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Austin Tichenor

is the co-artistic director of the Reduced Shakespeare Company; a writing and acting coach at The Shakespeareance; the co-author of ten stage comedies, including William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) and The Comedy of Hamlet! (a prequel); the co-creator of the illustrated children’s books Pop-Up Shakespeare and Daisy, the Littlest Zombie; a contributor to The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Shakespeare and Shakespearean Biofiction on the Contemporary Stage and Screen (from Arden Shakespeare); and the host of the world’s oldest and longest-running theater podcast, the Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast.
A witty Fool and foolish wit: Christopher Moore’s Pocket Chronicles
Shakespeare and Beyond

A witty Fool and foolish wit: Christopher Moore’s Pocket Chronicles

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Austin Tichenor

Austin Tichenor writes about Christopher Moore’s trio of comic novels, which follow the fool from King Lear as he interacts with other Shakespeare characters.

“Haunt me still”: Shakespeare’s ghosts
a ghostly man with a white beard and light behind him
Shakespeare and Beyond

“Haunt me still”: Shakespeare’s ghosts

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Austin Tichenor

Austin Tichenor explores the powerful theatricality of Shakespeare’s ghosts, among whom the most famous is probably Hamlet’s father.

The Shakespearean parts of “Barbenheimer”
Shakespeare and Beyond

The Shakespearean parts of “Barbenheimer”

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Austin Tichenor

Austin Tichenor explores how Barbie and Oppenheimer wrestle with Shakespearean themes of identity, hubris, and redemption.

Shakespeare and gaming in "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow"
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Shakespeare and Beyond

Shakespeare and gaming in "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow"

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Austin Tichenor

Austin Tichenor reflects on the Shakespeare allusions and storytelling world in Gabrielle Zevin’s bestselling novel.

All things Shakespearean
Shakespeare and Beyond

All things Shakespearean

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Austin Tichenor

Dynastic power struggles, political intrigue, and forbidden love: Austin Tichenor looks at “Shakespearean” as a popular cultural shorthand.

“By false intelligence": AI, ChatGPT, and (the) Bard
Shakespeare and Beyond

“By false intelligence": AI, ChatGPT, and (the) Bard

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Austin Tichenor

Austin Tichenor finds that AI does not quite measure up to William Shakespeare when he asks ChatGPT and Bard to write a new play called “Cardenio.”

“The book of his good acts”: Shakespeare’s First Folio onstage and on the page
Austin Tichenor as Richard Burbage
Shakespeare and Beyond

“The book of his good acts”: Shakespeare’s First Folio onstage and on the page

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Austin Tichenor

Marking the 400th anniversary of the First Folio, Austin Tichenor compares The Book of Will, Lauren Gunderson’s popular play about the Folio’s creation, with new research shared by Chris Laoutaris in Shakespeare’s Book.

“They do me wrong”: Reputation, Richard III, and The Lost King
Man wearing a crown and dressed in a royal robe sitting on a bench next to a woman dressed in modern clothing
Shakespeare and Beyond

“They do me wrong”: Reputation, Richard III, and The Lost King

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Austin Tichenor

Shakespeare’s play Richard III turns real people into fictional villains, as does a new movie about the search for Richard III’s remains, writes Austin Tichenor.

Proving a villain: Problematic Shakespearean mentors
Tom Hanks looking mean and holding a cigar
Shakespeare and Beyond

Proving a villain: Problematic Shakespearean mentors

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Austin Tichenor

Austin Tichenor writes about the problematic protagonists of the Oscar-nominated films Elvis and Tár, who evoke Shakespeare’s Richard III as they seek to control their respective narratives.

“Wanton boys": Shakespeare and The White Lotus Season 2
Two female characters in a scene from The White Lotus
Shakespeare and Beyond

“Wanton boys": Shakespeare and The White Lotus Season 2

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Austin Tichenor

Austin Tichenor writes a blog post about how, like many of Shakespeare’s plays, the HBO series The White Lotus explores power among the privileged and the people who attend them.

“All I Want For Crispin’s:” Mya Gosling’s Shakespearean Holiday Songbook
Shakespeare and Beyond

“All I Want For Crispin’s:” Mya Gosling’s Shakespearean Holiday Songbook

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Austin Tichenor
Combating Shakespearean shrinkage
Shakespeare and Beyond

Combating Shakespearean shrinkage

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Austin Tichenor
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