The Carolinian Shakespeare Festival is a grass-roots summer theatre program designed to enrich the lives of the people of Eastern North Carolina by making classic works of literature accessible to every one, especially the new generation. Its focus is to foster understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare and the classics and to promote literacy in the community.

In an age when technology threatens literacy and social skills, there is a real need to rediscover tradition and the wisdom of the past. Through entertaining and enlightening presentations and programs which would involve both professional artists and community members, the Carolinian Shakespeare Festival aims to address this need.

In addition to supplying quality entertainment for our own residents, the Carolinian Shakespeare Festival will serve as an attraction for tourists and add greatly to the enjoyment of vacationers and guests who visit our area.

• To entertain with professional classic theatre at affordable prices
• To foster an appreciation for English and the classics of literature
• To create a uniquely American voice for the classics
• To provide a forum where community members can expand their creativity and connect with their own rich history and culture
• To bring Shakespeare and live theatre to remote areas
• To create a special attraction for visitors to this district

The CSF features a company of professional theatre artists, along with area residents, led by Producing Artistic Director Mary McGinley, co-founder of the festival. Mary has been cited by the New York Times as "A director on the move." She has served as Associate Artistic Director for Passage Theatre of New Jersey. She has worked as a director, performer and administrator at many regional theaters across the country. She received her M.F.A. in Directing from Rutgers University. Mary is a member of the Lincoln Center Theater's Directors Lab where she recently directed the acclaimed Brothers Karamazov: Lacerations. She is a professor of theatre arts and has taught theatre and acting privately and at the college and high school level.

The 2001 Carolinian Shakespeare Festival saw the debut of Noemi de la Puente as its new Associate Artistic Director. "I'm very excited to be working with Noemi," stated CSF's artistic director Mary McGinley. "I've known Noemi for many years. She is very experienced in professional theater and brings great intelligence to her work. She is also talented and a terrific team player. She will be a wonderful asset to the company."

Miss de la Puente holds an M.F.A. in theater from University of Iowa, a Master's degree from Princeton University and a Bachelor's degree from Cal Tech. She has performed at theaters across the country, including: National Theater of the Performing Arts, Delaware Theatre Company, and Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. She was also a long time member of the improv comedy troop Loos Scrooz. As a playwright, her work has been performed in New York, where she is a member of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre's Writers Group. Her work has also been produced in Indiana. Her current play, "Generic Hispanic," will be submitted to the South Coast Repertory Hispanic Playwright Festival. "I think New Bern is a great place to live and work," stated Miss de la Puente. "And with its location and history it is a great place for a Shakespeare festival. I'm elated to be working on this project. The community is really behind it."

Besides artistic and producing work, Miss de la Puente will be developing CSF's Diversity Project to bring new groups of the community into the theater. "I want people to know that Shakespeare and the classics are for everyone," declared Miss de la Puente.