Bawdy face of the Bard’s London - Times Online
A long-neglected document started this writer off on his latest piece of literary detective work
The story begins with a sheet of greyish paper, housed unceremoniously with others in a cardboard box at the National Archives in Kew. Though slightly mouldered at one edge, it is in remarkably good condition after nearly four centuries. It is mostly filled with the handwriting of an unknown Jacobean law clerk, but what makes it special is the rather hurried-looking signature at the bottom: “Willm Shaks”.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Nicholas Hytner talks about Much Ado ...
Nicholas Hytner talks about Much Ado
The artistic director of the National Theatre talks to Heather Neill in detail about Much Ado About Nothing, his new revival starring Simon Russell Beale and Zoe Wanamaker, which previews at the Olivier Theatre from 10 December. More info: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk "
The artistic director of the National Theatre talks to Heather Neill in detail about Much Ado About Nothing, his new revival starring Simon Russell Beale and Zoe Wanamaker, which previews at the Olivier Theatre from 10 December. More info: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk "
Winston-Salem Journal | Unkindest Cut
Unkindest Cut
To require studying Shakespeare or not to require: That is the question
Something is rotten in the state ... of North Carolina. Actually, the rottenness goes well beyond North Carolina, but the problem particular to our state is the subject of a recent report out from The John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, in Raleigh. The report discloses the appalling truth that about half the colleges and universities in North Carolina, public and private, will grant a bachelor's degree in English to a student who has never taken a course in Shakespeare. O, what men dare do! ... What men daily do, not knowing what they do!
To require studying Shakespeare or not to require: That is the question
Something is rotten in the state ... of North Carolina. Actually, the rottenness goes well beyond North Carolina, but the problem particular to our state is the subject of a recent report out from The John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, in Raleigh. The report discloses the appalling truth that about half the colleges and universities in North Carolina, public and private, will grant a bachelor's degree in English to a student who has never taken a course in Shakespeare. O, what men dare do! ... What men daily do, not knowing what they do!
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The Associated Press: School Halts `Shakespeare (Abridged)'
The Associated Press: School Halts `Shakespeare (Abridged)'
MESA, Ariz. (AP) — It was supposed to be a two-hour Shakespearean comedy show attended by 700 sixth- through 12th-graders.
But it was not to be.
About 40 minutes into a touring company's performance of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," a Higley Unified School District official halted the show Monday at a performing arts center.
MESA, Ariz. (AP) — It was supposed to be a two-hour Shakespearean comedy show attended by 700 sixth- through 12th-graders.
But it was not to be.
About 40 minutes into a touring company's performance of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," a Higley Unified School District official halted the show Monday at a performing arts center.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
In high school, when Miss Grundy rubbed your adolescent nose in Shakespeare, she was perhaps unaware that the Bard of Avon had ye pottye mouthe.
With more than four centuries of language shifts and Shakespeare's unmatched genius for puns and double-entendre, most readers today, unlike those of his time, skim past it.
But help has arrived in a book, "Filthy Shakespeare. Shakespeare's Most Outrageous Sexual Puns" by Oxford PhD Pauline Kiernan.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London: Return of the Bard » great travel with virtual vacations
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London: Return of the Bard
Virtual Vacation's mission is to explore the most beautiful places in the world and bring you the most beautiful travel pics on the Internet. Eric has posted some lovely pictures of the London Globe with a few tidbits of information about it.
Virtual Vacation's mission is to explore the most beautiful places in the world and bring you the most beautiful travel pics on the Internet. Eric has posted some lovely pictures of the London Globe with a few tidbits of information about it.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Boom for Bard Jobs?
Boom for Bard Jobs?
Casting at Shakespeare fests doth steer up and down.
By Brad Weismann DENVER
Is the Bard in a boom? In certain respects, the answer seems to be yes. Nearly 100 organizations are listed as members of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America (www.staaonline.org), and many others specialize in classical theatre. As for whether this translates into more work for actors, the proliferation of companies makes it difficult to track job growth, even for Actors' Equity Association.
Casting at Shakespeare fests doth steer up and down.
By Brad Weismann DENVER
Is the Bard in a boom? In certain respects, the answer seems to be yes. Nearly 100 organizations are listed as members of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America (www.staaonline.org), and many others specialize in classical theatre. As for whether this translates into more work for actors, the proliferation of companies makes it difficult to track job growth, even for Actors' Equity Association.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Ben Kingsley has secured the rights to turn a novel about William Shakespeare into a movie and stage production. The actor will co-produce and star as the writer in the film version of Will, based on the upcoming historical book by Christopher Rush about Shakespeare's meeting with his lawyer on his deathbed.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Ian McKellen Sells Out (in ‘King Lear’) - Newsweek Entertainment - MSNBC.com
$2,295 a ticket? Now, That’s High Tragedy
Ian McKellen is a great—and famous—actor. ‘King Lear’ is great Shakespeare. Together they’re the hottest ticket in the country.
