Austin Tichenor
“Steeped in blood”: The doomed youth of Shakespeare and Stephen King
With Halloween approaching, Austin Tichenor takes a look at Stephen King and a theme he shares with Shakespeare: the often tragic fate of younger characters.
“Th’ unruly camp”: The savage Shakespearean beauty of Deadwood
Austin Tichenor dives deep into the Shakespearean character of the HBO Western Deadwood, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
“The purpose of playing”: Working with Shakespeare in Sing Sing and Ghostlight
Austin Tichenor explores how the films Sing Sing and Ghostlight show the power and healing of theater and Shakespeare, in both forceful and amusing ways.
"Merry sport": The Olympic Games are afoot!
Inspired by the Olympics, Austin Tichenor explores how Shakespeare uses sports in his plays, including as a way to show tensions between England and France.
“Speak what terrible language you will”: Shakespeare and TikTok
Austin Tichenor on whether TikTok, like Shakespeare, is adding new words and phrases.
“Without much shame retold”: Shakespeare’s sources transformed
Austin Tichenor on how Shakespeare drew from the classics, history texts, folk tales, contemporary politics, and more.
Worthy scaffold: The epic intimacy of William Shakespeare
Austin Tichenor writes about movies that feel like plays and theater that feels cinematic.
“Murder most foul”: How Shakespeare connects Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth
Austin Tichenor explores the deep connections the president and his murderer share with William Shakespeare.
“Cast in darkness": Who should play Richard III?
Austin Tichenor argues for the importance of casting disabled actors as Richard III, spotlighting Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production with Katy Sullivan in the title role.
Re-thinking "Honest Iago"
Austin Tichenor grapples with the larger question of whether Iago deserves the sympathetic re-evaluation found in Iago: The Green Eyed Monster.
How William Shakespeare invented the holiday romcom
Austin Tichenor argues that today’s holiday romantic comedies are full of recognizably Shakespearean motifs.
“What the Dickens": How Shakespeare haunts "A Christmas Carol"
Austin Tichenor unpacks Shakespeare’s influence on Charles Dickens in the beloved holiday classic A Christmas Carol.