The 9^th annual “Shakespeare Residency,” during which Blairstown Elementary School sixth graders put on a performance of A MidSummer Night’s Dream, returned this week.

Stephen Davis, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at Centenary University, is leading the residency, assisted by Centenary University graduate Meghan Kolbusch.

“Performative learning is the way to learn Shakespeare; it’s supposed to be heard and not read,” Davis said. “By doing that here, they’re not going to be afraid of Shakespeare when they get to ninth-grade.”

This year’s workshop will work around this school year’s unique schedule, developing, rehearsing and later performing a cutting of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream during students’ half day classes. To accommodate social distancing and keeping gatherings smaller, the three homerooms that make up the sixth grade will each take on the roles of the Athenians, the Mechanicals, and the Fairies, with one class making up each group.

Also new this year, the June 10 performance will take place outside, and will also be filmed and edited by Davis to accommodate those students who are using virtual learning this academic year.

This year’s residency is taking place June 2-14.