15$ Bargain! March 27th and 28th – Love’s Labour’s Lost: Maryland Shakespeare Festival’s Experimental Bare Bard

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Jamie

The Maryland Shakespeare Festival just updated their web site this weekend, and it seems they’re doing “Love’s Labour’s Lost” on March 27th and 28th! What can I say, I love watching the Maryland Shakespeare Festival’s experimental Bare Bard series. If you do a search on this web site, you’ll see that I’ve gone to, and mentioned, the Bard Bards many many times.

So what is a Bare Bard?

“Part of MSF’s performance research, Bare Bard is great theater with out the frills!
Actors from across the country come to Frederick to tell timeless stories in our Elizabethan Play house.. costumes, fights, music… It’s all there
BUT… like in Shakespeare’s day, there is NO director, No lights and very little rehearsal! It’s all in the language, and with just 1 day… This is where ‘whose line is it’ meets ‘To be or Not to Be’ “ -  Becky Kemper

The sad part for me is, I had talked to one of the actors who’s going to be in MSF’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost” while attending the opening of Mondo Andronicus. And he told me the MSF was doing the play on the weekend of the 27th. The same weekend  I had already booked my tickets to see Henry VI at the Blackfriars in Stauntion. I had been hoping ever since he told me that, that the dates would be different, but no such luck.

Well’ My suggestion for anyone out there is, do yourself a favor and go and check out the Maryland Shakespeare Festivals “Love’s Labour’s Lost”. I personally have found the Bare Bard’s to be a fun and unique way to see Shakespeare performed. I tend to go on Sunday so I can hang around for the talk-back afterwords, but either day is a treat. Better yet’ consider going both day’s since no two performances are the same!

Oh well’  I really wish I could be there, but…

Link: http://mdshakes.com

Details: Parish Hall at All Saints Episcopal Church, 106 Church Street, Frederick Maryland. You can find directions and parking information here.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 seniors/students/military, and available at the door, online, or by calling 301.668.4090.

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CSC’s Pub Night Last Night: Shakespeare in Love, or for the Love of Shakespeare

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Jamie

Members of the Chesapeake Shakespeare staff with guest.

The  Chesapeake Shakespeare Company held their Pub Night at Bertucci’s restaurant in Columbia Maryland last night, and if you weren’t there you missed out on a great time. As the 25 or so people showed up, I could tell this was going to be interesting and fun, by the steady flow of handshakes that went out to each new person as they walked into the room. The setting was very intimate, being a small side dining room, where you had the comfortableness of facing the person in front of you, as opposed to going to a lecture hall for a discussion where your staring at the back of someone’s head.

At around 7:30 Jenny Leopold (Associate Director at CSC) started the evening with a brief introduction about the topic for the night, “Shakespeare in Love”, and then opened the floor. Now I’ve been to quite a few talk back’s and lectures after a play where the Actors and Director’s do a Q&A. These talk back’s are very informative, but the information is usually passed along in only one direction, from the artist to the audience.  But the pub night was surprisingly different as everyone had a chance to take the floor. The thoughts and idea’s flowed freely in all directions, one person’s conception, seemed to become the next person’s inspiration.

Patrick Kilpatrick in the CSC production of Hamlet - June 9th

The conversation drifted easily down the various avenues touching on “Love” in Shakespeare’s writing. From romantic love,  to brotherly love. From the  love of power, to the love of a child.  Many of these points emphasized with live readings from the plays and sonnets, from both the CSC staff, and anyone else who had something to share.

“Shakespeare in Love” turned out to be a fun and interesting theme to examine.  I have to admit I haven’t seen the movie “Shakespeare in Love”, and was relieved that it didn’t come up all night (with me being unprepared and all). But instead, I’m glad to say, it turned out to be a group of like-minded people enjoying dinner together, not only discussing Shakespeare in Love, but sharing their Love of Shakespeare.

http://www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com

Much ado about Nothing and Hamlet – Starting June 9th, 2010


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Shakespeares Birthday is Next Month: And theres always plenty going on. But where?

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Jamie

Last April there were quite a few happenings to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday in our area. There was cake and music,  lectures and dramatic readings,  and generally fun stuff for the whole family, most of it free. The only bad thing about all these events going on, was the fact I didn’t hear about them till AFTER they happened!

