Over 400 years after his death, Shakespeare’s works have been adapted, modernized, twisted, and deconstructed many times over. It is not only time periods that have been switched; genders are often swapped, sexuality questioned, and the text itself is sometimes changed. But are these changes for the better or worse? Are you a Yay or a Nay? Join in the debate!
While many English or Theatre teachers (myself included) embrace William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Macbeth, or A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I actually really enjoy the history plays. Richard III is one of my favorite plays to teach because of the intriguing villain, dynamic poetry, and fascinating characters. However, in order for my students to make sense of it, I realized I had to make sense of the English history Shakespeare was using to write Richard III. In that endeavor, I tumbled down a rabbit hole and into a quagmire of complex English history mired in international and civil wars.
We have all heard of William Shakespeare. His plays are regularly performed across the globe, and they frequently feature as prominent texts on school/college syllabuses. Yet getting to grips with Shakespeare’s works can be tricky. What is an iambic pentameter? And how do you interpret some of the unusual sounding words written over 400 years ago? Whether you are studying his plays, or engaging with them for pleasure, this blog post will hopefully help guide you along the fascinating road to getting to grips with the Bard!
It can be tricky navigating your way through plays with good roles that offer an exciting challenge for the modern teenager. After all, there are thousands of plays out there–where do you start? Are you looking for a powerful monologue, a dramatic scene, or a full play that features a lead teenage role?
I learned the greatest life lessons in summer stock theater. For five summers, deep in the redwoods, I bounced between the costume shop, wig shop, and backstage running two to three exhilarating shows a season. My summers of outdoor theatre fueled my career faster than any class, seminar, or resume credit. I developed a breadth of skills in design, aesthetics, construction, hair, and makeup that I wouldn’t have experienced in college alone.