Montana Shakespeare in the Parks’ elementary schools tour, known as Montana Shakes!, will open its fourth season performing in 45 regional schools during a  nine-week spring tour that begins March 19 and ends May 18.

The 2012 Montana Shakes! program features an Old West traveling troupe performing “All the West’s a Stage: Good Knight, Sweet Prince, Great King,!” a 35-minute play showcasing scenes from Shakespeare’s “Henry IV, Part I”  along with participation from the student audience.

A crew of veteran Shakespeare in the Parks actors returns to present this program. The company includes Mark Kuntz, company manager, who is on his 16th tour; Tonya Andrews, ninth tour; and Michael Gonring, ninth tour. This marks the first tour where all three company members have toured with all three of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks programs: Shakespeare in the Parks, Shakespeare in the Schools (for middle and high school), and Montana Shakes! for students in grades K-5.

Also, due to increased requests for performances, the company has added an extra week to the tour to allow the company to reach even more students across Montana and northern Wyoming, according to Joel Jahnke, MSIP artistic director.  He said Montana Shakes! was launched in 2008 to provide a welcome and innovative introduction to Shakespeare at a time when students are most receptive to learning.

“This program has come so far in just four short years,” Jahnke said. “We have been able to attract wonderful actor/educators who really believe in the importance of the program and introducing Shakespeare to young people at an early age.”

For more information about Montana Shakes!, or to reserve a date for next year’s tour, contact Susan Dickerson  at (406) 994-3303, email her at susan@montana.edu, or visit the Montana Shakespeare in the Parks Website at www.shakespeareintheparks.org.

2012 tour schedule:

March 19, Monday, Hawthorne School, Bozeman

March 20, Tuesday, Elysian School, Billings

March 21, Wednesday, Emily Dickinson School, Bozeman

March 22, Thursday, Absarokee School, Absarokee

March 23, Friday, Irving School, Bozeman

March 26, Monday, Southside Elementary, Wolf Point

March 27, Tuesday, Frazer Elementary, Frazer

March 28, Wednesday, Lame Deer Elementary, Lame Deer

March 29, Thursday, Forsyth Elementary, Forsyth

March 30, Friday, Ekalaka School, Ekalaka

April 2, Monday, Morning Star School, Bozeman

April 3, Tuesday, Amsterdam School, Amsterdam

April 4. Wednesday, Ridgeview Elementary, Belgrade

April 6, Friday, Longfellow School, Bozeman

April 9, Monday, Big Horn Elementary, Big Horn, Wyo.

April 10, Tuesday, Tongue River Elementary Sheridan, Wyo.

April 11, Wednesday, Grace Montessori, Billings

April 12, Thursday, Middle Creek/Cottonwood Montessori, Bozeman

April 13, Friday, St. Mary’s School, Livingston

April 16. Monday, Livingston Elementary, Cody, Wyo.

April 17, Tuesday, Southside Elementary, Powell, Wyo.

April 18, Wednesday, Meeteetse School, Meeteetse, Wyo.

April 19, Thursday, Manderson School, Manderson, Wyo.

April 20, Friday, Laura Irwin Elementary. Basin, Wyo.

April 23, Monday, Mountain View Elementary, Great Falls

April 24, Tuesday, Valley View Elementary, Great Falls

April 25, Wednesday, Highland School, Billings

April 26, Thursday, Highland School, Billings

April 27, Friday, Blue Creek School, Billings

April 30, Monday, Park County and Gallatin County Homeschool Groups, Bozeman

May 1, Tuesday, Ennis Elementary, Ennis

May 2, Wednesday, Ophir School, Big Sky

May 3, Thursday, LaMotte School, Bozeman

May 4, Friday, Springhill School, Bozeman

May 7, Monday, St. Ignatius Elementary, St. Ignatius

May 8, Tuesday, LA Muldown, Whitefish

May 9, Wednesday, Kila School, Kila

May 10, Thursday, Frenchtown Elementary, Frenchtown

May 11, Friday, Potomac School, Bonner

May 14, Monday, Darby Elementary, Darby

May 15, Tuesday, Stevensville Elementary, Stevensville

May 16, Wednesday, Lewis and Clark School, Missoula

May 18, Friday, Hyalite Elementary, Bozeman