The greatness of the annual Stratford Festival in Ontario is known and appreciated not just in Canada but throughout the world. Every summer more than 500,000 lovers of great theater delight in magnificent performances of the works of Shakespeare and other playwrights, both classical and contemporary.

The Chicago Sun-Times has said, "What the Chicago Symphony is to orchestras, the Metropolitan is to opera and the New York City Ballet is to dance, the Stratford Festival is to classic theater," and Clive Barnes of The New York Post has called Stratford "one of the three great English-speaking classic theaters, together with Britain's National Theater and its Royal Shakespeare Company."

Northern Illinois University and Stratford: Since 1987, NIU's Department of English has offered study trips to the Stratford Festival. This year the University brings you another experience conducted by an NIU professor whose special expertise makes this program extraordinarily rewarding.

A week prior to the festival, NIU offers "The Dress Rehearsal" to acquaint you with the historical, literary, and theatrical aspects of the plays you will be seeing. During your stay in Stratford, the faculty member is available to answer questions and provide commentary on all the Shakespeare productions.

The trip includes five days of exceptional performances at four different theaters. To make your travel experience even more rewarding and pleasurable, the University's Stratford experience offers a pre-trip seminar on campus, convivial travel and select meals, and the BEST available seats.

You will enjoy the following program features: accommodations in Stratford's Bentley's Inn and the Mercer Inn, illuminating program notes on the plays, welcome luncheon in Stratford, farewell dinner in Stratford, table talk luncheon on Thursday and a distinctive NIU canvas tote bag. With all this, there's never been a better year to join us for Stratford--and we hope you'll agree!

The 2003 Program: The 51st season offers plays that journey to the origins of theatre itself in ancient Greece and show how timeless stories of love, loss, war, and betrayal inspired Shakespeare, contemporary playwrights, and their audiences for the next 2,500 years. This spectacular season, in combination with our special activities, make this a trip you should book today.

What people have said about this trip:
"I don't know how you do it.  Year after year it gets better and better. An absolutely perfect trip. The professor's zeal is contagious.  We're looking forward to next year's trip." -- Ed and Marge Warmowksi

"Outstanding professor; congenial group; great arrangements and planning.  I'll go again next year." -- Sally Stevens

"I recommend this trip. This was really my introduction to Shakespeare. The camaraderie of the group and the team from NIU were excellent." -- Gayle George

"Very professional trip, competent and informational without being 'stuffy.' The professor  is fantastic." -- Sandra Goetz

"I enjoy the pleasant personalities of the people in the group, their sense of humor, the quality of the lectures both in Stratford and before the trip at NIU. I'm going next year." -- Olive Chitty

"The professor's enthusiasm for the subject showed as we talked about the plays.  Everyone could understand." -- Maggie Daly

The Faculty leader - Katherine Wright, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of English, Northern Illinois University.  She accompanies you to maximize your enjoyment and understanding of the plays.  She has taken NIU groups to Stratford several times as well as to the American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin, to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and to the Globe in London. She teaches an award-winning NIU online Shakespeare course and is pleased to enhance this year's Stratford experience with online resources for participants.