Shakespeare CDA: ‘It’s the audience and their imagination’

COEUR d’ALENE — It wasn’t the first or second time Mary Bowers watched a Shakespeare play that the bard’s words spoke to her, but when she watched a performance of “Twelfth Night” produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, something changed in her.

Now, she wants to give Coeur d’Alene audiences the same chance to experience the "wow" moment when Shakespeare took on a deeper meaning in her life.

When the idea for Shakespeare Coeur d’Alene was first dreamed up, executive director Maggie Johnson was on a boat with Bowers on the Danube discussing what Bowers would tackle next. The two decided time was ripe to form a company and perform the plays and poetry of William Shakespeare in Kootenai County.

As the artistic director for Shakespeare Coeur d'Alene, Bowers is thrilled to have the Lake City join the ranks of other regional Shakespeare groups.

“Spokane has one, and Boise has one, and Montana pops in with one occasionally, but Coeur d’Alene doesn’t have one. Shakespeare seemed to be something missing here,” Bowers said.

Johnson said that, along with their board, the group is still assembling the “nuts and bolts” of its nonprofit status, but the team is excited to announce the season is set for the summer of 2024.

Shakespeare Coeur d’Alene kicks off with performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” June 20-22 at Riverstone Amphitheater.

“It’s the funniest play in the canon,” Bowers said. “It’s the audience and their imagination.”

Then, the group will tackle an “absolutely terrifying” production of "Macbeth," taking place during the spooky season leading up to Halloween. The date has not yet been set.

Auditions for the 2024 season will take place in either March or April. Shakespeare Cd'A is looking to build relationships with both outdoor and indoor venues as they add to their program in the future.

“Our short-term plans are to get this off the ground, secure donors and get community support,” Bowers said.

There should be plenty to occupy theater lovers in the meantime, as the group has planned a series of monthly play readings beginning Oct. 6 with "Coriolanus." These readings offer the opportunity to experiment in a judgment-free environment or watch as an audience member.

One of the major tenets Bowers adheres to as a Shakespeare scholar is that, whether or not you are familiar with it, there should always be something surprising about any staged production of the Bard’s work. Having studied a year in Stratford-upon-Avon at the Shakespeare Institute, which felt like Disneyland to her, she is hoping the community welcomes the group to the Coeur d’Alene arts scene.

“We want to create wow moments to make people experience Shakespeare again and for the first time. He contains us. Every emotion you can think of. He’s not a dusty old stuffy thing that we take off the bookshelf every once in a while to make us seem smart,” Bowers said.

The group is looking for actors, designers, volunteers, admin and, of course, an audience.

“This is only an idea right now. It’s a dream. It’s the dream of my life,” Bowers said.

If you go

A table reading of "Coriolanus" is slated for Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at a yet-to-be-determined location.

2024 season:

“A Midsummer Night's Dream”: June 20-22, Riverstone Amphitheater (Coeur d'Alene)

“Macbeth”: October 2024, dates TBD (Coeur d'Alene)

For information or to sign up for the first play reading on Oct. 6, call 208-242-2067 or email info@shakespearecda.org.