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We’ve had 4 terrific readings so far this season — Romeo and Juliet, Henry VIII, All’s Well that Ends Well, and Julius Caesar.
Each reading offers a terrific opportunity to become more familiar with the work of William Shakespeare, become more knowledgeable of the plays, cull the scripts for good quotes, monologues and characters in a quick and satisfying way. We pair some of our company’s strongest actors with community members to present the language of Shakespeare clearly and effectively for our audiences. They really are a pleasant and engaging way to spend a Tuesday evening.
Our next Free Library Reading will change things up just a bit. Charles West– the man behind last year’s “Sonnet-chanted Evening” will present “Women of Will”, a collection of monologues and scenes focusing on the women’s voices in Shakespeare. Charles’ presentations at the readings are always among our most well received, so don’t miss it!
“Women of Will”. Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. Woodward Park Regional Library, 944 E Perrin at Champlain in Fresno.
And in April, South Valley Director Kristin Lyn Crase will direct Jennifer Hurd-Peterson, Michael Peterson, Faith Sidlow, and others in a reading of William Shakespeare’s ‘romance’, Cymbeline, on April 21st at 6:30 p.m.
~Heather Parish
WSF Artistic Director
Last night, another set of volunteers put together another successful reading. In fact, I have to admit that December’s Reading, directed by Erica Riggs Johnston was far more delightful than my own “Henry VIII”. She and her cast have set a very high standard for the spring play readings! The 27 audience members were very enthusiastic and several contributed to an impromptu Q&A immediately following the reading. All in all it was a lovely night.
~Heather Parish
AD
The recording of the Reading can be downloaded here. All’s Well that Ends Well Reading
Featured in this reading were Gabriela Lawson (Helena), Miles Villanueva (Bertram), Jay Parks (Parolles), GJ Thelin (Widow/Clown), Amelia Ryan (Countess), Suzanne Grazyna (Diana), and many other talented actors and community volunteers.
Last night I was in the lobby of the Severance Building, greeting patrons at the Complete Works (Abridged). The house hadn’t opened yet, so patrons were milling about and reading their programs. I overheard a couple comment to each other how “interesting it is that they do a reading every month at a library. What a good idea!”. Another couple pointed out the Readings to each other, and finally a mother and a teenaged boy (who was taking AP English Lit in school) came up to me and asked for more specifics on the Readings.
After the show, a group of older patrons who had attended our shows in the Park asked about the Readings. “Is it new? Did you just begin them?”
After one night of all of these questions, it became clear that the Readings need to be addressed more publicly! They are one of our best, most consistent programs for the community, as well as our longest standing (WSF instituted the Readings with the Fresno County Library during its first year).
So, here’s the skinny:
Every third Tuesday of the month from October to April, Woodward Shakespeare Festival offers a Staged Reading of a play. Most of the plays are Shakespeare, but this year we’re adding one non-Shakespearean classic play to the cycle.
The casts of the Readings are a combination of regular WSF company members and community volunteers. The directors are often artists who want to develop their skills ‘in the room’ with actors and who truly enjoy working on classic texts. The casts meet for only six to eight hours prior to the reading to rehearse and incorporate the most basic of blocking. The emphasis of the Readings is to focus on the language of the scripts and appreciate the story in its own right– independent of formal theatrical staging, directorial concepts, or production values.
WSF maintains a list of volunteers who are interested in participating and we are committed to casting those volunteers at least once during our cycle. They often get cast more than once, though. The Readings have also been an open door for people who have wanted to try acting but don’t yet have the confidence to audition for a show or people interested in becoming involved with the Festival.
The Fresno County Library hosts the evening, usually in Woodward Park Regional Library’s Story Room where refreshments are served and the audience gets a chance to read along with the actors (copies of the scripts are available). It is all very informal and non-threatening. If time permits after a reading, we often hold a 10 minute talk-back Q & A between the actors and the audience
And this year, as our offerings become stronger, the audience participation has grown. Our first two readings welcomed between 30 and 40 patrons, many of whom stayed after to discuss the Readings with the actors and ask how they can become involved.
And, of course, in keeping with WSF’s mission to make the works of Shakespeare accessible to all, there is no admission charge for the Readings. They are completely FREE.
OUR UPCOMING READINGS:
Our December Reading is right around the corner. All’s Well that End’s Well will be presented this Tuesday evening, December 16th at 6:30 p.m. at the Woodward Park Library. A remarkably fresh and insightful comment on journeys, transformation, and female empowerment, the play is about a young woman’s quest to win her reluctant husband’s love, attention, and a very special ring. This Reading is directed by Erica Riggs Johnston and features previous WSF Company Members Gabriela Lawson (Macbeth, Twelfth Night), Jay Parks (Macbeth, Hamlet), and Miles Villanueva (Iago in Othello).
