Upcoming Events
Please, join us for this extraordinary performance. 9 Vietnam veterans share thier lived experience in their own words - from Vietnam through healing and resilience.
Lake Arts Project + Feast of Crispian join together for a virtual performance!
Social disDANCE
Saturday, March 27th
6:30 CST/7:30 EST
Social disDANCE was created to aid both Lake Arts Project + Feast of Crispian in staying in touch while being apart, to continue doing the creative work that we are so passionate about, and most importantly, to offer space and tools of healing to our veteran collaborators.
Please join us for a virtual showing of Feast of Crispian's Black Veterans Only Acting Class!
Led by professional actor + Marine Corps veteran Chike Johnson, this workshop has become a safe space for Black veterans to explore their unique experiences through the powerful affective properties of acting.
I am in awe, a sense of community can be established in such a short period of time. I’ve witnessed the bonding during in-person workshops but virtual I’m blown away. Now this does not happen with just any workshop. FOC & Chike are meticulous at being able establish and present just what we need, when we need it to our community. -April, workshop participant
INTERESTED IN ATTENDING? Send an email along to feastofcrispian5 [at] gmail dot com
June 9th & 10th Feast of Crispian will offer a two day training for anyone interested in using acting and Shakespeare to address symptoms of trauma. Founding members, Nancy Smith-Watson, Jim Tasse, and Bill Watson will share FoC's curriculum, special techniques, and the basic brain science of trauma in this experiential workshop. We explore synchrony and theater as community builder.
While FoC is particularly suited to theater practitioners, this work has valuable material for anyone looking to deepen emotional resources and build empathy in any population. Shakespeare has many unique properties that work powerfully in the brain, and a general view of the expressive arts allows for a wide variety of adaptations.
LOCATION: Theater Puget Sound Space @ The Armory, Seattle Center
Saturday, June 9th 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Theater T4)
Sunday, June 10th 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Studio E)
Lunch on your own
Cost: Pay as you can, suggested donation, $200.00
To pay your balance, please complete the PayPal link, below:
Feast of Crispian partners with Lake Arts Project, LLC To bring Veteran inspired dance.
Our next introductory weekend Shakespeare Intensive will be in Zablocki VA Hospital,
May 11 - 13. This weekend is open to any veteran or veteran family member over 14.
Our intro weekends are designed to offer veterans who are challenged by symptoms of PTSD, substance abuse, and reintegration, or simply looking to find a welcoming community.
There is no admittance criteria, no need to want to become an actor or even to like Shakespeare! Our special techniques ensure success and the unique properties of Shakespeare help express big emotions that can be overwhelming. The format of our weekends build resilience and grow communities of caring and purpose.
Contact us with questions.
Fri May 11th, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM - DOM 123
Sat May 12th, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, lunch provided - Main Hospital, Rm #3435
Sun May 13th, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Rm #3435
We are back in the VA for a weekend Shakespeare intensive, the last two days of March. These weekends are the heart of our work and we are always excited to meet new veterans, make new friends, and add people to our wonderful and supportive community!
This intensive will only be two days, as Sunday is Easter. We will still give a full and powerful event with all of the connections, expression, laughs, insights, and comradery that acting skills and the profound words of Shakespeare have to offer. And FREE FOOD!
Friday, Mar. 30: 6:00 PM - 9:00 in DOM 123
Saturday, Mar. 31: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (coffee in the AM & lunch)
The Women's Only Weekend Shakespeare Intensive is a chance for women veterans and military wives to explore the unique challenges of being a female in a traditionally male world. Staffed only by female facilitators and VA staff, participants can speak and "act" freely. This once a year event has, in the past, been a powerful and meaningful event for all involved! Open to all women veterans and veteran's wives.
CORRECTION! FRIDAY FEB. 2 WE WILL BE MEETING IN DOM BUILDING 123 on the southwest side of the VA grounds. Park in staff parking, just off of National.
Feb. 3 & 4 Zablocki VA Hospital third floor rec room #3430
Friday Feb. 2, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Lunch provided
Sunday 12:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Come and check out our third full production, Othello -Deployed, Nov. 2 - 5 at Next Act Theater Performance Space. This all-veteran cast brings a unique perspective to a story about deployment in a foreign country, race and "the other", the stress of military life on a domestic situation, and more.
