The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival was founded by President, Benjamin Moats, Technical Director Eric Stevenson, and former Artistic Director Tim Akers. Tully's Irish Pub in downtown St. Marys was the birthplace of the Flint hills Shakespeare Festival. Amid the joyful strains of live Irish music, over a frosted mug of beer, the first meeting took place.
Eight years later, in the fall of 2010, the first production took the stage. On the edge of the Flint Hills in a meadow under the full moon, over 900 patrons enjoyed Shakespeare's classic comedy, The Taming of the Shrew. The weekend ended in success and a new Kansas festival was born.
The cast and crew were made up largely of local talent with several others joining the team from Topeka and surrounding communities. Many of the performers had previously appeared on stages from Kansas City to Manhattan, including the Topeka Performing Arts Center and the historic Columbian Theatre in Wamego, Kansas.
Since then, Tim Akers has moved on and a new Artistic Director, Mr. Andrew Clarendon, has joined the team. Andrew is a former professor at the U.S. Naval Academy and currently teaches at Saint Mary's College. His knowledge of Shakespeare is well-known, as he was taught by Dr. David Allen White, an eminent Shakespearean scholar based out of Annapolis, Maryland.
Eight years later, in the fall of 2010, the first production took the stage. On the edge of the Flint Hills in a meadow under the full moon, over 900 patrons enjoyed Shakespeare's classic comedy, The Taming of the Shrew. The weekend ended in success and a new Kansas festival was born.
The cast and crew were made up largely of local talent with several others joining the team from Topeka and surrounding communities. Many of the performers had previously appeared on stages from Kansas City to Manhattan, including the Topeka Performing Arts Center and the historic Columbian Theatre in Wamego, Kansas.
Since then, Tim Akers has moved on and a new Artistic Director, Mr. Andrew Clarendon, has joined the team. Andrew is a former professor at the U.S. Naval Academy and currently teaches at Saint Mary's College. His knowledge of Shakespeare is well-known, as he was taught by Dr. David Allen White, an eminent Shakespearean scholar based out of Annapolis, Maryland.