The problem is that most of these events weren’t really advertised. And the ones that were, you had to hunt all over the internet to find. So consider the calendar at Maryland Shakespeare as a free public service. This year I’m gonna start looking early for the event’s so they can get t posted. If you know of any events let me know and I’ll get them on the calendar for everyone else.

(The “Shakespeare Calendar” is located towards top right of this web page)

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PUB NIGHT: Tomorrow (03/10) Hosted by The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Jamie

Eduard von Grützner’s Portrait of Falstaff

The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will be hosting a “Pub Night” in Columbia Maryland.  Which according to their web site:

“Pub Nights are informal discussion groups where we sit around a local establishment and discuss some aspect of Shakespeare or classical theatre. Led by CSC members and attended by both company members and members of the general public”

The theme is “Shakespeare in Love”. I know Shakespeare is considered one of  the greatest romantic writers of all times, but “Shakespeare in Love”, makes me think of his comedies such as Much Ado about Nothing, or the Taming of the Shrew, which are amazingly hilarious takes on the lighter side of love. Here’s how I had discribed one of my favorite comedies, Twelfth Night:

” Everyone’s in love with someone, but that someone’s in love with someone else. And if you happen to be a woman dressed as a man, that get’s really confusing.”

Of course there’s the famously romantic side of Shakespeare found in the Sonnets, and plays like  Romeo and Juliet where our lovers meet, dance, and fall in love, prompting me to write:

” I was dazzled by  the way the words seem to dance and flow across the page keeping time with the music that you could almost hear.”

I have yet to go to a Pub Night as hosted by The Chesapeake Shakespeare company, so I’m definitely looking forward to checking it out tomorrow.

Here’s the link with more information: http://chesapeakeshakespeare.com/pubnights.html

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE
Hosted by CSC Associate Director Jenny Leopold
March 10, 2010 7:30 PM
Bertucci’s in Columbia, MD

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Learning Shakespeare: A Layman’s Guide – 4) Listen to the audio drama

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Jamie

Okay…

I’ve just added a new section to the Layman’s Guide covering Audio Dramas, particularly by Arkangel Productions. I’ve had some good input on this guide and have made some changes. So let me know what you think, cause the internet is my editor

Keep in mind, it’s still not complete.

“at every step I feel a deeper and deeper understanding. I know I could take a Shakespeare class first and learn everything they think I should know. But this way I’m learning by listening and watching, and thus able to form my own opinions. I remember reading that the Winter’s Tale is considered one of Shakespeare’s lesser works. Really? I love that play. I’m glad I read that opinion after seeing the play.” – The layman’s Guide.

Thanks

Link:  Learning Shakespeare: A Layman’s Guide

Filed under: bargain, DVD, essay, FREE, live play, local, maryland, MD/VA/DC Shakespeare Happenings, movie, reading, shakespeare, Shakespeare Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Learning Shakespeare: A layman’s Guide

Posted on February 28, 2010 by Jamie

I’ve had someone ask me how I got into Shakespeare, and what I do to understand a play as far as character, plot, and understanding Shakespeare’s use of language. I thought I’d just type up a short little something on the subject, but it had started to grow into something more then I intended. The more I thought about it, the more I came to believe  it deserved it’s own page, so it can grow and change with my own personal experience, as well as with others suggestions.

Here are the first two steps out of the four I use for studying a play:

Link: Learning Shakespeare: A Layman’s Guide

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The Shakespeare Factory Players: The Comedy of Errors. I would see this twice!

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Jamie

The Shakespeare Factory Players: The Comedy of Errors.

Why did I wait to see this show so late in their season. I’d have loved to have seen this performance a second time, just because of the ear to ear smile I left out of the theater with. Part of what made this such fun is that The Shakespeare Factory Players use “original staging practices”. This means the lights stay on, minimal sets are used, they play multiple parts, and they interact with the audience. Which is how Shakespeare would have done it back in the day’s of yore. This is my favorite type of theater, particularly with Shakespeare’s comedies as I am so fond of saying, “Shakespeare didn’t set out to write some high art to be viewed at a distance in some museum. He was writing “Three’s Company” for the masses.”

Which is what I felt about this performance. They completely played it up for the masses. This was the funnest version of The Comedy of Errors I have seen to date.  A big part of that was the fact that the actors all seemed to be enjoying themselves way to much, and looked like they had a lot of fun being up there.  They had an infectious humor that started on the stage and spread out to the audience. The slapstick was well timed, and they definitely didn’t shy away from the bawdiness. They also came off the stage, interacted with the audience, and pulled us into their own improbable world, letting us escape our own for those 2 plus hours.

