America s fascination with Shakespeare is a curious singularity, and this book looks at one of the most recent examples of this strange marriage: the NEA s program, "Shakespeare in American Communities" (SIAC). Through a close analysis of a SIAC materials and reactions, this book uncovers the ideology that courses through the program. This ideology is one of patriotism, democracy, diversity and decency; Shakespeare has been appropriated to a specifically American context in order to promote ideals that are in line with the current conservative trend in politics.