The Taming of the Shrew

Shakespeare and Company presents William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew outdoors at the Mount,  Edith Wharton’s Home in Lenox, MA through August 17. Seeing these outdoor productions is always a delight. For some of us who remember the early days of Shakespeare and Company, these productions bring  happy memories of the days when the company was in residence at The Mount.  Looking at the families sitting on the green hillside, it is clear that new memories of Shakespeare productions out of doors are being created. The Taming of the Shrew is a challenging play which Bob and I discuss. That, however, does not diminish the pleasure of this production.

Click the link for our discussion.  Discussion of The Taming of the Shrew

Listen to director Kelly Galvin share her thoughts  Kelly Galvin on Taming of the Shrew

Then click on the Shakespeare and Company website or call 413-637- 3353 for tickets.

 

 

 

 

 

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night plays at Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, MA through August 4th. This is one of Shakespeare’s most produced comedies. It is always delightful, no matter how many times   you see it.  For a play that starts with the line, “If music be the food of love, play on,”it seems appropriate that this production is filled with music. Set at the seaside in 1959, the play once again shows Shakespeare as a playwright for all times. The set, the costumes, the music reflect a particular time as well as all times. This Fifties were  when, as director Allyn Burrows points out, music was enjoying a new energy. Like the music, this production is vibrant and engaging. Click below to hear what Bob and I have to say about it.

Twelfth Night Discussion

Then click on Shakespeare and Company’s website or call  413-637-3353 for tickets and more information about the season.

For other views visit Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

Twelfth Night Video

 

Bryce Michael Wood, Gregory Boover and Ella Loudon

 

Steven Barkhimer, Nigel Gore, Gregory Boover

 

Gregory Boover, Steven Barkhimer and Miles Anderson

 

As You Like It

As You Like It runs  from August 9 to September 2 at Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, Massachusetts. As You like It is a play that delights the first time you see it and the tenth time you see it. This version sounds particularly enticing since it is set in the early twenties in Shakespeare and Company’s  outdoor Roman Garden Theatre at five o’clock in the evening. Last year’s production of The Tempest was in the same location at the same time of day and was a delight.  If it does rain, the production will move to the tented Rose Theatre.

Govane Lohbauer

It is not only the actors that create the magic of theatre. Besides Shakespeare, there are many other talents that make plays come alive. Bob and I had the pleasure of interviewing Govane Lohbauer. whose costumes have enhanced many productions at Shakespeare and Company, and Jim Youngerman, skilled set designer, both of whom are helping bring this production  to life..

           Jim Youngerman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click below to listen to the interview

Interview with Govane Lohbauer and Jim Youngerman

Video, Director Allyn Burrows discussing the play

For tickets click on the web site below

Shakespeare and Company web site

For reviews of this and other plays click below

Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

 

 

Macbeth

Shakespeare and Company presents  Macbeth until August 5. Performances of this play are always exciting. Our interview with cast members Thomas Brazzle and  Deaon Griffin-Pressley indicates that this production will offer fresh insights into the play. Some plays become classics because they speak to each new generation freshly.  This is the joy if seeing different productions of such a play.

We spoke to Thomas and Deaon while they were still in rehearsal. Listen to  them  by clicking below.

Interview with Thomas Brazzle and Deaon Griffin-Pressley

Then click below for tickets and more information.

Shakespeare and Company website

To read what others thought click below for some reviews.

Berkshire Theatre Critics Association

 

 

King Lear- A Timeless Play

Dennis Krausnick as King Lear

Before Bob and I started our blog, we had a radio program that started in 2011 and which just ended this past September. When we started our blog, we felt that our interviews with theatre people reached a wider audience and also allowed us to provide supplemental materials. However, we regretted that so many of the wonderful interviews we had recorded earlier remained in the radio archives. We are now reposting some of them because the insights theatre people gave us were not limited to the particular productions we were discussing.

One of those programs that was always most vivid in our memories was our interview with Dennis Krausnick, Kevin Coleman and Jonathan Croy about their production of King Lear. King Lear has always been a favorite of mine. It was one of the first Shakespeare productions I saw in my life of theatre going. When I was at Bennington College I co-taught a three week unit on King Lear with a member of the literature faculty and a member of the drama faculty. Besides seeing many theatrical productions of Lear, I have also watched every film and television production of the play available. Yet this interview remains the most memorable of many discussions of Lear over the years.

