New York City - New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) announced that it is one of 40 non-profit, professional theater companies that will receive a grant of $25,000 to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation from June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011.

Part of the NEA's Shakespeare in American Communities initiative, Shakespeare for a New Generation introduces middle and high-school students to the power of live theater and the masterpieces of William Shakespeare. Managed by Arts Midwest, the program has benefitted more than 1.5 million students and their teachers with live performances and educational activities since the program began in 2003.

"We are honored to receive this prestigious grant," commented Melissa Friedman, Epic's Founding Executive Director of Education. "It is an endorsement of Epic Theatre Ensemble's commitment to bringing the power of Shakespeare's language and themes to students throughout New York City and State."

"This grant will enable Epic to reach 1,400 public high schools students in economically-disadvantaged communities across New York City and one upstate in the 2010-2011 school year," added Ron Russell, Founding Executive Director. "This further cements Epic's national reputation as an innovator in the use of authentic professional theatre to improve and enrich public education in America's neediest communities."

"We are proud to support bringing Shakespeare to America's students," said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. "I have seen firsthand how the productions supported through Shakespeare for a New Generation have connected youth with Shakespeare - sometimes for the first time - inspiring them and creating the next generation of audiences. At the same time, this funding increases work opportunities for our theater artists."

Including the newly selected companies, more than 80 of the nation's theater companies have taken part in the NEA's Shakespeare program since its inception. By June 2010, participating theater companies will have presented performances at 4,000 schools in 2,500 communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Epic is currently presenting the New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play ("In The Next Room" or the vibrator play), directed by Mark Wing-Davey ("The Singing Forest"). Performances began April 27 and continue through June 5, 2010. The production is performed in the site-specific environs of the Irondale Center, a converted Sunday School inside the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church (85 South Oxford Street) in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Performances are Wednesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are available by visiting Epic's website at www.epictheatreensemble.org.

Epic Theatre Ensemble is an OBIE, Lucille Lortel, and OTTO Award-Winning artist-run company. Founded in 2001 to create theatrical events Off-Broadway and in the New York City Public Schools that inspire vital dialogue about social issues, Epic is best known for their premieres of "No Child" by Nilaja Sun, "Palace of the End" by Judith Thompson, and "Hannah and Martin" by Kate Fodor, as well as their groundbreaking Shakespeare Remix after-school program that received a 2009 Coming Up Taller Award from First Lady Michelle Obama at a White Ceremony this past November.