In 2008, a group of young local residents in Dover aspired to create a grassroots artistic movement that eventually blossomed into the OrangeMite Shakespeare Company. Receiving its 501(c)3 nonprofit status in 2014, OrangeMite has continuously provided the community with opportunities to experience all dimensions of music and theater. Currently, OrangeMite is producing its 35th play of Shakespeare’s 39-play Canon.
King Edward III is persuaded that he is not only the King of England but also the King of France. However, before securing his rightful claim to the French throne, he must deal with the Scots, who threaten one of his northern castles. Once there, he falls in love with the Countess of Salisbury. He unsuccessfully tries to woo her with tacts that reinforce their power imbalance. However, the Countess resists his aggressive advances, powerfully reminding him of his honor and duty. To repent for his less-than-noble actions, he travels to France and conducts a violent war to take what he believes to be rightfully his.
Join OrangeMite for a brief adaptation of William Shakespeare's play, King Edward III, a text scholars have recently added to the canon of his complete works. This version investigates the play’s first episode with the King and the Duchess of Salisbury. Be a part of our first “Fringe-speare”!
OrangeMite’s production of Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 3, showcased the climactic battle for the English throne, fueled by the fierce Queen Margaret’s (Paige Hoke) desire for revenge. The young and conflicted King Edward IV (Ben Waters) stands in her way, having stolen the crown from Margaret’s husband after she murdered his father, the Duke of York (Philip Rearich).
Amidst the chaos, the pious King Henry VI (Ángel Nuñez) struggles to maintain his faith in a world consumed by betrayal. Meanwhile, the ruthless Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Daryll Perkins, Jr.), reveals his plots, setting the stage for his own play, Richard III (Fall 2024).
Each character, from the vengeful Clifford (Sofia DiMercurio) to the scheming Warwick (Calvin Emery), brings a unique energy to this Shakespeare history composed of ambition, loyalty, and retribution.
This original adaptation of rarely performed dramatic literature features many surprises, including singing, dancing, and the requisite sword fights. However, as always, Shakespeare’s illuminating verse takes center stage.
Experience Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 2, OrangeMite Shakespeare’s War of the Roses, this June!
Our historical drama transports audiences into the chaos of a nation on the brink of civil war, where power struggles, betrayal, and ambition threaten the throne. Follow uncertain King Henry VI (Ángel Nuñez) as he navigates treacherous factions. Witness the rise of the formidable Queen Margaret (Paige Hoke), her secret lover, the Duke of Suffolk (Ryan Szwaja), and the “dogged” Duke of York (Philip Rearich).
Henry VI, Part 2 explores how characters grapple with foretold destinies and ominous prophecies. Demonic and entertaining apparitions weave through the narrative and link the play to the next segment in Shakespeare’s rarely performed tetralogy, Henry VI, Part 3.
Our fast-paced production frequently breaks down the fourth wall and embraces a Brechtian style with intermingled songs. Learn more here: https://orangemite.org/waroftheroses
The War of the Roses begins in this first installment of the Henry VI trilogy. The House of York and its emblem, the White Rose, take the House of Lancaster and its Red Rose to the battlefield.
Esta producción será parte de nuestro Shakespeare bilingüe en el parque, financiado por Cultural Alliance of York County and Downtown, Inc.
Esta historia de falta de comunicación y vendettas convertida en la mejor historia de amor de todos los tiempos sigue siendo una de las obras más populares y conocidas de Shakespeare. Para la cuarta producción de la obra de OrangeMite, la representaremos predominantemente en español, lo que permitirá que un nuevo espíritu de lirismo cante por primera vez en un escenario en el centro de Pensilvania.
Shakespeare’s beautiful comedy of searching for love in an idyllic forest continues to provide laughs and warmth for audiences after four hundred years of popularity.
The ghost of the King of Denmark appears to the night watchers. The apparition is not satisfied until he conveys a critical message to his son, Prince Hamlet. The phantasmic father implores his son to avenge his murder. To attain this vengeance, Hamlet must kill the new king, his uncle.
