Twelfth Night William Shakespeare Adaptation Conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah & Shaina Taub Music & Lyrics by Shaina Taub Los Altos Stage Company One early line in William Shakespeare's romantic comedy, Twelfth Night, has inspired a host of musical adaptations through the years: "If music be the food of love, play on." In 2018, New York's Public Theatre … [Read more...] about Twelfth Night
William Shakespeare
Henry V
Henry V William Shakespeare The Pear Theatre “Therefore take heed how you impawn one person, How you awake our sleeping sword of war. We charge you in the name of God, take heed; For never two such kingdoms did contend Without much fall of blood.” The King who looks squarely, calmly, and bluntly into the eyes of the Archbishop of Canterbury – a man … [Read more...] about Henry V
The Comedy of Errors
The Comedy of Errors William Shakespeare, with Modern Verse Translation by Christina Anderson American Conservatory Theater, A Touring Production by the Acting Company What a difference a week can make! A week ago, New York's touring Acting Company opened at American Conservatory Theatre a must-see, poetic play of powerful prose about a turbulent, turning point … [Read more...] about The Comedy of Errors
The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew William Shakespeare Modern Verse Translation by Amy Freed and Play On Shakespeare African-American Shakespeare Company Like his Merchant of Venice with its many antisemitic references, William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew – even for all its underlying silliness – is often viewed as a difficult work to swallow by modern audiences, given what … [Read more...] about The Taming of the Shrew
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
A Midsummer Night’s Dream William Shakespeare Shotgun Players With costumes wonderfully strange, weird, and entirely fanciful and a setting that is dark, mystical, and mysterious as a vast forest in a dream might be, Shotgun Players opens A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a cast that bends genders, mixes races, and celebrates diversity in almost every dimension possible. … [Read more...] about A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Richard II
Richard II William Shakespeare The Pear Theatre in Co-Production with Perspective Theatre Company Over four hundred years later, the plays of William Shakespeare often seem as if the Bard is writing about current events, recurring dilemmas, and a foreboding future of the 21st century. That is particularly true in 2023 as The Pear Theatre presents Richard II in a … [Read more...] about Richard II
Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night William Shakespeare Adapted by Max Tachis Palo Alto Players In his adaptation for Palo Alto Players of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Max Tachis takes the romantic comedy’s early line – “If music be the food of love, play on” – and makes a feast of it. Even before the curtain opens, a snazzy, zippy singer with eyes that twinkle and fingers that … [Read more...] about Twelfth Night
“As You Like It: A New Musical”
As You Like It: A New MusicalWilliam Shakespeare (Book & Lyrics); The Kilbanes [Kate Kilbane & Dan Moses] & Phil Wong (Music & Lyrics); Rebecca J. Ennals (Adapter)San Francisco Shakespeare FestivalRegina Morones & Michael Barrett AustinAs part of what many consider his most joyous and romantic comedy, William Shakespeare includes several songs, making the … [Read more...] about “As You Like It: A New Musical”
“La Comedia of Errors”: Day 5, Play 5, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
La Comedia of ErrorsWilliam ShakespeareBilingual Adaptation by Lydia G. Garcia & Bill Rauch of a Play On!Translation by Christina AndersonOregon Shakespeare FestivalFidel Gomez, Mark Murphey, Tony Sancho & Catherine Castellanos Slapstick comedy reigns supreme while at the same time, strong messages are pronounced in both English and Spanish about our country’s current … [Read more...] about “La Comedia of Errors”: Day 5, Play 5, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“All’s Well That Ends Well”: Day 4, Play 4, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
All’s Well That Ends WellWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalRoyer BokusCan anything actually end well in a play where for every good, there is a bad; for every show of trust, there is a betrayal of deceit; for every wise counsel, there is an insult full of biting cynicism. Opposites meet, blend, clash, fight, make love, make war, make peace. The sexes pit … [Read more...] about “All’s Well That Ends Well”: Day 4, Play 4, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Macbeth”: Day 3, Play 3, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
MacbethWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalDanforth Comins & Any Kim WaschkeHow much do we actually control our own choices and fates in the decisions we believe we are making independently, or how much do we become the puppets of others’ suggestions they have purposely implanted within us to lead us in directions they desire? In the current Oregon … [Read more...] about “Macbeth”: Day 3, Play 3, Theatre Eddys Goes to the 2019 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Caesar Maximus”
Caesar MaximusWilliam ShakespeareWe PlayersThe Cast of Circus MaximusFor anyone wondering how an electorate can switch in such a short time from electing an Obama to choosing a Trump, a re-visit of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar may send chills up the spine, especially as now being brilliantly directed by Ava Roy in a We Players adaptation entitled Caesar Maximus. In … [Read more...] about “Caesar Maximus”
“King Henry V”: Day 9, Play 9, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Henry VWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalDaniel José Molina as King Henry V“Therefore take heed how you impawn one person,How you awake our sleeping sword of war.We charge you in the name of God, take heed;For never two such kingdoms did contendWithout much fall of blood.”The King who looks squarely, calmly, and bluntly into the eyes of the Archbishop of Canterbury … [Read more...] about “King Henry V”: Day 9, Play 9, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Love’s Labor Lost”: Day 5, Play 6, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Love’s Labor LostWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalThe Musicians of Love's Labor LostA huge pink pig residing and barely fitting into the upper balcony of the Oregon Shakespeare Theatre – the space normally reserved for heavenly beings or musicians – along with a column of over-sized, silver-starred mylar ballons; a tilting quarter moon the length of a car; and … [Read more...] about “Love’s Labor Lost”: Day 5, Play 6, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
“Othello”: Day 4, Play 4, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
OthelloWilliam ShakespeareOregon Shakespeare FestivalThe Cast of OthelloWhen Director Bill Rauch decided to set the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Othelloin our time with military personnel sent to Cyprus wearing camouflage that bear “US Navy” on their uniforms, he ensured the relevance of this tragic tale to headlines we are reading even today. That the … [Read more...] about “Othello”: Day 4, Play 4, Theatre Eddys at the 2018 Oregon Shakespeare Festival
