By David Cucchiara
Communications & Program Associate
When Brian Crowe arrived at what was then the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival in the summer of 1996, he intended to stay for just eleven weeks. Three decades later, he leads one of America’s most respected classical theaters as Artistic Director — a testament to the enduring value of institutions that grow their leaders from within and lead them on a path to success.
Mr. Crowe’s journey to The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey began in Ohio, where his childhood love of theater led him to Wright State University’s BFA program in directing and acting. His first encounter with Shakespeare in high school was, ironically, a tragedy in itself. “We did Romeo and Juliet in an English class and it was the worst experience of my life,” Mr. Crowe recalled. But the following year, a teacher named Ms. Quaman changed everything by getting students on their feet to perform Macbeth — with pencil fights and witch scenes, bringing early modern English language to life in a tangible way.
That revelation led Mr. Crowe to seek out a directors’ internship at the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, now The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, specifically because Scott Wentworth, a renowned director and actor whose work Mr. Crowe had admired while attending a university trip to Stratford, Canada, would be there that summer. The decision was simple: if he could assist Wentworth on that production, New Jersey it would be.
Working with Wentworth and his wife, actress Marion Adler, Mr. Crowe found himself learning more about professional Shakespeare production than he had in four years of undergraduate study, drawing continuous inspiration. That was the heart of the training he received at The Festival. “There’s a nurturing aspect to the work — demanding, but nurturing,” Mr. Crowe said. “It pushes you to be better than you think you can be, supporting your artistic choices but also demanding excellence out of the work.”
When the education director resigned at summer’s end, Mr. Crowe agreed to stay for what he thought would be one year. That was thirty seasons ago and he’s grown accustomed to calling New Jersey home. During his tenure as Director of Education, he launched the Shakespeare LIVE! touring company with then-Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte, which has become one of the largest programs bringing classical work to high schools in the region.
When Ms. Monte stepped down after 33 years as Artistic Director in 2024, Mr. Crowe was faced with following in the footsteps of a theatrical legend, one of the 25 most influential people in the arts, according to The Star-Ledger. Mr. Crowe’s approach has been to honor the theater’s legacy of excellence, while expanding access to new audiences. The strategy is working; from 2023 to 2024, Shakespeare Theatre saw a 50% increase in attendance and ticket sales, with growth continuing into the current season.
The theater now offers numerous ways for community members to attend affordably, including $10 tickets for first previews in exchange for canned goods donations, student rates, partnerships with New Jersey public
libraries, and $5 tickets through the Discovery Pass program for families facing financial challenges. “Shakespeare sometimes gets a bad rap, and people incorrectly think that it’s just for old, rich white people,” Mr. Crowe said. “I think it’s not. It’s for everybody.”
Over the years, the institution has remained deeply committed to The Bard — approximately 60% of all programming includes Shakespeare through a collection of touring shows, educational programs, and summer intensives that are now open to the public. The theater recently established the Shakespeare Theater Fellows program, bringing Drew University students in as professional interns, and this spring will present its first co-production with Drew, Henry VI: Part III, directed by Mr. Crowe. While Shakespeare remains central to the mission, the theater also presents a diverse range of other classical and contemporary works, from lesser-known European classics to modern adaptations.
In an era of AI and social media, Mr. Crowe believes live theater offers something technology can’t replicate. “Nothing replaces the feel of being in an audience, breathing together. There are scientific studies about people’s heartbeats syncing up in a production,” he said. “AI cannot achieve a sense of community and connection with our fellow human beings.”
Mr. Crowe recognizes that his three decades at one organization are increasingly rare. “To find a place that is nurturing, that is supportive, that is challenging, that allows people in it to grow — then you have a place that people can stick around for.”
As Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey enters its seventh decade, Mr. Crowe’s goal remains clear. “I’m so proud of the work that we get to do here and the artists we get to work with. Now, I just want to share it with the entire community.”
