Much Ado about Nothing?

On Saturday, March 27th, we will gather to read Shakespeare's delightful comedy, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at the Brentwood City Library on Concord Rd. We'll be in the Children's Reading room--a WONDROUS place--and it should be a delightful time. I'm musing about the correlations between MUCH ADO and LOVE'S LABOR'S. Benedict and Berowne are very similar characters, as are Beatrice and Rosaline. We read LLL in May of 2009, and since we're reading these plays in a suggested order of when they were written, it appears that Beatrice and Benedict are the products of a later stage of Shakespeare's writing. Wittier, more in sync, deeper and even more human than the previous creations. I think their match is a good one and their marriage will succeed. Not so sure about Berowne and Ros.

The next few months of Shakespeare Allowed are exciting--AS YOU LIKE IT, followed by JULIUS CAESAR followed by HAMLET.
Great plays, good times!

Join us! It's fun. =Denice
p.s. Does anybody have any ideas about where a good place to socialize after the readings might be? Downtown Nashville--within walking distance of the library--food/drinks/not too loud? Let me know and we'll start going April 3! =D

Shakespeare Allowed! at the Brentwood Library

Please join us as we read Henry the Fourth Part 2 aloud this Saturday at the Brentwood Library! 8109 Concord Road Brentwood, TN 37027

The Nashville Shakespeare Festival in partnership with the Public Libraries is hosting community readings of one of Shakespeare's plays each month. We will be at the downtown Nashville library the 1st Saturday of each month (except for July, and that will be the second Saturday) and the Brentwood library on 3rd Saturday of the month (with a few exceptions, see the website for specifics).

The purpose of these gatherings is simply to read Shakespeare's works out loud. To say and hear the words as we look at them. It's a lot of fun, it's open to the public and all readers are welcome to join us. There are 12-16 reading-aloud chairs available and ample seating for everyone else who chooses to read along.

The readings begin at 1pm and most are done by 3:30p. Reading chairs fill up quickly, so plan to arrive early. Bring your own copy of the play and some friends and come play!

For more info, see the Shakespeare Festival's website: www.nashvilleshakes.org

See you at the library!
=Denice

Teach Shakespeare However You Want -- Just Keep His Language Alive | Edutopia

I read this article today and this quote reminded me of what we're doing every month in the Shakespeare Allowed! program: "...it's probably a good idea just to let the beat go on, immersing students in the compelling rhythms of the iambs, trochees, and dactyls without, at first, slowing them with too much analysis. At least they'll encounter, if only once, a flow of speech at its most magical. At best, a seed will be planted for future fascination, when the complexities of life -- and language -- become more intriguing." That is what Shakespeare Allowed is all about for me. Just reading the words out loud. Whether it's a first encounter with the play or a revisiting of an old favorite, there is nothing like just reading the words aloud. I'm really looking forward to continuing on this journey with you! See you in February!


Teach Shakespeare However You Want -- Just Keep His Language Alive | Edutopia

Here's to 2010

Greetings, Gentle readers! We are almost half way through the canon, and I have to say that this project has been even more rewarding than I'd hoped it would be. The friendships that are building through our monthly gatherings, the insight into Shakespeare's development as a writer and the awe that his poetry inspires makes Shakespeare Allowed! one of my favorite things to do.

In February we will be starting a second monthly reading at the Brentwood library. If you miss the gathering on the 1st Saturday, come on down to Brentwood on the 3rd Saturday and catch up with us!

I'd like to initiate a social gathering after each Nashville reading (4p-6p the 1st Saturday of each month)--a time to discuss the plays we've read, get to know each other better and share news of local theater and literary happenings and other artful events. Where do you suggest we go to have some food and drink and share conversation? Email me or make a suggestion here.

See you Saturday for Henry the Fourth Part One, in which we'll once again have the pleasure of the company of Sir John Falstaff and where we'll meet the dashing young Prince Hal.

Happy New Year, Friends. =Denice

The Merchant of Venice November 14!

Ok, Shakes Alloweders, we are really and truly going to be up on the 3rd floor of the downtown Public Library on November 14th for the reading of The Merchant of Venice. Our kind hosts at the Public Library are providing us a lovely "home" room! ...with windows! and wooden furniture! The Merchant of Venice is a glorious play with superbly rich characters and some considerable comedy and controversy which I'm sure will provide great fodder for Ron's discussion Tuesday night following the reading, and for our blog here.
Bring you own copy, or borrow one from the library and I'll see you on Saturday, November 14th at 1pm in the 3rd Floor West Reading room.
In the meantime, feel free to pipe up here or email me if you have any questions or concerns.

Denice

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Join us October 3rd for Shakespeare Allowed!'s 1st birthday.

Large Group Expected for "Romeo & Juliet" Reading on September 5th

Hello all!
We are expecting a large number of people for the Shakespeare Allowed! reading of Romeo & Juliet on Saturday September 5th.
Rather than our normal reading room at the downtown library, we will be upstairs on the 2nd floor in the Story Room. (with windows!)
Come early to get a seat to read and, as always, bring your own copy of the play if you have it.

