The tradition that closes the Far Brook year and rounds out each student’s education through the arts is a Shakespeare play. Either The Tempest or A Midsummer Night’s Dream is presented by the graduating Eighth Graders as a way of "giving back" to the School. Every student at Far Brook is involved in the play in some way, through reading and talking about the story in class, memorizing passages, participating in classroom projects, and singing the songs.
The play is presented on two evenings. The second performance is preceded by graduation.
"I realize what a priceless thing it is to have learned Shakespeare's language while one's ear is young, to be able to just read it instead of laboring over it – no one should ever doubt that young children can benefit from reading it and playing it."
~ Julia Flanders, Class of 1979
"Great plays are given children here, for they deeply understand them in part and return to them all through their lives. ... Shakespeare is not cultural at Far Brook, but a good plot, a conflict between good and evil, between monsters and good spirits, between conspirators and noble creatures; and Shakespeare leads children to the limit of joyous, fantastic comedy. Exquisite imagery, language that feels fine rhythmically to children ... educates. Beauty is not dissected. Constant acquaintance with beauty and greatness draws it in through the pores."
~ Winifred Moore, Founding Director