The Shakespeare & Beyond blog features a wide range of Shakespeare-related topics: the early modern period in which he lived, the ways his plays have been interpreted and staged over the past four centuries, the enduring power of his characters and language, and more.
Shakespeare & Beyond also explores the topics that shape our experience of Shakespeare today: trends in performance, the latest discoveries and scholarship, news stories, pop culture, interesting books, new movies, the rich context of theater and literary history, and more. As the word “beyond” suggests, from time to time Shakespeare & Beyond also covers topics that are not directly linked to Shakespeare.
Every month, we share a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America. Which plays are opening this month? We check in with our theater partners.
Colorado Shakespeare Festival has completed the canon for the second time since its inaugural season. See which other theaters have completed the canon.
Shakespeare, improvisation, and the art of rhetoric
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Author
Shakespeare & Beyond
Shakespeare characters like Viola and Iago are masters of improvisation, says Folger Director Michael Witmore in this excerpt from the 2017 Shakespeare’s Birthday Lecture.
Rosalind: Shakespeare's Immortal Heroine - an excerpt
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Author
Esther French
Read an excerpt from “Rosalind: Shakespeare’s Immortal Heroine” by Angela Thirlwell, in which she traces the performance history of “As You Like It” and interviews famous actresses who have played this role onstage.
“Is it hip-hop or is it Shakespeare?” Learn more about Akala and how he uses hip-hop to spread an understanding of the relevance of Shakespeare’s poetry.
Two Shakespearean actors, a book, and a biographer corrected
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Author
Sarah Hovde
Famous Shakespearean actress Ellen Terry (1847-1928) took the liberty of correcting certain biographical errors in a book about her friend Henry Irving.
Hey nonny nonny! Shakespeare’s plays are filled with music. Using some context clues, can you match the songs to the plays in which they appear? Happy playing!
