Made possible by the generous support of Greenfield Cooperative Bank.
FRI 4 APRIL
PRICE: $25.00
SAT 5 APRIL
PRICE: $25.00
SUN 6 APRIL
PRICE: $25.00
This spring, the Montague Shakespeare Festival brought the Bard to the heart of our town—literally.
Guided by MSF’s Sonnet Master Fiona Ross, community members and cast stepped out into the streets of Montague and Turners Falls, performing Shakespeare’s sonnets in bookstores, libraries, music shops, and community hubs. The result? Unexpected moments of poetic beauty in everyday places—reminding us all that Shakespeare belongs not just on stage, but in the rhythm of our daily lives.
These “sonnet walks” were pop-up performances: small, spontaneous, and deeply human. They wove Shakespeare’s timeless words into the fabric of the town, sparking curiosity and delight in audiences of all ages.
March 25
📍 Upper Bend: Lori Holmes Clark & Alan Michael Wilt
📍 Music Connection: Willow Kwak & Penelope Black
March 26
📍 Montague Public Library: Kaitlin Creed Boyce, E.W. (Ernest) Sheets & Alan Michael Wilt
March 27
📍 Upper Bend: Marina Goldman & Linda Tardif
📍 Dreamhouse:E.W. (Ernest) Sheets
📍 Unnameable Books: Willow Kwak & Erika Musselman
March 28
📍 Dreamhouse: Marina Goldman & Linda Tardif
📍 Discovery Center: Ashley Kramer & Penelope Black
📍 Unnameable Books: Alan Michael Wilt & Lori Holmes Clark
📍 Library: Alan Michael Wilt
📍 LOOT: E.W. (Ernest) Sheets
March 29
📍 Discovery Center: Willow Kwak & Erika Musselman
📍 Music Connection: E.W. (Ernest) Sheets
April 5
📍 LOOT: Lori Holmes Clark, Alan Michael Wilt, Linda Tardif
These walks were part of our mission to make Shakespeare’s work accessible, surprising, and alive in our community spaces. Huge thanks to our local partners for opening their doors and to the public for lending your ears and hearts.
Want to be part of the next Sonnet Walk or bring one to your business or school?Contact us info@montagueshakespearefestival.com and let’s keep the poetry flowing.
With an air of profound excitement and anticipation, we are honored to announce the appointment of Royal Shakespeare Company Contributor Nia Lynn as the Artistic Director of the Inaugural Montague Shakespeare Festival.
Having worked extensively and currently voice and text coach for The Royal Shakespeare Company (Stratford-upon-Avon), Nia possesses a rich experience in voice, text, and performance. Her latest involvement in the RSC production of “As You Like It” as voice and text creative demonstrates her remarkable skills in bringing Shakespearean texts to life.
With Nia heading the festival, we anticipate a thrilling exploration into Shakespeare’s world, where audiences, actors, students, and educators will each have the opportunity to experience The Bard’s words in an enthralling new light.
LEARN MORE
(413) 203-9728
info@montagueshakespearefestival.com
The Montague Shakespeare Festival is proudly presented by the Shea Theater Arts Center and RiverCulture with the generous support of Greenfield Savings Bank, The Mass Cultural Council Festival Grant, and the MCC Local Cultural Councils of Amherst and Montague.