The production is free but we recommend making reservations. 414-278-0765
Feast of Crispian will hold a West Coast introductory training in the hope of inspiring other theater practitioners to create programs in their communities that support underserved populations in pursuit of Post Traumatic Growth! We also hope to inspire counselors and clinicians to seek out arts organizations that can offer their patients a home for their creative expression. Cutting edge neuroscience suggests that the arts are essential in supporting a healing path out of what can be an endless loop of traumatic activation or the numbness of disassociation.
Feast of Crispian, Inc. (FoC) has been working with veterans with PTSD and reintegration challenges for nearly five years and has had national recognition based on the positive effects for our participants. Our Acting Shakespeare intensives have seen hundreds of veterans explore and express their emotional selves, discover their voice, reconnect with the sense of camaraderie that they miss from the military, and begin the process of knowing, “who am I now”?
The rhymes, rhythms, and rich metaphors of Shakespeare’s poetry work in unique ways in the brain. PTSD can disconnect the brain’s communication with itself and Shakespeare can help reconnect those lines of communication.
This 14 hour training will give participants:
- A foundational understanding of the philosophy and theories behind theater as a trauma intervention, including an introduction to related recent neuroscience.
- Techniques that allow participants to successfully act scenes from Shakespeare immediately.
- Simple acting exercises that help participants experience, and pay attention to, manageable emotional activation.
Theater Puget Sound - Seattle Center House
Saturday June 10th, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday June 11th, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
This training will be limited to 24 participants. The cost will be $425.00 although we will lower the cost with larger enrollment.
To reserve your spot, please click here.
WHAT: FoC is looking for mature theater practitioners to help us facilitate the Post Traumatic Growth of military service veterans. We do three day, weekend acting Shakespeare Intensives about once a month. Sometimes we are inside the VA and sometimes off campus. We use simple acting exercises, mindful attention, and work veteran participants through scenes from different Shakespeare plays.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: That means you need some acting skills, a friendly relationship with Shakespeare (it's our gig, folks! If you hate Shakespeare you will not enjoy this! But you need not be a scholar), a PASSION for using theater to work with a population outside your comfort zone, and a bit of charisma! Then, you must understand that we are NOT any theater company. The work we do is not therapy but it is therapeutic! That means there is a responsibility and a learning curve that can be stressful. It means you must practice deep listening, deep compassion, and non-judgement - both for the vets and for yourself! We have amazing support people in the VA and you will have them and us, should you choose to join us.
WHY DO THIS: Serious stuff, yes, but enormously gratifying! We hear stories no one has ever heard before, watch people begin to feel again, we cry some and we laugh too! Big change happens and we get the great honor of receiving gratitude from these men and women who WE owe so much to!
WHO SHOULD COME: Actors, theater educators, theater practitioners of any skill that have out going personalities. We are open to others but you must be able to check all the boxes in What You Need to Know.
WHAT IS EXPECTED: You will be expected to attend one full weekend as a participant. You will attend one full weekend of training . We are not in a position to be able to offer pay for these two weekends (we will feed you!) but if you complete these and we mutually agree on your continuation we offer $150.00 a weekend as an assistant until we, and you, feel you are ready to facilitate. A facilitator will begin at $300.00 a weekend. If you decide to join us, you must complete the registration with the VA as a volunteer. This is no small task; it includes a background check, fingerprinting, TB tests, orientation and a several page form. It's pretty cool to get to hang out in the VA though!
WHEN & WHERE: May 22, at Colectivo Back Room on 2211 Prospect Blvd. 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Light eats and beverages provided. Join us for more info, questions answered, techniques demonstrated and laughs!
If you are interested in participating in our next full production, please, get these dates on your calendar. The Othello Project will be your personal stories of race, relationship and "the other" told using Shakespeare's Othello. You need not commit to doing the play by attending this weekend but if you think you might want to participate, please come! This will be the beginning of what this project will become!
