Shakespeare's Birthplace America Inc. (SBA) was established in 2014 to promote and preserve the cultural and educational legacy of William Shakespeare in the United States. Registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SBA supports various initiatives, including heritage conservation and educational outreach, in partnership with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Our Board
Peter Kyle CBE (President) Peter Kyle has held leadership roles such as Chief Executive of Shakespeare’s Globe and The Scottish Ballet. He was Chair of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust until 2022. Peter is currently Chair of the John Ellerman Foundation, Trustee of Noel Coward Foundation, Governor of English National Ballet School, Honorary President of Tavaziva Dance Company, and a Member of Council of Shakespeare’s Globe. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Westminster and is an Honorary Fellow of South Bank University.
Jeff Marlow (Director) Jeff Marlow is an experienced actor and educator with extensive involvement in teaching and youth engagement. As a member of the sketch comedy troupe the Reduced Shakespeare Company, Jeff has toured the U.S., Europe, and Asia in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and The Complete History of America (abridged). Jeff has a Master's degree from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Diane Meyer Lowman (Director) Diane Meyer Lowman is a writer and public speaker with a strong background in literature and the humanities. She is the author of the memoir The Undiscovered Country:
Seeing Myself Through Shakespeare’s Eyes. With experience as an educator and a certified yoga instructor, Lowman is known for weaving themes of mindfulness and personal growth into her work. Diane has a Master's degree from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. Her leadership at SBA is informed by a deep appreciation for storytelling and its impact on educational programs.
Our Programs
Conservation: Supporting the preservation of Hall's Croft, the Jacobean home of Susanna Shakespeare.
A major, multi-year conservation project has begun at Hall’s Croft, a Grade I listed building, which was once the second largest property in Stratford-upon-Avon. Since 2021 the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's team of conservation experts have carried out a comprehensive investigation of the upper floors, in collaboration with colleagues at Historic England.
Work has now begun on Phase One of the project, which entails urgent work to save and protect the oldest part of the building in which William Shakespeare himself would have spent time with his daughter, Susanna.
Learning: Supporting award-winning educational and outreach programs.
SBA is working to support the extensive education and outreach programs of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust which reach 2 million children every year. The Trust is creating a major new Learning & Community Hub in the center of Stratford-upon-Avon, 100 feet away from the Birthplace.
Collections & Research: Contributing to a purpose-built center for significant Shakespeare-related collections and research in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust cares for over one million museum, library, and archive items in Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. Through them, the Trust shares the story of William Shakespeare, his family, his town, his works and his influence on the world. Items in the collections include three 1623 First Folios, the Parish Register recording both Shakespeare’s baptism and his death, and even William Shakespeare’s gold signet ring.
SBA is supporting the major campaign to create a new, state-of-the-art Research & Collections Center in Stratford, to ensure the long-term care and conservation of these unique treasures, and to enable more people than ever before to access them, physically and digitally.
Latest News
Shakespeare's Birthplace America Welcomes Diane Meyer Lowman to Board of Directors
Shakespeare Birthplace America is delighted to announce the appointment of Diane Meyer Lowman to its Board of Directors. An esteemed essayist, memoirist, poet, and Shakespeare scholar, Ms. Lowman brings a wealth of literary experience and a profound passion for Shakespeare studies to our organization.
Ms. Lowman served as Westport, Connecticut's inaugural Poet Laureate from 2019 to 2022, during which time she enriched the community's cultural landscape through her dedication to the literary arts. Her essays have appeared in prominent publications such as O, The Oprah Magazine, Brain,Child, and Brevity Blog. She also authors the regular column Everything's an Essay, showcasing her insightful reflections on diverse topics.
Ms. Lowman's first memoir, Nothing But Blue (2018), chronicled her transformative experiences aboard a German container ship during her college years. Her latest memoir, The Undiscovered Country: Seeing Myself Through Shakespeare's Eyes (2023), narrates her journey of self-discovery through the lens of Shakespeare's works.
Ms. Lowman's academic credentials include an M.A. in Shakespeare Studies from the University of Birmingham's Shakespeare Institute (2017), an MBA from Pepperdine University, and a B.A. in Economics from Middlebury College. She has composed over 3,000 haiku and contributed essays and reviews on Shakespeare's plays to various academic publications. Beyond her literary pursuits, she teaches writing, Shakespeare, and yoga/mediation, and divides her time between Westport, Connecticut and Stratford-Upon-Avon, England.
We are confident that Ms. Lowman's extensive experience and unwavering commitment to the literary arts will greatly enhance our mission to promote and preserve the legacy of William Shakespeare. Please join us in welcoming Diane Meyer Lowman to the Shakespeare Birthplace America's Board of Directors.
Transformative donation to support conservation of Susanna Shakespeare's home
In September 2024, SBA receives a pledge of $1.26 million from acclaimed U.S. playwright Ken Ludwig. This generous contribution is pivotal in our campaign to support the conservation of Hall’s Croft, ensuring the preservation of its architectural and historical integrity. Ludwig’s donation underscores a strong transatlantic bond in championing Shakespearean heritage and demonstrates the vital role that international support plays in heritage conservation.
This substantial contribution gained widespread media attention, including coverage by major outlets such as The Guardian and the BBC in the UK and other outlets around the world, all of which highlighted Ludwig’s motivation to keep Shakespeare’s family home accessible to future generations.
The donation reinforces the importance of collaboration between cultural advocates in the U.S. and the U.K., showcasing the impact of SBA in fostering such alliances.
Get Involved
Engaging with SBA helps preserve and promote the cultural and educational legacy of Shakespeare in the U.S. Supporters are encouraged to contribute to ongoing initiatives, such as conservation and educational programs, to ensure the bard's impact endures for generations.
Make a direct impact by supporting our mission.
Contact Information
Contact Person: Susan Mathisen
Contact Email: info@shakespeareusa.org
Phone: +1 917-690-1750
Address: c/o JHPA, 39 West 37th Street, Floor 12A, New York, NY 10018
