Alabama Shakespeare Festival
alabama shakespeare festival asf among ten largest shakespeare festival world festival permanently housed carolyn blount theatre montgomery alabama asf put production annually typically including three work william shakespeare play sample various genre playwright classical modern sometimes emphasis southern work asfs southern writer project nurture creation new play reflect southern theme festival stage performance year attract visitor throughout united state country asf began summerstock theater project anniston first performance anniston high school auditorium single critic wife critic considered performance poor predicted asf would survive project persisted number innovative performance including taming shrew set new york city eventually shakespeare festival grew garner critical acclaim lacked financial support keep afloat december asf moved montgomery result mr mr winton blounts million gift performingarts complex set acre km² landscaped park winton blount cultural park carolyn blount theatre house seat festival stage seat octagon theatre season asf operated professional actor training program leading mfa degree cooperation university alabama department theatre dance tony award–winning actor norbert leo butz emmy award–winning actor michael emerson two program successful alumnus april asf announced relationship university alabama would phased following graduation last class august montgomery museum fine art also located montgomery blount cultural park alabama shakespeare festival website asf graduate program