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Great Lakes Theater Festival

The Great Lakes Theater Festival is the second oldest regional theater company in Greater Cleveland, and is "Shakespeare's Great Company," specializing in large-cast classic plays including regular performances of the works of Shakespeare. It was founded in 1961 by Arthur Lithgow (father of John Lithgow) as the "Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival", but it was renamed in the 1980s to reflect its expanding scope that includes modern classics. Notable alumnae include Tom Hanks (in 1977 as an intern, co-starring in The Two Gentlemen of Verona), Donald Moffat, Larry Linville, Piper Laurie, Jean Stapleton, Hal Holbrook and Olympia Dukakis. Its artistic directors have included Larry Carra, Vincent Dowling, Gerald Freedman and James Bundy (present Dean of the Yale School of Drama).

In 2008, the Great Lakes Theater has launched a multi-million dollar fund raiser. The honorary chair is actor Tom Hanks who credited the Great Lakes Theater for beginning his acting career.

Origins

Arthur Lithgow started what was going to be the festival in the 1950s at Antioch College, in Yellow Springs, Ohio. During the few years in Antioch, all of Shakespeare's plays were performed. The company traveled for performances at Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, the Toledo Zoo, and Cuyahoga Falls. In 1961, Lithgow made an arrangement with Ohio Board of Education President Dorthy Teare. The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival (as it was called then) was born, premiering July 11, 1961 with As You Like It. It continued at the Lakewood Civic Auditorium performing that play and five others in rotation.

Artistic Directors

Lithgow expanded the repertoire beyond Shakespeare in 1965 and left his role as artistic director in 1966.

Lawrence Carra became the artistic director until 1975, followed by Vincent Dowling in 1976. Under Dowling's direction, the festival changed to its name in 1982 to reflect its commitment to plays other than those by Shakespeare, and moved to its current home in the Ohio Theater of the Playhouse Square Center.

Gerald Freedman became the artistic director in 1985, followed by James Bundy in 1998.

Charles Fee has been the artistic director since 2002. The organization is notable today for its partnership with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival in Boise, Idaho.