Ten Thousand Things continues to export its barebones, engaging style of theater. The company, headed by Michelle Hensley, worked with The Public Theater in New York several years ago on Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure." Hensley now has brought the aesthetic to The Old Globe in San Diego. Hensley had worked with Barry Edelstein, the Globe's artistic director, when he was head of the Shakespeare Lab at The Public in 2010.
"When he took over The Old Globe, he made it clear that this type of touring in San Diego would be one of his top priorities," Hensley said in a statement.
The Globe is touring "All's Well that Ends Well" to military bases, libraries, homeless shelters and recreation centers in the San Diego area. The Public, meanwhile, has produced three subsequent nontraditional tours, based on the Ten Thousand Things model.
Early this year, Hensley spent six weeks with California Shakespeare Theater directing "Twelfth Night" and teaching that company the model. And, talks are going on with Center Stage in Baltimore about bringing the aesthetic there.
Edelstein was quoted as saying the first performance at Naval Station San Diego went very well. "One Chief Petty Officer drove his three kids an hour to see their first Shakespeare."
