2025
Shakespeare Teacher Training Seminar: Professional Development for Educators
These immersive professional development seminars equip educators to successfully and joyfully teach Shakespeare’s plays with all the basics of the American Shakespeare Center’s approach to text.
Engage in hands-on sessions focused on text, staging, and audience dynamics, with dedicated time for reflection and collaboration with colleagues. Led by ASC’s expert Education Team, in collaboration with guest experts, we will explore rehearsal room techniques that empower your students with an infinite variety of choices for interpreting the page and the stage.
Leave with actionable tools and strategies you can implement immediately, ensuring your students connect with Shakespeare in dynamic and memorable ways.
Foundational Teacher Seminar at ASC
These single-day professional development workshops for educators introduce ASC’s active, performance-based approach to teaching Shakespeare.
Upcoming Shakespeare teacher training
- Spring 2025 Seminar – Saturday, March 22 – Teaching Shakespeare & King Lear
- Fall 2025 Seminar I – Saturday, September 20 – Teaching Shakespeare
- Fall 2025 Seminar II – Saturday, November 1 – Teaching Shakespeare
Tuition: $325 (Includes a ticket to the Saturday evening performance at Blackfriars Playhouse)
Discount: Save 20% if you are self-funding or attending with a cohort of 3+ teachers from the same school district. Email education@americanshakespearecenter.com for details.
Limited spots available – Register todayNEW: Comprehensive Teacher Seminar Intensive
A Five-Day Shakespeare Teaching Intensive for Educators
The Comprehensive Practice Certification is an immersive, 5-day teacher training program designed for educators who want to deeply engage with Shakespeare’s text, staging conditions, and audience interaction.
Educators will gain hands-on experience with ASC’s innovative teaching methods, exploring Shakespeare’s original performance practices while developing classroom-ready lesson plans.
Led by ASC Education Artists, guest scholars, and theatre practitioners, participants will leave equipped with adaptable strategies to engage their students in fresh and transformative ways.
Upcoming Shakespeare seminars for educators
- Summer 2025 – Comprehensive Teacher Seminar Intensive- July 16-20 (Wednesday–Sunday) in Staunton, VA
Tuition: $1,700
Reserve Your Spot for This Immersive Shakespeare Seminar
Why Attend?
- Master ASC’s Performance-Based Approach – Learn interactive techniques that help students engage with Shakespeare’s language.
- Explore Shakespeare’s Staging Conditions – Gain insights into original theatrical practices and how they can be applied in modern classrooms.
- Develop Adaptable Teaching Strategies – Walk away with ready-to-use lesson plans for English and theatre courses.
- Connect with Fellow Educators – Build a network of teachers passionate about Shakespeare education.
- Earn Continuing Education Credits (where applicable).
Save 20% on registration if you:
- Are self-funding your professional development
- Attend with a cohort of 3+ teachers from the same school district
- Have already participated in an ASC foundational seminar in the same year
Contact us to access your discount: education@americanshakespearecenter.com
Teacher Seminar Details
The ASC Approach to page and stage features experiential workshops that immerse teachers in ASC’s interactive approach to teaching Shakespeare. Participants will engage in hands-on sessions focused on text, staging, and audience dynamics, with dedicated time for meta-teaching reflection and collaboration with peers.
Seminars also frequently include enrichment opportunities with guest artists and scholars, providing fresh perspectives and practical tools to make Shakespeare inspiring and accessible for teachers and students at all levels.
Materials Provided:
- A digital study guide
- Lesson plans of all activities covered during the seminar
- Access to supplemental online resources for post-workshop practice
Outcomes:
- Earn continuing education credits
- Understand the fundamental principles of ASC’s approach to page and stage.
- Gain practical techniques to immediately apply in the classroom, such as interpreting meter, rhetoric, and audience interaction.
- Official Foundational Certification in the ASC Approach upon completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the seminar fee?
- The American Shakespeare Center’s 1-Day Foundational Teacher Seminar base rate is $325.
- The American Shakespeare Center’s 5-day Comprehensive Teacher Seminar Intensive is $1700.
Are discounts available?
Discount Teacher Seminar Rates are available for:
- Teachers who are self-funding or splitting their tab with their school can receive a 20% discount.
- English-Speaking Union coaches can receive a 25% discount.
- Groups of teachers from a single school or district can receive a discount
For more details or to register at the reduced rate, contact Aubrey Whitlock at education@americanshakespearecenter.com or by phone at 540-885-5588 ext. 111
What is included in the seminar fee?
The seminar fee includes
- all workshops
- a copy of an ASC Study Guide
- supplementary materials
- Ticket to the Blackfriars Playhouse performance.
- Please note that to guarantee your materials and your seats at ASC shows, you must register a minimum of 7 days before the seminar.
Where Should I Stay While Attending the Teacher Seminar in Staunton?
Staunton offers a variety of lodging options, many within walking distance of the Blackfriars Playhouse. For your convenience, we’ve partnered with local hotels to offer exclusive discounts for our guests:
- Frederick House – A charming boutique hotel right downtown.
- Hotel 24 South – Located Next to the Blackfriars Playhouse
- Blackburn Inn and Conference Center – Conveniently located just 0.5 miles from Blackfriars Playhouse
Learn more about these options and plan your stay by visiting our Make It a Weekend page.
Who should I contact for more information?
- For more information, contact Director of Education Aubrey Whitlock at education@americanshakespearecenter.com or by phone at 540-885-5588 ext. 111