Now mind you The Shakespeare Factory is not a huge theater company. They’re a small company doing something they obviously love. And a growing company that can use all the help they can get. So’ do yourself a favor, and go check them out and have some fun yourself. Remember, just showing up will help to keep Shakespeare alive in our area. And if you can donate a little more to The Shakespeare Factory, you’d be helping all of us out in the end.

So please free to visit them at: http://theshakespearefactory.com/

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Do you know how many Shakespeare plays you have to choose from in the DC area this week? (A shocking answer!)

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Jamie

Do you know how many Shakespeare plays you have to choose from in the DC area this week? SIX!
How cool is it to live in the Washington DC area where you get the choice of SIX Shakespeare plays performing at any one time! And at prices starting at the bargain basement price of $15.00.

Here’s the shows you can catch this week:
Richard II: (DC) Shakespeare Theater Company
Henry V: (DC) Shakespeare Theater Company
Comedy of Errors: (Baltimore MD)  The Shakespeare Factory Players
Measure for Measure: (MD) Baltimore Shakespeare Festival
And a little further out, but well worth the trip
Twelfth Night: (VA) Blackfriars Playhouse Staunton, VA
Henry VI, Part 2: (VA) Blackfriars Playhouse Staunton, VA

I’m looking forward to catching the The Shakespeare Factory Players for the first time this Saturday (Feb. 20th), performing The Comedy of Errors at the amazingly low price of $15.  I’ll also be getting my tickets within the next couple of days  to see Henry VI  at my favorite theater the Blackfriars Playhouse  in Staunton.

See the Marylandshakespeare.com calendar for more details on these and other up coming events.

Filed under: bargain, live play, local, maryland, MD/VA/DC Shakespeare Happenings, shakespeare, Shakespeare Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

DISCOUNTED TICKETS $25 Shakespeare Theatre Company: Richard II and HENRY V (I got mine!)

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Jamie

Just got this email below from the Shakespeare  Theatre Company and  snagged 2 seats to see Henry V in Row B for 50.00 for Valentines day! This will be my first time checking out this company, and what a great play to start with. I’d love to see the Richard II also, but that would imply that I’m made of money instead of a rabid Shakespeare fan.  Not to mention my schedule is all kinds of messed up.

(Also Don’t forget  The Shakespeare Factory his doing The Comedy of Errors also this Saturday for $15.00)

2010 Blizzard White Sale – all tickets $25!

Escape the snow with two of Shakespeare’s most famous and exciting history plays. As part of our 2010 Blizzard White Sale, tickets to either show are just $25 each – Richard II, tonight (February 11) at 8 p.m. or Henry V, Sunday (February 14) at 2 p.m.

Offer is valid for online sales only:

Tonight: Richard II – $25 Tickets
Sunday Matinee: Henry V – $25 Tickets

Offer valid online only. Subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offer. All sales are final, no refunds or exchanges.

Shakespeare Theatre Company
Administrative Offices
516 8th Street SE
Washington, DC 20003-2834

For tickets call 202.547.1122
or visit ShakespeareTheatre.org

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Richard II: $10 Snow Special (Normally $70.00!!!) – But stay safe

Posted on February 7, 2010 by Jamie

Just got this email (And my electricity back temporarily I think), this afternoon and I couldn’t dig myself out of the snow. I have snow drifts over 3 feet high so I am STUCK for the night, but maybe someone else might be looking for something to do.  Have fun and be safe!

Shakespeare Theatre Company

$10 Snow Day Offer for Tonight Only!

As they say in theatre, the show must go on! We invite you to join us for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. performance of Richard II with this special snow day offer of only $10 per ticket.

Richard II explores the lavish reign of King Richard as his former supporters abandon him for his charismatic cousin in a politically charged battle for the throne. Director Michael Kahn’s previous examination of this troubled leader was hailed by The New York Times as “an evening of dynamic jolts and surprises.”

Buy Online – $10 Tickets

Offer valid for tonight at 7:30 p.m. only. Subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offer or previously purchased tickets. All sales are final, no refinds or exchanges.
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Administrative Offices
516 8th Street SE
Washington, DC 20003-2834

For tickets call 202.547.1122
or visit ShakespeareTheatre.org

Filed under: bargain, live play, local, MD/VA/DC Shakespeare Happenings, shakespeare, Shakespeare Maryland | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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