It’s been an all-time busy month, and as a result I’ve got several productions running NOW that you can check out if you’re around New York!
All the Daughters of Viola’s House
Upcoming: August 6
Conceal me what I am…
Through monologue, scene, and tableau, All the Daughters of Viola’s House explores the variety and evolution of “breeches roles” in classical theatre. Performed by an ensemble of three female+ artists, this hour-long piece weaves together text and moments from Viola’s journey through Twelfth Night and other beloved Shakespearean examples, as well as fascinating variations on the trope from female+ dramatists such as The Frolicks by Elizabeth Polwhele (1671) and A Bold Stroke for a Husband by Hannah Cowley (1783). How will this fadge?? Join us as we probe the social and gender commentary wound within this popular theatrical device and celebrate the range and power of these daring characters, iconic and lesser-known alike.
Jumping off from the So Many Shakespeares Festival’s theme of Twelfth Night, it’s been a delight to bring my Shakespeare roots and my Expand the Canon work together in the same project. We’ve loved sharing favorite texts and introducing new ones to our audiences so far! We have one performance remaining in this run, although this is definitely a show I’d like to return to and expand in the future.
Fools in the Forest
Upcoming: August 3, 8, 16
Holla, you clown!
Ever wondered what would happen if the exiled ladies and fools of As You Like It never reconnected with the Duke and his lords? In fact, what if the male love interests of the play vanished altogether? Fools in the Forest reframes the sparkling comedy and wry commentary of Shakespeare’s text to focus more intimately on the most witty, unconventional, and fascinating figures of Arden: Rosalind, Celia, Touchstone, Jaques, and Phebe. In a tight one-hour romp performed by an ensemble of five, this reimagined story becomes a tale of finding community, opening yourself up to new connections and new adventures, and – as always – hanging a great deal of letters on trees.
As All the Daughters wraps, Fools gets going— with our run at Frigid New York’s Little Shakespeare Festival beginning this Saturday. Inspired by this year's festival theme of Camaraderie and Community, this show is all about bringing together a group of delightfully unique and comedic characters and promises to be a ton of fun. We hope to see you there!
On the Air
Not in NYC? Busy rehearsing for other shows? I also have several audio offerings coming your way that you can stream any time!
As part of press for The Little Shakespeare Festival, I got to participate in an interview for the Stage Whisper podcast with some of the other directors and performers. We discuss our upcoming productions, but also have an incredible conversation about unconventional approaches to classical theatre. This chat was such a delight, and a great reminder of why we do what we do!
Another season of the Premiere the Play podcast begins weekly releases this week, presenting free audio productions of a diverse selection of new plays. My play, The Puck Project, is (continuing the theme of the summer) a Shakespeare-inspired romantic comedy releasing August 20.
I’ve been alluding to it for a while, but we’re putting the final touches on our crowdfunding campaign and then the Fireweeds pilot episode will be arriving in your podcast feeds shortly!
July Highlights & Recommendations
Favorite media and performances from the past month:
Reading Medusa’s Sisters by Lauren J.A. Bear
Watching My Lady Jane (Amazon) and the Paris Olympics
Stopping through New Jersey very quickly to catch the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ’s summer productions of As You Like It and The Book of Will
So glad to catch Cringe as part of 59E59’s East to Edinburgh, and I hope to catch a few performances of the annual SheNYC Festival coming up!
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