Shakespeare Theater Program

Shakespeare Theater

The purpose of Shakespeare Theater at Dominion Academy is to cultivate in students a deep understanding and appreciation of the arts, with special focus on one of the most influential playwrights in Western history.

As a classical Christian school, we place a strong emphasis on the arts because they are essential to understanding our Christian heritage. Throughout Church history, the arts have been a primary means of worship and expression. At Dominion, students are intentionally formed in this tradition and encouraged to steward the arts in service to the Kingdom of God.

Our Cathedral students (grades 1–6) participate in a robust drama program, rehearsing and performing myths, fairy tales, folktales, and classic works of literature such as Treasure Island and The Tempest. In junior high, students take a theatre arts class where they read and study classic plays including Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Medea, Tartuffe, and 12 Angry Men. In high school, students complete a Shakespeare literature course and, as a graduation requirement, perform a full-length Shakespeare play for a live audience. Dominion also participates in and has received honors from the Miami Valley High School Theatre Awards (MVHSTA).

The goals of the program are to introduce students to live theater, teach the foundations of classical and Elizabethan drama and English poetry, and guide students through the process of developing and embodying a character arc in a full-length, family-friendly Shakespeare production.

Dominion Academy provides intentional coursework that roots students in the artistic tradition and prepares them to use art faithfully in service to the Kingdom of God. Through instruction in classical and Elizabethan theater and English poetry, students learn both the craft and context of great works. They apply this learning by writing theater reviews and developing detailed character studies in junior high literature and composition classes, as well as in the high school Shakespeare Literature course.

Shakespeare Productions Through the Years

Stratford Festival

Each fall, our junior high and high school students have the opportunity to travel to the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. There, they experience world-renowned theatrical performances on multiple Stratford stages and participate in immersive workshops led by professional actors and actresses. Between performances, students deepen their appreciation for the dramatic arts, gaining firsthand insight into the craft, discipline, and storytelling that bring great works to life.