Our 27th weekend intensive will be held in Zablocki VA Hospital April 28th - 30th . The VA intensives are geared toward newer participants and offer a safe and supported atmosphere to explore our emotional lives through the words of Shakespeare and simple acting exercises. We begin on Friday evening, in the DOM 123 (west side of VA off of National ave) cafeteria from 1800 hrs to 2100 hrs. On Saturday morning we will be in the third floor rec room (#3435) from 1000 - 1700. Sunday in the rec room from 1200 - 1700.
Friday, Apr. 28th - 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM (DOM 123)
Saturday, Apr. 29th - 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM (third floor rec room #3435) Food provided
Sunday, Apr. 30th - 12:00 AM until 5:00 PM (rec room) pizza to follow
Our "band of brothers (and sisters)" has grown! We are excited to be offering our first weekend for returning participants ONLY! Many of you have asked for new challenges and a deeper understanding of acting as a theory and a craft. Please, join us at St. John's Church for new acting exercises, new scenes, deep conversations and plenty of fun and socializing too!
You must have attended a weekend intensive with us before to attend this one.
St. John's Lutheran Church, 5500 Greenfield (1 block South of the VA)
Friday, March 24 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday, March 25 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Coffee, lunch and snacks provided.
FoC meets every Wednesday at St. John's church (5500 Greenfield). Join us!
Our once-a-year WOMEN'S ONLY weekend is coming up! This is a great opportunity to explore, through Shakespeare and acting, the particular challenges that women vets and vet wives face . Shakespeare was particularly clear on women, women's strengths and wisdom, and how important it is, including for the lives of men, that the lot of women is bettered. Please, join me, and my special guest, Licia Skye (actor, singer/songwriter), for a weekend of deep discussion, deep listening and deep fun and play!
Snacks, coffee Sat. morning, lunch on Sat. Pizza on Sunday!
Friday (in Rec Room #3435) 6:00 - 9:00
Saturday 10:00 - 5:00
Sunday 12:00 - 5:00
Our 26th weekend intensive will be held in Zablocki VA Hospital Jan. 27 - 29. The VA intensives are geared toward newer participants and offer a safe and supported atmosphere to explore our emotional lives through the words of Shakespeare and simple acting exercises. We begin on Friday evening, in the DOM 123 (west side of VA off of National ave) cafeteria from 1800 hrs to 2100 hrs. On Saturday morning we will be in the third floor rec room (#3435) from 1000 - 1700. Sunday in the rec room from 1200 - 1700.
Friday, Jan. 27th - 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM (DOM 123)
Saturday, Jan. 28th - 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM (third floor rec room #3435) Food provided
Sunday, Jan. 29th - 12:00 AM until 5:00 PM (rec room) pizza to follow
FoC meets at St. John's church at 5500 Greenfield (one block south and one block west of the VA) nearly every Wednesday. This class is open to all veterans and is a casual time to read plays, work on scenes and monologues and socialize. Join us and bring a friend!
Please, join us for our 25th weekend intensive and help us grow our community! We begin the weekend in DOM 123, Friday the 2nd @ 6:00 - 9:00. We will meet Saturday morning @ 10:00 in the third floor rec room in Zablocki and go until 5:00. Sunday we will meet from 12:00 until 5:00
Fri 6 - 9 (DOM 123)
Sat 10 - 5 (third floor rec room)
Sun 12 - 5 (third floor rec room)
Simple acting exercises and Shakespeare scene work are used to offer a "play" ground for expression. Explore emotions, have an experience supported by professional actors and once again, work with a "unit" for something bigger than yourself! Go to "contact us" and email or call if you have questions. Someone WILL get back to you!
Most Wednesday's FoC meets at St. John's Lutheran Church at 5500 Greenfield to work on new scenes and monologues, build our veteran acting company and to socialize. Join us!
Feast of Crispian is eagerly looking forward to the presentation of our 2016 all-veteran cast production of And Comes Safe Home... This evening of scenes and verbal/visual mosaics is a moving, exciting, sometimes funny glimpse into the personal experiences of our veteran members. We have spent several months collecting stories from many veteran friends to give us this up close look at where our service men and women come from, and who they are now. They have openly and courageously let us in on their very personal struggles and challenges. Please, join us at UW,M's main stage theater space, to support and learn from those who dared to offer their very lives in service of your safety and freedom.
