, 1977, as a small, resident professional theatre company dedicated to producing the world's classics.

Today, The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival (NCSF) continues to set the standard for creative excellence in theater and arts education in North Carolina.

NCSF's mission is to entertain, educate and enrich North Carolina students and citizens with quality professional productions of the world's great plays, and with in-school and life-long learning opportunities.

Since 1977, NCSF has achieved the following:
Mounted over 160 professional productions
Filled nearly 2 million seats at venues statewide
Made nearly 2,000 tour stops statewide
Performed to students in every North Carolina county
Presented school matinees to over 12,000 students each year.
Presented Dickens' A Christmas Carol annually since 1977.

Every year the company works diligently to serve the region and state with programming that includes:
Shakespeare to Go Tours to middle school and high schools
ShakeSpirit: Artist in the School classroom visitations
SchoolFest school matinee performances
Hands On Shakespeare teacher workshops
Nancy Lyles ForeWords pre-show presentations
AfterWords post-theatre discussions
Main Stage Discovery Weekend program
The Twin City Theatre Season performances in Winston-Salem
The MainStage Season of classical productions
Dickens' A Christmas Carol every December


NCSF attracts the highest caliber actors, directors, designers and technicians from all over the United States. NCSF is associated with Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers, and operates under an agreement between the union and The League of Resident Theatres.

We are in the final stage of a $3 million capital campaign, the first in NCSF history, to create Spirit Center, a 51, 000 sq. ft two-building performing arts campus located at the corner of W. Ward Avenue and Green Street in downtown High Point. The 31,000 sq. ft Production Place includes the Renaissance Learning Center, two rehearsal halls, and scene, costume and properties shops. The 15,000 sq. ft Outreach Place includes administrative offices for staff, directors, designers and outreach program leaders.

Spirit Center signifies a new era of artistic expression, education and outreach for the Triad and the state. The campus will become a gateway to inspiring and educational programs, and will serve as a resource for theatre and all performing arts groups seeking costume and scenery service at reasonable rates.

Since its inception in 1977 as a small summer festival with a budget under $70,000, NCSF has emerged as one of North Carolina's largest and most renowned cultural resources. With a $1.2 million budget this year, NCSF will perform more than 25 weeks, reaching over 50,000 students and adults statewide.

NCSF's commitment to statewide service and artistic achievement has earned it the designation, The State Shakespeare Festival. It stands as a shining example of how a well-run arts organization can contribute to the cultural, educational and economic health of a community. NCSF gratefully acknowledges the North Carolina General Assembly for this recognition and for its vital funding support. NCSF also thanks all those who purchase tickets and contribute generously to its mission.