Last Weekend to See Taming of The Shrew

Stephanie Talks About Shakespeare Allowed!

September 5th, 2009 is the 12th reading at Shakespeare Allowed! Stephanie has been to every single one and she is also happy volunteer at Shakespeare in the Park.

King John August 1, 2009

Hey Shakespeare Allowed Friends!

King John is very rarely performed, but it has some of Shakespeare's most interesting characters.  Little Arthur is heartbreaking, Phillip the Bastard is positively dreamy, and John is pretty darned  pathetic.  

For those of you who saw "Shakespeare's Case," you may recognize the beautiful grief speech that Nan Gurley performed ("grief fills the room up of my absent child").  It's one of Constance's in Act III iv.  

Another wonderful aspect of this play is that it is written in 100 percent verse!  It should come trippingly on our tongues!

See you at the downtown library at 1p on Saturday!  =Denice

New Cool iPhone Ap

Cool iPhone Ap found by Nashville Shakespeare Festival's Shakespeare in the Park 2009 House Manager, Eric Ventress.

Perfect for all you Shakespeare fans that have an iPhone

All of William Shakespeare's works available to your iPhone for Free!

40 Plays in 40 Days Visits Nashville

Thank you so much for coming to Shakespeare Allowed!

Listen in and read more about one teacher's adventure into Shakespeare's plays and his visit with The Nashville Shakespeare Festival.

RII July 11!

Can't wait to read this one with you! The character of Richard rides an emotional roller coaster as he wrestles with his natural body and his body politic. Shakespeare has given him moving and profound speeches that share his inner turmoil through lavish poetry. I really love this speech (which reminds me of Chance the Gardner in Being There!) where two gardeners talk in metaphor about the tottering state of the throne:

Go, bind thou up yon dangling apricocks,

Which, like unruly children, make their sire
Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight:
Give some supportance to the bending twigs.
Go thou, and like an executioner,
Cut off the heads of too fast growing sprays,
That look too lofty in our commonwealth:
All must be even in our government.
You thus employ'd, I will go root away
The noisome weeds, which without profit suck
The soil's fertility from wholesome flowers

They go on to lament that Richard hasn't been an attentive king and has consequently been deposed by Bolingbroke.

The character of Bolingbroke has been referred to as a "Machiavellian," do you agree? Leave your comments and join the conversation!

Niccolò Machiavelli

Love's Labour's Lost

I'm especially looking forward to re-reading this one!  Harold Bloom says of it:  "...we all have particular favorites, in literature as in life, and I take more unmixed pleasure from Love's Labour's Lost than from any other Shakespearean play."  

Wow, eh?  That's some amazing praise from the man who wrote the book on the bard: "Shakespeare, the Invention of the Human."  

The surprise ending to this overtly romantic comedy is my favorite part of it.  It becomes most relevant when the veils of fondness are removed and reality takes over.  I'll be directing an edited version of this for a high school this coming fall and am excited to see how the students will choose to play the end.  (I've not done the edit, yet, so Shakespeare Allowed! will be very helpful to me in this process!)

See you at the downtown library at 1pm on Saturday, June 6th!

The Two Gents ...

The Jive! Digital Printing Question of the month:
Be the first to respond on this blog in the COMMENTS below with the correct answer and win a free T-shirt!

What theme did The Nashville Shakespeare Festival produce The Two Gentlemen of Verona at Shakespeare in the Park 2007.

Hint: check here for a photo archive of past productions!

2 Gentlemen of Verona!

This Saturday, May 2, we'll read aloud Shakespeare's comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona.  (With 2200 lines, it's almost as short as The Comedy of Errors, so we should be done by 3pm)  For me, one of the most interesting things about this play is how Shakespeare wove a thick thread of serious betrayal through a comedy: the friendship of the two young men remains intact, while the love of the young woman betrayed doesn't falter.  ...interesting.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts about how this worked and what you think Shakespeare was saying with this plot.

The Taming of the Shrew

The reading yesterday was delightful. I am continually amazed at how well just reading the words out loud without a lot of "acting" conveys the characters and plot. A couple of people have asked why I don't "cast" the readings. Switching voices prevents anybody from putting too much spin on any character, and keeps the focus on the words alone. I really like going around the circle to keep everybody involved. We're truly reading together as a community!


Jive! Digital Printing Question of the Month -- What did you notice in Saturday's reading of The Taming of The Shrew that you didn't realize before? (Leave your comment below)

First post (test)

Glad to have a place to discuss the Shakespeare Allowed readings!  

This Blog is Under Construction -

Next Discussion April 11, 2009 - Facilitated by The Nashville Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director, Denice Hicks.

Meanwhile - Check out the Press

Broadway World

The Tennessean Feature Story

Here's an interview from the November Reading!