Featuring historical costumes and theatrical set pieces, this exhibit will illustrate the universality of Shakespeare’s work throughout different places, cultures, and themes.
(March 7, 2025 – Arlington, TX) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The Arlington Museum of Art’s latest exhibition in the HELP Center Gallery takes a deep dive into the enduring legacy of Shakespeare’s poetry and plays. Studying Shakespeare: The Universality of the Bard opens to the public on April 11, 2025, celebrating the timeless themes that make Shakespeare’s work as relevant today as it was over 400 years ago.
From love and betrayal to ambition and power, Shakespeare’s exploration of the human condition continues to resonate across cultures and generations. His works, translated into over 100 languages, have inspired artists, scholars, and performers worldwide, securing his place as one of history’s most influential playwrights.
With literary greats like Samuel Beckett, Lorraine Hansberry, and Tennessee Williams emerging in the centuries since his time, Shakespeare continues to captivate audiences and inspire new generations. In the Bard’s own words, “All the world’s a stage.”
“At Junior Players, we understand Shakespeare’s enduring power—especially in youth development,” says Junior Players Communication Director Abby Stigler. “Studying his works helps young people build critical thinking skills, expand their vocabulary, and deepen their understanding of language and storytelling. By exploring his universal themes and complex characters, students develop empathy, emotional intelligence, and a greater appreciation for human nature.”
This exhibition will showcase four past productions while offering an exclusive preview of what’s ahead for Junior Players in 2025. Through costumes, photographs, and original sketches, visitors will see firsthand how they bring Shakespeare’s works to life outside their historical context and the profound impact this process has on young performers.
“The Arlington Museum of Art is excited to celebrate another form of visual art, theatre, and its impact on young and emerging artists. Junior Players has an incredible history of providing free arts opportunities for their community, just like the AMA, and we look forward to collaborating again to highlight the importance of access to fine arts for DFW,” says Director of Exhibitions Kendall Quirk.
Join us as we celebrate the universality of the Bard and the next generation of storytellers who continue to make his words their own.
Admission is free. No tickets required.
About Junior Players
Since 1955, Junior Players has been encouraging intellectual growth, mental well-being, and the development of life skills in youth through mentoring, creative expression, and participation in the fine arts. They actualize this purpose by providing free, high-quality arts education programs in partnership with local recreation and cultural centers, low- income housing developments, schools, and social service agencies serving at-risk youth in underserved communities across North Texas. They provide innovative arts education for FREE to children and youth in North Texas and beyond and through their programming, youth are transformed. Their camps and afterschool programs are targeted to arts deserts – those areas that are underfunded and underserved. There, they engage children and youth through the arts, providing them with the tools they need to navigate real life challenges confidently and competently.
For over 35 years, Junior Players has produced an annual Summer Shakespeare production featuring young artists from across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This unique program, open to teens aged 15-19, provides hands-on professional theatrical training at no cost to participants. Each year, they reimagine one of Shakespeare’s plays in a fresh and culturally relevant way—whether by setting Othello during the Vietnam War or transforming Much Ado About Nothing into a lively telenovela. These adaptations help students strengthen their cultural literacy, communication skills, and creative expression while making Shakespeare’s themes feel personal and immediate.
###
About the Arlington Museum of Art
The Arlington Museum of Art is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to championing creativity and providing access to art for the educational enrichment and cultural development of the community. arlingtonmuseum.org
###
English
Spanish
Vietnamese