The Coming Autumn at WSF

Woodward Shakespeare closed our 2008 season a week ago and our board, staff, and crew have taken the final phrase “the rest is silence” literally (well, except for Laura who is in data-entry hell as she logs in new names and e-mail addresses to our newsletter database). But not for long!

In the past, WSF has taken the autumn following a season slowly; the overwhelmingly intense summer often takes the wind out of us.  But this year, after only a brief downcurve, we’re gearing up for our next producing year come the beginning of October.

Just this fall we have lined up:

• Shakespeare Reading at the Woodward Library: Romeo and Juliet, directed by Greg Taber.  October 21st. 6:30 p.m.
• A WSF Bookfair at Barnes and Noble in Fresno on November 1 & 2.  (Proceeds from the Bookfair go towards next season’s free productions in the Park).
• Staged Sonnets and Monologues at the Opening of the New Fresno Met on Sunday, November 16th from Noon- 1:30 p.m.  Directed by Charles West.
• Shakespeare Reading at the Woodward Library:  Henry VIII, directed by Heather Parish.  November 18th.  6:30 p.m.
• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)- our first off-season production.  December 5, 6, 12, 13. 8 p.m.  Cal-Arts Severance.  Directed by Daniel Moore with Brandon Petrie and James Hume.  Opening Night Champagne Reception at 6:45 p.m.  $25.  Regular ticket price:  $15.

I think that’ll keep us busy for a while!

from the Bardosphere: Week of September 15

The outdoor theatre at the Getty Villa deals with a noisy neighbor, too!
NY Times, September 12, 2008

A recent interview by the Guardian UK with playwright Tom Stoppard

And the talk about David Mamet’s ‘conversion’ to Conservativism continues at  the following blogs and with his revisionist take on his play, “Speed the Plow”:

http://bubblegum-cinephile.blogspot.com/2008/09/big-knife-in-gray-lady.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2008/mar/13/davidmamet

http://www.georgehunka.com/blog/index.cgi/2008/09/08#nytimes_080908

Newsletter Quiz #1 & #2– Answers

Answers for the Quiz in the July WSF Newsletter and the September WSF Newsletter.  Would you like to receive our E-Newsletter?  Click Here to Sign Up!

September, 2008:  First Lines  ANSWERS!!!

The first lines of five Shakespearean tragedies follow.  Name the correct title of each play with its opening speech. Extra credit if you can name the speaker.

1.  “When shall we three meet again?/In thunder, lightning, or in rain?”  MACBETH- First Witch

2.  “Two households, both alike in dignity, /in fair Verona, where we lay our scene. . . . ” ROMEO & JULIET– The Chorus

3.  “Before we proceed any further, hear me speak.”  CORIOLANUS– First Citizen

4.  “Who’s there?” HAMLET– Bernardo

5.  “Hence!  Home, you idle creatures, get you home!”  JULIUS CAESAR– Flavius, a Roman tribune.

July, 2008:  Truth vs. Tradition ANSWERS!!!

The following are twelve of the most common assertions about the life and work of William Shakespeare. Identify each of these Shakespeare statements as either “truth” or “tradition” depending upon the scholarly proof available for the statements.

1. Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564. TRADITION
2. Shakespeare attended Stratford’s grammar school. TRADITION
3. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. TRADITION
4. Shakespeare moved to London in 1592. TRADITION
5. Shakespeare retired to Stratford in 1613. TRADITION
6. Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616. TRADITION
7. Shakespeare’s first play was 1 Henry VI. TRADITION
8. Shakespeare’s first poem was “Venus and Adonis”. TRADITION
9. Shakespeare wrote 37 plays. TRADITION
10. Shakespeare’s final play was The Tempest. TRADITION
11. Shakespeare was the co-author of several plays. TRADITION
12. Shakespeare wrote his own epitaph. TRADITION

from the Bardosphere: Week of September 8

Talking Point at The Next Stage:  Bertholt Brecht

A couple of articles on how young artists get established:
Theatre Ideas
Lyn Gardner @ the Guardian UK

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival Commissions a ten-year, 37-play American History Cycle.

English poet strikes back with Shakespeare when her poem is banned

Nelson’s new play How Shakespeare Won the West a “darkish Valentine to the theatre.”

Sarah Bernhardt as Hamlet in 1899.

Exciting Line-Ups for our Pre-Shows

Next Weekend WSF is pleased to host

Jeremy Hofer and his Pre-Shakespeare Musical Jam on Thursday, September 11th
Jeremy Hofer (Vocals, Guitar, flutes, percussion), Kyle Oakes (Bass, Didjeridoo), and Rowan Hernandez (Percussion) will be opening for the Shakespeare Fest with a blend of worldbeat, reggae, conscious lyric and spoken word poetry – with special guest Tim Z. Hernandez.

and

The Knuckledraggers Award Winning Comedy Improv Group on Saturday, September 13th.
Who’s Line is it Anyway style improv for families and groups.  Clean, PG13 comedy!

Check our postings for Artists presenting during the run of Hamlet post for updates!

Online Reading for the Week of Sept 1st.

A few articles from around the Bardosphere we found interesting this week:

Why Amateur No Longer Means Amateurish. . . . Guardian UK
Amateur v. Pro:  does it matter anymore?

Smells Like Teen Spirit at the National. . . . . Guardian UK
Are cheap tickets enough to draw young people to the theatre?

Shakespeare Playhouse Uncovered in Shoreditch. . . . Telegraph.co.uk
Remnants of The Theatre pinpoints the location of the first official theatre in London.

And our fun Shakespeare Site this week:  The Folger Shakespeare Library