In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, veterans are trying something new to deal with the problems they face in life after service: Shakespearean theater.
According to the Journal Sentinel, the Veterans Affairs hospital in the Midwestern city runs a program known as "Feast of Crispian," in which local professional theaters and directors work with former servicemembers to perform scenes from some of Shakespeare's greatest works. The selections typically deal with themes such as trauma, loss and emotional struggles – all things that many of the participants are trying to work through themselves.
The program takes place in the space of a three-day workshop, which is free for all of the veterans involved. It was founded by Bill Watson, a faculty member in the theater department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, in partnership with his wife, Nancy Smith-Watson, who is an actress, and another drama professor, Jim Tasse. The group wanted to help veterans express their emotions and work through any issues that might be plaguing them. Using a technique developed by Massachusetts-based Shakespeare and Co., they choose rhythmic, emotional scenes with lots of physical movement. This, paired with group exercises, allows the directors to connect with one another as well as their personal emotions.
The Journal Sentinel noted that veterans are assigned scenes and acting partners on the first Friday night. They practice them throughout Saturday and Sunday, getting help from the professional actors who often stand on the sideline, calling out forgotten lines or explaining complicated plot points. On Sunday afternoon, they perform for friends and family.
Many of the veterans enroll in the program on a whim and end up coming back multiple times.
"I fell in love with it. It has enabled me to feel more self-confident. It gives you a sense of accomplishment when you finish," Chris Nickrant, former Air Force member, told the Journal Sentinel. Nickrant has acted in all but one of FoC's sessions since the program began a year and a half ago.