about SBT
our plans
The Shaker Bridge Theatre will have a busy initial year of theatre. The first season will feature four productions in Whitney Hall and an outdoor Shakespeare-in-the-park production in the summer of 2008. The theatre will draw on the many talented actors -- both professional and amateur -- in the area to form the basis for a place where great stories are well and imaginatively told. The theatre's productions will be intimate and human in scale, driven by founder Bill Coons' enormous respect for the power of great acting and his belief in the importance of engaging stories. In addition, the Shaker Bridge Theatre will present acting classes on both youth and adult levels, create a touring children's theatre program, and host Sunday evening performances, including concerts by local musicians and readings by local actors -- all with the relaxation of a light supper with friends.
our founder
Bill Coons has spent his adult life working in the theatre. In addition to his academic study (BA in English/Psychology; MA in Directing; MFA in Directing), he has learned his art through his work. He began as the founder and artistic director of a small theatre in New Jersey, spent several years as a college professor and head of a theatre program in Vermont, created and ran a touring children's theatre company in Illinois, created and ran a graduate level acting conservatory at the Dorset Theatre Festival, worked as a professional actor, and has directed over 150 productions.
In the two years that he has been in the Upper Valley, Bill has directed and designed productions of Passion (Peter Nichols), Venecia (Jorge Accame) and Shakespeare's Twelfth Night; directed the Christmas Revels production, directed the New England premiere of 365 Days, 365 Plays (Susan Lori Parks), directed The Secret Garden (Marsha Norman), and the premiere of The Lumpkin Sisters (Marisa Smith). In addition, Bill has taught three different acting classes for adults in the upper valley (Act Like An Adult, Acting Shakespeare, Improvisation for Actors), and was the scenic designer and technical director for The Fifth of July (Lanford Wilson).
our board of directors
Bill Coons, Artistic DirectorAline E. Ordman, Artist
William Koppenheffer, Attorney
Stuart Cady, Artist
Laine Gillespie, Sales Manager, ANSYS
play times
Fridays & Saturdays at 8Sunday matinees at 3
tickets
$18 (or see our Dinner & Theatre deal!)
For reservations, please call us at 603-632-4013 or email us at reservations@shakerbridgetheatre.org