Ian McKellen is a great—and famous—actor. ‘King Lear’ is great Shakespeare. Together they’re the hottest ticket in the country.
Friday, September 07, 2007
The New York Public Library will present A Rose by Any Other Name, a series of free seminars, discussions, performances, and screenings inspired by the works of William Shakespeare, at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the Library for the Performing Arts (40 Lincoln Center Plaza).
The series will kick off at 6pm on Thursday, September 20 when librettist Arthur Laurents discusses the 50th anniversary of West Side Story. On Thursday, October 11 at 6pm, there will be a screening of Jerome Robbins' ballet, West Side Story Suite, with commentary by author Amanda Valli.
Among the many highlights of the series are discussions with playwright John Guare (October 4), choreographer Lar Lubovitch (November 3), theater critic John Simon (November 19), playwright Paula Vogel (November 26), and choreographer Peter Martins (December 6); a reading of the play Herbie: Poet of the Wild West, based on Hamlet (November 5); a panel discussion featuring designers Jane Greenwood, Natasha Katz, Ming Cho Lee, and Michael Yeargan (November 8); a reading of the re-written final act of Cymbeline, read by actors from Lincoln Center Theater's upcoming production of the play (December 10); and jazz pianist Dick Hyman's setting of Shakespeare's songs (December 12).
For more information, call 212-642-0142 or visit www.nypl.org/lpaprograms. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Sunday, September 02, 2007
New York Times:
By imagining King Lear’s age as “four score and upward,” Shakespeare gave an end-of-career ring to a taxing role that he could hardly have written for octogenarian actors. After all, Richard Burbage, the star of Shakespeare’s company, the King’s Men, was only 39 when he created the part in 1606. And centuries later, in the 1960s, Paul Scofield was a memorable Lear at just 40.
By imagining King Lear’s age as “four score and upward,” Shakespeare gave an end-of-career ring to a taxing role that he could hardly have written for octogenarian actors. After all, Richard Burbage, the star of Shakespeare’s company, the King’s Men, was only 39 when he created the part in 1606. And centuries later, in the 1960s, Paul Scofield was a memorable Lear at just 40.
Yet what makes many regard “King Lear” as Shakespeare’s greatest mature tragedy is its unforgiving portrayal of an old man raging against the gods as his power, sanity and life gradually expire. And since actors too suffer the agues of aging, it is always touching to watch a master of the stage take on the role in the autumn of his career.
Now, at 68, it is Ian McKellen’s turn to do so. This week, he brings his Lear to the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Harvey Theater in an acclaimed — and, alas, sold out — new production directed by Trevor Nunn, his old Cambridge University friend."
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The many faces of the Bard - Times Online
The many faces of the Bard
A surprising number of people believe someone else wrote Shakespeare’s plays. BIll Bryson analyses the theories, some more madcap than others, that keep the conspiracy bubbling
A surprising number of people believe someone else wrote Shakespeare’s plays. BIll Bryson analyses the theories, some more madcap than others, that keep the conspiracy bubbling
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Playbill News: Shakespeare Gets Punked Out for Love Sucks at NYMF
Shakespeare Gets Punked Out for Love Sucks at NYMF
Love Sucks, the new punk-rock musical by Stephen O'Rourke and Brandon Patton, will receive its world premiere as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival this September.
Using Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost as inspiration, Love Sucks "is set in the burgeoning underground scene of the 1970's East Village," according to press notes. "Two competing rock bands, The [all-guy] Molotovs and [all-girl] The Guttersnipes, swear off love because they've lost too many musicians to jealous lovers. In order to stay focused on the music, each band member can have sex with someone only three times. But when the guys and girls meet up, their rule comes back to bite them in the ass."
Love Sucks, the new punk-rock musical by Stephen O'Rourke and Brandon Patton, will receive its world premiere as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival this September.
Using Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost as inspiration, Love Sucks "is set in the burgeoning underground scene of the 1970's East Village," according to press notes. "Two competing rock bands, The [all-guy] Molotovs and [all-girl] The Guttersnipes, swear off love because they've lost too many musicians to jealous lovers. In order to stay focused on the music, each band member can have sex with someone only three times. But when the guys and girls meet up, their rule comes back to bite them in the ass."
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