Midsummer Opens Tomorrow!

Hello All!  A Midsummer Night's Dream opens tomorrow at the Columbus Commons and runs through September 23.  All performances are at 7:30 and entrance is by donation.  Here are some pictures that were taken at last night's dress rehearsal by the wonderful Dale Bush.  Hope to see you there!  

 

 

 

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Hello!  It has been a hectic summer, what with two shows, working full time and trying to carve out hours to spend with friends and family.  I finished up Scapin and King Lear on August 11, and on August 12 started rehearsals for my next show, A Midsummer Night's Dream (I feel tired just typing that!). The show will be at the outdoor- and newly renovated- Columbus Commons.  Autumn seems to be nudging in already, so the nights should be cool and comfortable.  I wanted to share some inspirational pictures I found: they are so ethereal and full of life:) Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Couldn't you see these beautiful women playing Hermia and Helena?  Love their dance costumes.

 

 Plus, check out this belt buckle from Penelope's Cauldron!  It has a monologue from Puck on it.

I can picture one of the fairies wearing this dress by Colorada.

 

1. Reilly 2001  2. Or What You Will  3. The Untended Garden  4.  SiLive  
5. and 7. Oberon's Grove  6. Wikipedia's definition for Helena

500 Clowns

I love finding new podcasts to listen to, and recently I stumbled on Talk Theatre in Chicago!  The first podcast I listened to provided some wonderful insight into producing children's theatre, and their show about auditioning was taped while an audition was happening, with actors coming out of their audition and going into taping.  How cool is that?

Today, I downloaded and listened to an episode called Interview with 500 Clowns, about the Chicago based troupe of three actors.  They take serious stories, such as Macbeth and Frankenstein, and turn them on their heads in a way that creates pathos by engaging the story in surprising ways.  

Frankenstein, from their website

The structure is that three actors are trying to put on the play Macbeth, say, and a series of misfortunes occurs that prevents them from telling the story, but as such, they are telling the story.  There is a lot of improv and audience participation, though the framework is always the same.  Doesn't it sound like fun?


I was inspired by their ideas of clowning, such as "always say yes to the audience".  This is an idea we accept between our fellow actors, but I've never heard it in regards to the audience's energy.  They also mentioned that it is the clown's job to be honest; they don't just make us laugh, they make us cry and cause us to get angry.  It is the supreme truth that elevates clowning.  Their words are inspiring, and I can't wait to see how I can implement them in Scapin:)

 500 Clown Macbeth trailer

Would you want to or have you seen their show?

Talk Like Shakespeare Day!

A few years back, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre started Talk Like Shakespeare Day, which is celebrated every year on April 23, Shakespeare's birthday.  The company even created a website dedicated to the event, complete with ways to turn your everyday phrases into luxurious Elizabethan sentences.  There is also a collection of Shakespeare inspired videos.  While I didn't watch them all, my favorite so far has to be Brian Cox teaching Hamlet's most famous soliloquy to Theo, aged 2 1/2.

There's also a hilarious sketch by Rowan Atkinson and Hugh Laurie that I can't stop laughing at:

If you're in Chicago today, stop by Navy Pier, Chicago Shakespeare's home, to visit with Shakespeare himself:)

...And to thine own self, be true!

The Year of Shakespeare

Since 2008, Ohio State University and The Royal Shakespeare Company have had an educational partnership focused on artist residencies and teacher development programs.  Most notably,OSU has sponsored RSC's successful Stand Up for Shakespeare program here in Ohio.  This program brings Shakespeare into the classroom in a way that is accessible and fun for students.

This year, OSU has put together an exhibit called The Year of Shakespeare which runs now through April 29 in the Thompson Gallery Library.  On display are items from OSU's own Shakespeare collection as well as newly acquired artifacts from the OSU-RSC collaboration.  As a Shakespeare junky myself, I am looking forward to checking out the exhibit.

On a related note, Will and I saw the movie Anonymous today, about the real identity of Shakespeare.  A hot topic among scholars, there are many different sides to choose from in the identity debate.  Anonymous explores the idea that the Earl of Oxford was the man behind the pen.  Though a bit far fetched for my taste, it was a beautiful and well acted film.  I would recommend it mainly to see the scenes from Shakespeare's plays performed the way they were intended: bawdily and passionately.


Where do you stand?