Rising Stars: Meet Dawn Tucker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Tucker.

Dawn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival was founded by a group of actors, scholars, and educators who delight in seeing the Bard’s work as originally intended on stage: intimate, dynamic, accessible, and linguistically rich.

The festival began in 2015 and is currently in its 7th season.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
We’ve had lots of challenges: from thunderstorms, to losing actors weeks before opening a show, to the Covid-19 Pandemic. We always make it through thanks to our supporters, the other arts organization leaders here in Flagstaff, and the incredible team at Creative Flagstaff.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The mission of the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, affectionately known as FlagShakes, is to faithfully portray classics of the Renaissance, as well as produce other actor-driven plays. Each Renaissance performance incorporates Elizabethan staging practices, making these plays accessible and providing a unique learning opportunity. Our performances and educational outreach enlighten our audiences and revitalize empathy. Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival is dedicated to offering exciting artistic opportunity and experience for residents of northern Arizona and visitors from around the world.

Every summer, FlagShakes produces a new repertory of Renaissance plays. We choose our plays based on the needs of the community and aim for diversity: indoors, outdoors, family-friendly, romantic, lusty, adventurous. Our actors work hard on text, so you don’t have to. You can expect to follow every story from beginning to end while still enjoying the rich rhetoric of Shakespeare’s beautiful language.

During the year we produce non-Renaissance plays that uplift marginalized voices.

FlagShakes believes in seeking growth in a way that benefits not just the company, but the whole community. We believe in developing economically viable, long-term careers for artists and administrators while enriching the quality of life in northern Arizona and becoming a regional and national destination for travelers who love live theatre as much as we do.

We’re also the only professional theatre in northern Arizona.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival produces a podcast aimed at helping specifically women succeed in the world of theatre. It’s called “Untamed Shrews: Women Talk Theatre”.

The most helpful resources for me have been other women in arts leadership, our community, and our arts council.

Contact Info:

• Email: dtucker@flagshakes.org
• Website: flagshakes.org
• Instagram: @flagshakes
• Facebook: facebook.com/flagshakes
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCvGqnQ1CPvpLC7Lg6Y2TLPg

Image Credits
@GsPhotos