Founded in 2012 by Emily Gallagher, Courtney Moors, and Rob Sniffin, Barefoot Shakespeare Company has a pedestrian, engaging and modern outlook on the works of the Bard.
Mission
Barefoot Shakespeare Company creates joyful, bold, and inclusive theatrical experiences that celebrate the enduring power of Shakespeare – the Bard the way he would have wanted it. We strip away the barriers that often separate Shakespeare from today’s audiences, creating grounded, dynamic performances that welcome everyone into the story. Our mission is to celebrate Shakespeare’s work as it was originally intended: bold, immediate, connected to the community, and full of life.
We make theatre with our audience, not just for them—breaking down barriers between performer and spectator through interactive events like UNREHEARSED. Grounded in collaboration, curiosity, and care, we are committed to accessibility and opportunity: producing free theatre in Central Park, uplifting early-career artists, and developing new work that reflects the world we live in. Barefoot believes theatre should be safe, playful, and rooted in the radical idea of saying “yes.”
Vision
Our vision is a world where Shakespeare and classical theatre are approachable, diverse, and daring—and where new works grow from the same fertile ground. We dream of a future where UNREHEARSED is a household name, the Brawl Crawl has become a staple of downtown NYC culture, and our free Central Park productions continue to launch early-career artists into bold new paths. Through laughter, spontaneity, and meaningful representation, we strive to build community and create art that is as expansive and alive as the city we call home.
About
Barefoot Shakespeare Company is a dynamic, inclusive, and artist-driven theatre organization rooted in New York City. Since 2013, we have reimagined the works of William Shakespeare through a modern, intersectional lens. Our productions blend bold concept, grounded performance, and collaborative spirit, offering performances that feel both timeless and radically present.
Over the past decade, we’ve staged 19 full productions, challenged outdated traditions, and brought free, high-quality Shakespeare to Central Park. Our work frequently explores contemporary themes such as race, gender, equity, power, and identity—using Shakespeare as a platform for reflection, disruption, and celebration. Whether through feminist reinterpretations of the canon or the quick-fire chaos of UNREHEARSED, we aim to delight, provoke, and invite audiences into the story.
At Barefoot, we believe in play as process, in saying “yes,” and in building a space where early-career artists can thrive. We support new works in development, champion underrepresented voices, and take pride in being a place where creative dreams become possible. For us, Shakespeare is not just a text—it’s a tool for conversation, connection, and joyful rebellion.
Our Seven Core Values:
Accessibility
We believe Shakespeare is for everyone. From free outdoor shows to game-inspired performance formats, our work breaks down traditional barriers—economic, academic, and physical—so that all audiences feel welcome, seen, and included.
Collaboration
The company was founded in partnership and thrives on creative collaboration. Whether it’s artists shaping their own characters in UNREHEARSED, or cross-company co-productions like the Brawl Crawl, Barefoot values shared authorship, mutual respect, and co-creation in every part of the process.
Play
Playfulness isn’t just a vibe—it’s a methodology. From referees in UNREHEARSED to how we approach our main stages, our work invites risk, surprise, vulnerability, and joy. The spirit of improvisation, humor, and experimentation fuels everything we do.
Safety
Barefoot fosters a space where artists can take bold risks because they feel emotionally, physically, and artistically safe. This shows up in the way we support actors through vulnerable material and collaborative care.
Voice & Empowerment
Barefoot empowers emerging artists and amplifies underrepresented voices. Whether it’s casting new talent, elevating modern verse works like Much Ado About Hero, or reimagining classics through feminist or queer lenses—we give artists a space to make bold, personal choices.
Respect for the Text (with Room to Play)
We love Shakespeare deeply—but not preciously. Our work engages rigorously with the text while also modernizing, adapting, and reshaping it to speak to today. This balance of reverence and irreverence makes our voice unique.
Artist Compensation & Respect
We believe that artistic labor is valuable labor. Barefoot is committed to honoring the time, expertise, and emotional energy our collaborators bring to the table. Whether it’s actors, directors, dramaturgs, designers, or specialists in intimacy, fight choreography, D&I, or music—we do our best to compensate our artists fairly and transparently. Paying artists is not an afterthought at Barefoot—it’s a foundational pillar of our values and our ongoing mission to build a sustainable, equitable creative community.
In Loving Memory of Rob Sniffin
Founder, First Artistic Director, Visionary
Barefoot Shakespeare Company was born from the creative spark and collaborative spirit of Rob Sniffin. Rob—our founding Artistic Director, dear friend, and guiding force—believed in the power of theatre to bring people together, to uplift, to entertain, and most of all, to play. His dream was simple and profound: make Shakespeare joyful, accessible, and free to all.
Rob introduced our co-founders, built our original ensemble, and shaped our core values of grounded, inclusive performance. It was Rob who named the company “Barefoot”—a word he reclaimed to mean raw, immediate, pedestrian in the best sense, where actors and audiences alike could feel at home. His commitment to saying yes, to elevating everyone he worked with, and to creating joyful community through performance continues to shape everything we do.
Though we lost Rob far too soon, his legacy lives on in every thunderous applause at Summit Rock, every laugh between artists backstage, and every bold, unpolished moment on stage. Barefoot was his vision. Barefoot is his legacy. We miss him always, and we carry him with us in every step we take.