The performance is free. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Sep. 29, 30 & Oct. 1 @ 7:00 PM and Oct. 2 @ 2:00 PM
There will also be a veteran's only pre-view on Sep. 28th @ 7:00PM
For more information call UWM Box office @ 414-229-4308 or contact us here on our website.
And Comes Safe Home… is Feast of Crispian’s second full production with a veteran only cast. Last year FoC, with a cast of 15 vets, performed Julius Caesar at the Next Act Theater performance space. This year, And Comes Safe Home… will be a look at the lives of those who fight for their country, from Shakespeare to today. We will use scenes from Shakespeare’s plays and original scenes and songs devised from the personal stories of our veteran participants and cast members.
Who should audition?
- Any veteran, from any era or branch, that has a story that needs to be told.
- Any veteran singer or musician who would like to work with us.
No experience necessary. Nothing needs to be prepared.
We will anonymize the final stories for production.
Auditions will be held on:
July 15 from 4pm – 7pm at St. John’s Church, 5500 Greenfield (near the VA)
AND
July 16 from 1pm – 4pm at the UWM theater building (east side of Spaights Plaza. The student union, on Kenwood, is on the south side of Spaights Plaza)
Performance dates are:
August 28 (Milwaukee Fringe Festival)
September 28 - 30, October 1 & 2. (UWM Main Stage Theater)
Rehearsals will begin July 29th and will be on weekday evenings and weekend days. Participants will not need to be at every rehearsal but they will need to be in every final performance.
More questions? Email us @ feastofcrispian5@gmail.com or call 414-203-1960
This weekend is for veterans who have participated with us in the past ONLY!
It will be held in the theater building on the UWM campus.
June 24, Friday 6 - 9, June 25, Saturday 10 - 5, June 26, Sunday 12 - 5
This weekend is the exploration weekend for what will become our next production (end of September) and is for gathering veteran's stories, as well as discussing how you want this production to impact the civilian audiences.
If you have never participated in any FoC event but you want to be a part of the production, we strongly encourage you to attend one of the up-coming intensives. If you can't make one of those, get in touch with us with your contact information and we will find a way of getting you involved.
E-mail us with questions and concerns!
This is our first full intensive at our new OFF-VA Grounds home! We have been graciously and generously welcomed into the veteran friendly accommodations at St. John's Church. St. John's is just one block of the VA grounds at 5500 Greenfeild Ave.
We will see you there June 17, Friday 6 - 9 and June 18, Saturday, 10 - 6.
The usual edibles will be provided!
This weekend, we invite you to bring a family member or close friend with you to explore how acting and Shakespeare can open communication with veterans and civilians.
Friday 6 - 9
Saturday 10 - 5
Sunday 12 - 5
This event will be in the third floor rec room (3430) in Zablocki Hospital but will BEGIN on Friday night IN DOM 123. Use the West side entrance. It's ok to use employee parking to the south of the Dom and just off of National.
Email us with questions! We're looking forward to serving you.
The Women's Only weekend happens once a year, so spread the word to any woman veteran that is interested in exploring her military experience in a theatrical way! We are in the main hospital building, 3rd floor rec room #3435
Please, join us for our 20th three day intensive at Zablocki VA Hospital in March!
Lunch provided on Saturday and pizza on Sunday.
Public witnessing for non-veterans is at 2:30 on Sunday the 20th.
March 18, 6:00 - 9:00
March 19, 10:00 - 5:00
March 20, 12:00 - 5:00
Feast of Crispian, Inc. will be holding our 19th Shakespeare Intensive in the Zablocki VA Hospital in Milwaukee. Any veteran may participate. Lunch provided on Saturday and pizza on Sunday afternoon. Come on over!
Fri. 6 - 9
Sat. 10 - 5
Sun. 12 - 5
Our next introductory Acting Shakespeare weekend is scheduled for September 18 - 20. This event is for veterans who have never worked with us before to come and explore acting, the words and stories of Shakespeare, and build community with fellow vets and the FoC staff.
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““This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.”
”
