Romeo and Juliet Reading at the Library

WSF opened up its fifth season of Shakespeare Readings at the Library with the perennial favorite, Romeo and Juliet. This popular play brought 40 people to hear it at the Woodward Park Regional Library last night. And several of the readers were involved in our production of Romeo and Juliet in our inaugural season! Here are some photos:

Director Lisa Taber welcomes our guests

Michael Peterson reads the Chorus' Prologue

Stephen Torres as Romeo and Taylor Johnson as Benvolio

Stephen Torres, Matt Otstot (Mercutio), and Taylor Johnson

WSF Newsletter Quiz #3: October, 08

First, a correction.  In the “Coined by Shakespeare” column this month, we said Joan la Pucelle appeared in Henry IV, when in fact she appeared in Henry VI.  Thanks to the sharp eyes of an anonymous reader for keeping us honest!

And now, the Quiz:

The Shakespeare Quiz: Time of the Monarchs

Shakespeare’s history plays take their titles from the names of the ruling monarchs. Using the list of names below, rearrange them in the chronological order in which these Kings reigned.

Henry IV

Henry V

Henry VI

Henry VIII

John

Richard II

Richard III

Extra Credit: Shakespeare scholars sometimes include another history play, Edward III, among the playwright’s works. Chronologically, where does King Edward III belong in the list above?

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HERE ARE YOUR ANSWERS! (For perspective:  Shakespeare was born in 1564 and died in 1616 and Queen Elizabeth I reigned from 1558-1603. )

1.  King John (reign:  1199-1216)

2.  Richard II (reign:  1377-1399

3.  Henry IV (reign:  1399-1413)

4.  Henry V (reign:  1413-1422)

5.  Henry VI (reign:  1422-1461 and from 1470-1471)

6.  Richard III (reign:  1483-1485)

7.  Henry VIII (reign:  1509-1547)

Extra Credit

The reign of Edward III was from 1327-1377 and falls chronologically between the reigns of King John and Richard II.

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from the Bardosphere: October 12

The Simpsons Go Shakespearean
 

Bard’s genius slips through prison bars
The Seattle Times

 

And Helen Mirren has been tapped to play Prospero(a) in a screen version of The Tempest currently in production under helms-woman, Julie Taymore (director of “Frida” and writer of “Across the Universe”). Set amid the persecution of female alchemists in the 16th and 17th centuries, the film is also slated to star Jeremy Irons, Alfred Molina, and Geoffrey Rush. The film is currently in pre-production and is expected to release in the fall of 2009.  
~Source:   Internet Movie Database.

"Miranda" by 19th century pre-Raphaelite master JW Waterhouse