Excellent Interpretations

Shakespeare scholar Natalia Razak takes a look at the Folio in, "a 4-part series exploring the reasons why actors use the earliest rather than the latest editions of Shakespeare’s plays."

Modern editions of Shakespeare are full of nifty things – definitions of arcane words, translations of outdated phrases, notations by editors, introductions and essays by very smart people. If you’re in the classroom or curled up in your bed reading Shakespeare (which we all do, right?), then by all means pick up the Arden edition and enjoy. But if you want to perform Shakespeare, then you have no need of definitions and notations (that’s what dictionaries and the internet are for). You need a roadmap for making interpretive choices; you have to delve into the text and find not just understanding and comprehension but the human experience as well. You have to make it yours. This is by no means an easy feat, even if the plays in question hadn’t been written 400 years ago. Thankfully, Shakespeare gave us a map: the verse.


 READ MORE HERE!

The Great ANONYMOUS Debate

Was Shakespeare a fraud? Roland Emmerich seems to pose that question in his new film, ANONYMOUS (Sony Pictures) that opens Friday, October 28, 2011.





There seem to be several arguments surrounding this topic, many in Shakespeare's favor. However we have been hardpressed to find anyone who can attest to the fact that  Edward de Vere is the true author of the classic plays that we have come to love. Despite there being little evidence, ANONYMOUS is claiming just that.

Was Edward de Vere (or someone else) the true brilliance behind the plays, or is William Shakespeare still due the credit of writing these remarkable works?

What do you think?

Congratulations to our Photo Contest Winner

After heavy debate, the staff at Philly Shakespeare has chosen the Romeo and Juliet act V, scene iii photo of apples and oranges. We also enjoyed that Juliet was bleeding orange juice (Blood Orange anyone?) and that Romeo is the fabled poisoned apple. Well done Giana Marinelli, a student in Temple's Shakespeare in Movies class! 

 Did you participate in and enjoy this contest? Please email your questions and comments to rebecca@phillyshakespeare.org and check back soon for more information.

9/11 and Titus Andronicus: Remembering - Article in Foreign Policy

"It was Sept. 13, 2001, and I was 21 years old. Two days earlier, I had walked into Kastan's Shakespeare class before the attacks began and walked out after the second tower had already fallen. Columbia canceled classes for two days. I spent my time at the daily student newspaper, the Spectator, where I was managing editor. On Thursday morning, the first class back was Shakespeare.

"'I will not make a political statement today,' Kastan continued. 'But I will say this: This play we will discuss today is about revenge -- and what demanding revenge can do to a person. I only hope that the people who will be making decisions on how to respond to Tuesday's attacks read Titus Andronicus.'"

Reading Shakespeare in Kandahar - By Nick Schifrin | Foreign Policy

Fringe Photo Contest!

One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons!

A natural perspective, that is and is not!

-Twelfth Night

 

The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre is launching our 15th Anniversary Season by giving away a Season Subscription!

Here is all that you have to do to win a 6-Ticket Bard Card that you can use for any Twelfth Night or Titus Andronicus performance:

Step 1) Stage a photograph of a specific scene, quote, or theme in your favorite Shakespeare Play.

Step 2) Upload your photo to our Facebook Wall; tag yourself and anyone else who is in the photo. Feel free to write a 1-2 sentence caption.

The contest ends September 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm. The Philadelphia Shakespeare staff will then choose their favorite photo and contact you for your FREE Bard Card. The winner will be announced October 7, 2011.

Here is an example of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet:

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/q8lens/505160118/

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.

-Cymbeline

"Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast."

It's Friday and you want some fun news. 

This summer our Classical Acting Academy is going to bring you a lot of fun with The Comedy of Errors.

One of Shakespeare’s earliest and most vibrant comedies, The Comedy of Errors is a whirlwind adventure of mistaken identities that ends in the reconciliation of a family that has been torn apart by a shipwreck.

That said, we are really going to take you for a ride! 

Our Classical Acting Academy is full of wonderful, bright, and extremely talented individuals. They will soon embark on an immersion experience in classical acting techniques and performance. Over a period of eight weeks, actors work with Director Rosemary Hay, text and acting coaches and a combat director in a professional setting, allowing them the unique opportunity to be with professionals who are working in the field. Actors have the chance to be considered for the mainstage spring productions.

2011 Classical Acting Academy Cast:

Keith Wallace Antipholus of Ephesus

Aaron Lofton Antipholus of Syracuse 

Robin Stift Dromio of Syracuse 

Daniel Harward Dromio of Ephesus

Rose Fairley Adriana 

James Lepone Egeon 

Amy- Helene Carlson Luciana 

Judy Feingold Courtesan/ Abbess

Mary Decarlo Duchess 

Anat Eshel Luce 

Caleb Wimble Dr. Pinch/ Balthasar 

Jason Singer Angelo 

Sara Group Waitress

Joining this wonderful cast, our crew:

Gary Gogol
Production Manager 

Ken Jordan
Company Manager
Lighting Designer 

Janelle Caso
Stage Manager 

Sara Prince
Assistant Stage Manager 

Rosey Hay
Director 

Brey Ann Barrett
Assistant Director 

Paul Winnick
Sound Designer 

Jill Keys
Costume Designer

Andi Sharavsky
Props Designer 

Heather Lucas
Props/Electrics/Set 

Also, one more little treat!

Ken Jordan, the Lighting Designer, has shared paintings with us that will give you a sense of what this show will look like!

What do you think?

Curtains....

Well, there you have it. The 2010/11 Season of The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre. We made you laugh and dance with As You Like It. We opened up your mind with a female Hamlet. We offered our stage to the artistic community with our Classical Cabaret Series. Broke box office records with our free Classical Acting Academy show of Henry V. Not to mention brought our touring production of Hamlet to no less than 14 schools! Readings, symposiums, connoisseur series, and reading groups! Scholar-in-Residence, teaching artist residencies, learning, growing, discovering.

We hope you enjoyed this season and would like to thank you all for your continued support!

Thank you.

But it doesn't stop. Nope.

We are already hard at work creating a new and exciting season for you. This one's a doozy.

Welcome to our 15th Anniversary Season. 

Ready. Set. Go.

Directors Carmen Khan and Aaron Cromie conducting auditions: