Cedar City, Utah---Leaders from the top Shakespeare theatres in the world recently gathered for the annual Shakespeare Theatre Association of America conference. The Tony Award-Winning Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, Utah hosted the 2008 conference.

The power of Shakespeare’s words were felt throughout the small town as nearly 150 theatre artists from all over the world gathered to discuss the importance of Shakespeare’s works in contemporary society. The theme of the 2008 conference was “The Artist in Shakespeare.”

Represented at the conference were Shakespeare theatres of all shapes and sizes, from world-renowned theatres such as the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, Canada and Shakespeare’s Globe in London, England, to little-known theatres like Shakespeare in the Parking Lot in Tacoma, Washington.

Antoni Cimolino, general director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, delivered the keynote address, “All I Know About Shock and Awe I Learned from Shakespeare.” In the speech Cimolino described how Shakespeare’s words changed his life forever when he was only 17. Cimolino’s speech is available at www.bard.org/newsroom.

Other esteemed guests included Paige Newmark, artistic director of Shakespeare South Africa; Cindy Phaneuf, artistic director of Nebraska Shakespeare Festival; Bill Patton, executive director emeritus of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival; and Patrick Spottiswoode, who serves as the director of Globe Education at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. 

“One of the most important things that came out of this year’s conference is the realization that STAA has developed into a powerful force with a strong international voice,” said Jyl Shuler, conference coordinator and associate development director for the Utah Shakespearean Festival. “ Part of this strength is due to the NEA support that the association receives, and another part is due to the vast reach these organizations have. Collectively we are bringing Shakespeare into the public schools, military bases, prisons, and even inner-city parking lots.”

Sidney Berger, producing director of the Houston Shakespeare Festival, and the former producing artistic director for the Utah Shakespearean Festival, Douglas Cook, formed STAA in 1991. The association was established to provide a forum for the artistic and managerial leadership of theatres whose central activity is producing Shakespeare's plays. The organization brings members together to discuss important issues, and share methods of work, resources, and information. STAA and its members act as advocates for Shakespearean productions in North America.