About
The Wellesley College Shakespeare Society, known as "Shakes", has performed Shakespeare's works for over 100 years. Shakes was founded in 1877 and has been performing in drag since 1887. Today, we function as a theater society and a community. We seek to study Shakespeare’s works through a modern, inclusive, and diverse lens and to encourage the love and appreciation of Shakespeare by making his work accessible to the College and greater communities.
We present a wide variety of performances and events for the campus and surrounding area throughout the year. These include the following: Haunted Haus (Fall), our semesterly open house event. We open the house for tours, and in rooms throughout are scary scenes from Shakespeare acted by both society members and other Wellesley students. Semester Lecture. Once a semester we hold an open lecture on a theater or Shakespeare topic. 24 Hour Shakes, a spring tradition in which we read the complete works of Shakespeare in a 24 Hour period—a mad, caffeinated dash. The Show. Our grandest tradition is our show, put up every semester, directed, designed, produced, and acted by society members. A new show is chosen at the end of each semester. Our last production was Romeo & Juliet. This semester we will performing A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Hannah Nies, '21. Visit our Events page for show dates. We are proud to be a continuing Wellesley tradition and to be devoted to the study and performance of Shakespeare.
We present a wide variety of performances and events for the campus and surrounding area throughout the year. These include the following: Haunted Haus (Fall), our semesterly open house event. We open the house for tours, and in rooms throughout are scary scenes from Shakespeare acted by both society members and other Wellesley students. Semester Lecture. Once a semester we hold an open lecture on a theater or Shakespeare topic. 24 Hour Shakes, a spring tradition in which we read the complete works of Shakespeare in a 24 Hour period—a mad, caffeinated dash. The Show. Our grandest tradition is our show, put up every semester, directed, designed, produced, and acted by society members. A new show is chosen at the end of each semester. Our last production was Romeo & Juliet. This semester we will performing A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Hannah Nies, '21. Visit our Events page for show dates. We are proud to be a continuing Wellesley tradition and to be devoted to the study and performance of Shakespeare.