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Shakespeare & Beyond

Shakespeare onstage in November and December

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Celebrated Stratford Festival performer Dion Johnstone portrays trailblazing African-American actor Ira Aldridge, whose Othello shocked nineteenth-century London, in Chicago Shakespeare’s Red Velvet, directed by Gary Griffin, in the Courtyard Theater, December 1, 2017–January 21, 2018. Photo by Jeff Sciortino.
Celebrated Stratford Festival performer Dion Johnstone portrays trailblazing African-American actor Ira Aldridge, whose Othello shocked nineteenth-century London, in Chicago Shakespeare’s Red Velvet, directed by Gary Griffin, in the Courtyard Theater, December 1, 2017–January 21, 2018. Photo by Jeff Sciortino.

Every month, we share a snapshot of Shakespeare in performance around America. Let’s check in with our theater partners with Shakespeare plays onstage in November and December: the Atlanta Shakespeare Company at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Folger Theatre, Nebraska Shakespeare, The Old Globe, Portland Shakespeare Project, Shakespeare in Detroit, Southwest Shakespeare Company.

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company

Twelfth Night (Nov 4-26)

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Red Velvet (Dec 1-Jan 21)

“In 1833 at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, Edmund Kean, the greatest actor of his age, collapses on stage while performing the lead in Othello. He is replaced by a young, black actor, Ira Aldridge—a first for the role on London’s West End. As a bill in Parliament promoting the abolition of slavery sends shock waves through the streets, how will London react to his performance?”

Read an introduction by Ayanna Thompson.

Folger Theatre

Antony and Cleopatra (closes Nov 19)

Nebraska Shakespeare

Nebraska Shakespeare presents Richard II (Nov 19) as part of its director reading series.

The Old Globe

Romeo and Juliet (Nov 11-19)

Globe for All: Twelfth Night (Nov 19)

Portland Shakespeare Project

Pericles Wet (Dec 1-17)

“Pericles Wet is a contemporary and visceral reimagining of a poignant fable, inspired by William Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre. When Pericles, a young prince, vies for the hand of a neighboring princess, he recognizes in her father’s riddle a coded secret. Facing certain death if he reveals this dark secret, Pericles flees, abandoning Princess Hesperides, who sees in his departure the loss of her last hope. While she comforts herself with empty curses, Pericles carries a burden of guilt with him as he travels the world and encounters adventures, silly, romantic and chilling.”

Shakespeare in Detroit

Shakespeare in Detroit presents a staged reading of Othello (Dec 9) as part of its winter reading series.

Southwest Shakespeare Company

Twelfth Night (Dec 1-3)

This production will be staged at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Learn more about the Folger Shakespeare Library’s theater partnership program.

Shakespeare & Beyond

Comments

Dion Johnstone is one of Stratford’s finest. A few years ago, when the festival was casting “Hamlet,’ we wanted Dion to have the part. He’s that good!

Janet Young — November 17, 2017