All is not as it seems, and the young prince remains indecisive. Soon, Hamlet decides to stage his insanity along with the theatrical versions of his father’s untimely death to expose the fratricidal guilt of his uncle.
We present a twist on All’s Well That Ends Well by setting this play of tangled relationships at summer camp. Teeming with Shakespeare’s ecological themes, this comedy occurs at the fictitious Camp Wellington. Our rendition captures the joyous and singular experience of the great outdoors. The campers learn from an enthusiastic park ranger who shares The Ornithology of Shakespeare throughout the play. Through these lessons, our young protagonists discover how to strengthen relationships with one another and the natural world.
OrangeMite will present an original screenplay, All Is True: A Divorce Court Comedy, this spring. This fun, farcical short takes us to a lively TV courtroom program. There, three couples seek divorce from an outspoken yet charming judge. It is up to her to decide if these couples should formally end their marriage or pursue alternative options.
The screenplay adapts a short one-act play by Cervantes, El juez de los divorcios, and Shakespeare’s Henry VIII into a program remenisent of Telemundo’s Caso Cerrado. The production is in both English and Spanish and is subtitled.
William Shakespeare’s final play, The Two Noble Kinsmen, brings together Chaucer’s A Knight’s Tale with characters from Greek Mythology to create a truly unique tale of romance, friendship, and destiny. Music, dance, hilarity, athletic tournaments, intense epic battles, and good old fashioned drama make OrangeMite's production of The Two Noble Kinsmen the must-see theatrical event of 2018!
The Winter’s Tale took audiences on a journey from the icy depths of winter into the beautiful, exciting rebirth of spring. Written in the twilight of Shakespeare's illustrious career, this romantic masterwork blends the genres of tragedy, comedy, and the early beginnings musical theatre in a way completely innovative to the Elizabethan stage. Boundaries between art, age, love, and redemption were blurred creating a truly profound and unique theatre experience.
One of Shakespeare’s greatest masterpieces, Antony and Cleopatra, stormed The Barn stage in fall of 2017. Featuring Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, one of the world’s most iconic characters from both history and literature, wrangling with her lover, Mark Antony. As these two Titans quip back and forth in their lover’s quarrels, the world’s mightiest empire takes aim at their indulgent and luxurious Egypt. What follows is some of The Bard’s finest storytelling; his daring verse fused with epic battles, all accentuated by Cleopatra’s ultimate plan to best her enemies. More info here >
With disregard for the law on the rise, the Duke of Vienna decides to leave the city in the hands of the ruthless and efficient Angelo, hoping his iron fist will be what the sinners of Vienna need to change their wicked ways. When Angelo turns out to be less virtuous than he appears, it is up to Isabella, a young nun in training, along with a Friar who may not be what he seems to make things right. OrangeMite's May 2017 production of MEASURE FOR MEASURE was directed by Rachel Ream.
Struggling under the shadow of his legendary father, King Richard finds himself faced with an unforeseen danger as his one-time followers begin to close around him. Shakespeare provides us with some of his most poignant poetry as Richard transitions from a divine monarch to a simple man. Directed by Ryan Szwaja.
The famously witty and fat knight Sir John Falstaff is broke, and he has developed a scam to woo two married women in the town of Windsor in hopes of getting control of their money. Unknowingly, the great trickster Falstaff has met his match in the cunning merry wives of Windsor.
The son of Lord Montague and the daughter of Lord Capulet, two families consumed with hatred for each other, fall madly in love. In the most famous love story of all time, Shakespeare asks age old questions, and shows us one price for peace.
