Actors From The London Stage Return to Grace College Campus

The Grace College Department of Humanities is pleased to announce the return of Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS) to the Grace College campus in February. AFTLS’s visit will include a week-long residency and three open-to-the-public performances of William Shakespeare’s beloved romantic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Feb. 8, 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. Performances will take place in Grace College’s Little Theatre, located in Philathea Hall, 905 Connection Circle, Winona Lake. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 with a Grace ID and are available at www.eventbrite.com/cc/a-midsummer-nights-dream-aftls-february-2024-2934589.

“We’re thrilled to have AFTLS perform one of Shakespeare’s most popular romantic comedies perfectly timed with Valentine’s season,” said Dr. Lauren Rich, chair of the Department of Humanities at Grace College. “This is a can’t-miss opportunity for Grace students and members of the Winona Lake/Warsaw community.”

AFTLS is one of the oldest established touring Shakespeare companies in the world. Their Spring 2024 tour includes the University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, the University of Vermont, the University of Texas and the University of North Alabama. For more information about AFTLS, visit  shakespeare.nd.edu/actors-from-the-london-stage/.

In addition to dynamic performances, AFTLS will conduct a week-long residency program at Grace. Throughout the week, the actors will lead several dozen interdisciplinary class visits, workshops, and demonstrations at Grace College and in local high schools.  “This is what makes AFTLS so special: they are not only talented theatre professionals but also passionate educators who use their unique skill set to come alongside professors and educators to enrich the classroom experience,” said Rich.

For Grace freshman Riley Ash, of Grovertown, Indiana, AFTLS’s “Much Ado About Nothing” performance in 2022 played a key role in her decision to enroll at Grace last fall.

“I enjoyed the performance and thought it was beautifully done by all members of AFTLS,” said Ash. “Seeing opportunities like this amazing performance offered by Grace, and seeing how many students attended and supported it, made me feel that this was a college that I would enjoy attending.”

Now studying English Education and minoring in theatre arts at Grace, Ash is thrilled for the opportunity to engage with AFTLS once more.

“AFTLS is an amazing group of people who put a lot of work into their performances, and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is a play that everyone can enjoy,” said Ash. “AFTLS bring Shakespeare’s plays to life in a way you have never seen, and I highly encourage everyone to attend. It is something you won’t want to miss!”

The event is sponsored by the Grace College Department of Humanities with generous support from the Elener R. (Norris) Grossman Fund and Janet Vesa.

For more information, email Dr. Lauren Rich at richlg@grace.edu or call 574-372-5100, ext. 6151.