Our Spring, 2009 Readings include Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 1775 comedy of manners The Rivals directed by Heather Parish, Julius Caesar directed by Yosef Mahmood (tentative), Charles West’s follow up to his successful 2008 reading “Sonnet-chanted Evening” entitled “Women of Will”, and then Cymbeline directed by Kristin Lyn Crase.
So come by and check out the Library Readings. They’re fun, informal, and a great way to become familiar with the classic plays of the Bard (and others) and with The Woodward Shakespeare Festival.
Heather Parish
Artistic Director, WSF
What’s in a ring? The Woodward Shakespeare Festival presents a Library Reading of William Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well this Tuesday evening, December 16th. A remarkably fresh and insightful comment on journeys, transformation, and female empowerment, the play is about a young woman’s quest to win her reluctant husband’s love, attention, and a very special ring.
Directed by Erica Riggs Johnston, the reading will feature a cast of WSF actors and community volunteers. It is produced by WSF in association with the Fresno County Libraries and admission is FREE.
All’s Well that Ends Well Reading
Woodward Park Regional Library
944 E Perrin at Champlain, Fresno
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
6:30 p.m.
Free.
” I laughed so hard I made my eye-makeup run with crying.”
“Those three guys are hilarious! I’ve never had so much fun with the name Shakespeare associated with it.”
“That. Was. AWESOME!”
And, in a Facebook message: “My friends saw it on Saturday and said it was INSANELY good. Congrats! My wife and I will be there next weekend.”
Last month’s Library Reading of Romeo and Juliet drew over 40 people. We, at WSF, knew it would be a popular one, what with the content and the fact that the Tabers of Theatre Ventoux were helming. We were pleased to start of our 5th cycle of readings with such a bang.
But Quel Suprise! when we opened our doors for the little known Henry VIII and greeted another 40 audience members! As director of the reading, I knew that the talent would be a draw, but I expected perhaps 10 people– 15 if we were really successful. Nothing prepared me for a room full of patrons eager to hear the story of the infamous monarch and his first two wives.
But the evening was a success! Charles West intro’d the piece and the humor, wit, and ability of Mike and Jen Peterson, Gabriela Lawson, GJ Thelin, Ricci Mazzuca and a host of others really brought this Reading off well!
Also new to this season: Look for our Podcast Category on this blog (coming soon). Each month’s reading will be recorded and posted here as a podcast, just in case you miss a reading. But don’t!. . . nothing compares to being in the room with the actors as they interpret these characters.
Don’t miss next month’s reading of All’s Well that Ends Well, the romantic comedy with one of Shakespeare’s most winsome heroines! (December 18th at the Woodwar Park Library, 6:30).
~Heather Parish, Artistic Director
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- Ricci Mazzuca (Wolsey), Michael Peterson (Henry VIII), Jennifer Hurd-Peterson (Catherine)
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- Amelia Ryan (Norfolk) and Gabriela Lawson (Buckingham)
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- Casey Ballard (Anne Bullen) and Candace Metzler (Attendant, behind)
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
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!
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!
The following is the list of artists we have booked for our gallery and pre-show features during the run of Hamlet (August 14- September 13). The WSF is a part of a rich and diverse artistic community in Fresno and we are happy to give these artists the opportunity to show their work to our audiences.
Th August 14: Artist: John Sanchez Photography
Pre-show: Dr. Craig Bernthal of CSUFresno with a discussion on “Hamlet”
Fri August 15 : Artist: John Sanchez Photography
Pre-show: Tanjora Tribal Bellydance
Sat August 16: Artist:
Pre-show: Megan Bohigian, poet, with a discussion on the Sonnets of Shakespeare and their modern forms.
Thu August 21: Artist:
Pre-show: TBA
Fri August 22 : Artist:
Pre-show:
Sat August 23: Artist: Christine DeLaHofer
Pre-show: Pipe on the Hob Celtic Music
Thu August 28: Artist: Terrance McArthur
Pre-show: Dr. Craig Bernthal
Fri August 29: Artist: Terrance McArthur
Pre-show:Tanjora Tribal Bellydance
Sat August 30: Artist: Lupe Posada
Pre-show: Peter Moerdyk (tentative)
Thu September 4: Artist:
Pre-show: Tanjora Tribal Bellydance
Fri September 5: Artist: Inez Zuniga
Pre-show:
Sat September 6 : Artist: Gail Daley
Pre-show: The Knuckledraggers or Tanjora Tribal Bellydance TBA
Thu September 11: Artist: Inez Zuniga
Pre-show:
Fri September 12 : Artist: Katheryn Pedroza; Christine DeLaHofer
Pre-show: Jeremy Hofer and his band
Sat September 13: Artist: Katheryn Pedroza; Diego Monterrubio
Pre-show:The Knuckledraggers
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