One of Shakespeare's most celebrated plays, JULIUS CAESAR, took on new life at The Barn in May, 2016. This iconic story took audiences back 2,000 years into a surprisingly familiar world. Conspirators executed a sinister plot to save their republic from unavoidable doom, and plunged the world’s greatest empire into civil war. The OrangeMite Shakespeare Company provided this fast-paced political thriller to sold out audiences like never before, complete with armor-clad legions, epic battles, rousing speeches, angry mobs, and of course, a monstrous apparition. More >>
In October 2015 one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, complete with witches, ghosts, prophecies, omens and murders came to The Barn at Tall Fir Acres. This eerie production clearly displayed why Macbeth has served as an icon for the supernatural for over 400 years.
Directed by William Wolfgang & Megan Kitzmiller
Shakespeare’s account of one of England’s most famous kings provided an exciting opening performance for the Dover Youth Shakespeare Academy in July of 2015. Henry V tells the story of a charismatic leader who unites all of his people under unwavering leadership. King Henry has the goal of conquering all of France, something he considers to be his birthright. This energizing and comical version of one of Shakespeare’s greatest war stories was the first theatrical performance for many young actors.
Directed by William Wolfgang
In May 2015, Shakespeare’s neglected masterpiece took OrangeMite audiences to a world occupied by ghosts, gods, and other supernatural beings. Cymbeline has defied classification for hundreds of years mystifying both scholars and critics alike, and OrangeMite’s emotional production filled with dark comedy was no exception. Infused with motives from Frédéric Chopin’s piano works, the tangled stories of loss and remarkable reconciliation become poignantly transcendent.
Directed by William Wolfgang
King John goes to war with France to hold on to his uneasy claim to the throne. Not being the true heir to the English Throne, John captures Prince Arthur, his older brother’s son, and locks him away in a tower. John is soon faced with the vanity of his efforts, as his kingdom and his mind begin to crumble.
Directed by Dr. Mary Snow
Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian, are shipwrecked off of the coast of Illyria. Devastated from her loss, Viola disguises herself as a boy to stay safe in the unfamiliar land; in doing so she comes into the service of a lovesick duke. Things begin to go awry when, unknown to Viola, her brother reappears and falls in love with the very woman she was wooing behalf of her hapless lord.
Directed by William Wolfgang
When the renowned general, Titus Andronicus, returns home from years of defending the Roman Empire from the martial Goths, he sets in motion a deadly chain of events culminating in a tragedy of epic, culinary proportions.
Directed by Megan Kitzmiller
The son of Lord Montague and the daughter of Lord Capulet, two families consumed with hatred for each other, fall madly in love. In the most famous love story of all time, Shakespeare asks age old questions, and shows us one price for peace.
Directed by Emilie Thornton
In one of the most famous plays of all time, William Shakespeare leaves the realm of reality and enters a world of fairies, mystical transformations, and lovers that are anything but star-crossed.
Directed by William Wolfgang
Seeking the prestige of academic enlightenment, The King of Navarre and three of his closest friends make a pact to forswear all the pleasures of life, including women, for three years of intense study. When the beautiful Princess of France arrives on their doorstep with an entourage of lovely ladies, the lords quickly decide some vows should be broken.
Directed by Claire Bleecker
The wealthy lord Timon gives away his fortunes to sycophants and flatterers, leading to tragedy unlike anything else in Shakespeare.
“Kiss me Kate, we will be married o’ Sunday.”
The outrageous lord Petruchio tries to temper the heart and mind of Italy’s infamous shrew, the volatile Katharina, to win her dowry.
Directed by William Wolfgang
Best friends, Proteus and Valentine, fall in love with the same woman. However, Proteus already has a true love, which he has effectively abandoned to woo Valentine’s Lady, Silvia. After schemes, a plots, and a band of outlaws complicate matters further, the two friends must decide who ends up with who.
Directed by Dr. Mary Snow
The exquisite Lady Portia is successfully wooed by the young merchant named Bassanio. When the Jewish moneylender Shylock, requires Bassanio’s good friend to pay up on a defaulted payment, Portia does everything in her power to stop a racially charged quest for vengeance.