King Lear Interview 2012

 

Dennis Krausnick as Lear and Kevin Coleman as The Fool

 

Jonathan Croy as Gloucester

 

Shakespeare and Company’s Northeast Regional Tour

Each year since 1982, Shakespeare and Company sends out a tour to regional schools  of two ninety minute Shakespeare plays. Schools select one of the two plays. Besides the ninety minute performance of the play, there is a fifteen minute talkback with the cast and one of two workshops that are included.  Since there are a few  performances at the Tina Packer Playhouse in Lenox, Massachusetts,  Bob and I have seen some performances of these plays. Like the company’s Fall Festival, seeing the plays with an audience of students is exciting. Their responses are infectious.

Early in the tour, Bob and I interviewed four of the players. They had already completed  a few performances of Othello and listening to them talk about what the tour was like offered insight about the tour and its impact on the students. The actors we spoke with were David Bertokli, Alison Howard, Kirsten Peaccock and Kai Tshikosi

Click below to hear the interview.

School Tour Interview

The schedule of the performances at the Tina Packer Playhouse are listed below. Click on the Shakespeare and Company website for tickets and more information.

Shakespeare and Company Website

At The Tina Packer Playhouse:

Friday, March 2nd: Othello

Monday, March 26th: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Monday, April 2nd: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Thursday, April 12th: Othello

Wednesday, May 2nd: Othello

Friday, May 4th: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

 

All performances are at 10:00 am, run for 90 minutes, and are followed by an optional 15-minute talkback with the actors.

Tickets are $10/student.

Shakespeare and Company’s 2018 Season

After a successful first season  as Artistic Director of Shakespeare and Company, Allyn Burrows  announced the 2018 Season. Allyn spoke with us about the plays and the process of putting  a season together. He is  finalizing the casting, but  has excellent directors lined up and a variety of intriguing plays.  In addition to the plays by Shakespeare, the season includes contemporary plays that address  issues that reflect the season’s theme, Delight, Deceit and Desire.

While waiting for the new season to start, over the Valentine’s weekend Shakespeare and Company is offering a reading of Lovers’ Spat: Two directed by Allyn. It is a series of scenes performed by  members of the Company. There are only two performances, Saturday, February 17 at  7 pm,. and  Sunday, February 18 at 2 pm.

As with most theatres in our area, Shakespeare and Company has a variety of ways to make theatre affordable. Flex Passes are available until April 20. Berkshire residents receive a special discount.

Click below for our interview.

Shakespeare and Company’s 2018 Season Interview

Click below to see a video Allyn Burrows made of the season.

Shakespeare and Company Season Video

Click below for the website

Shakespeare and Company website

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The last performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Mount in Lenox, MA is August 19. There is a magic seeing this play out of doors, whether  it is early in the morning or later in the day. The comedy includes a mix-up of young lovers, sprites and rude mechanicals. The play is concluding a run that started in the middle of July. The cast features a mix of Shakespeare & Company veterans and newcomers.  Bob and I were fortunate to interview Jonathan Croy, c0-director of the play, who brings insight that is the result of being involved as a director or actor with the play seventeen times.

After listening to the interview, by clicking on the link below

Interview with Jonathan Croy

Click on the the web site Shakespeare.org 

or call Shakespeare & Company’s box office at (413) 637-3353 to find the dates and times of the performances of this family friendly show. There are not many performances left and you don’t want to miss this delightful comedy.

Cymbeline

          Tamara Hickey and Thomas Brazzle

William Shakespeare’s infrequently performed play Cymbeline is at Shakespeare & Company’s Tina Packer Playhouse in Lenox, MA until August 6. This is the first time the play has been performed on the    company’s main stage  as well as the first time Tina Packer, founding Artistic Director of the company, has directed it. Bob and I had never seen a  performance of the play so we were eager to watch the nine versatile actors tell this story.  We also anticipated hearing  Jonathan Epstein talk about the play. Having enjoyed Jonathan’s many performances during his thirty years with the company, we knew that he would provide useful insights into the play.

Click the link below to listen to him

Interview with Jonathan Epstein 

To order tickets, here is a link to

Shakespeare and Company’s  Website

                                         Nigel Gore and Jonathan Epstein

 

Shakespeare and Company’s 2017 Season

Winter brightens considerably when theatres announce what they will be performing in their coming season. One anticipates the pleasures that await theatre goers. Recently we visited the campus of Shakespeare and Company to hear from their Artistic Director, Allyn Burrows, what is in store. In addition to  their Shakespearean and contemporary productions, there will also be  educational programs.  We also learned about the new outdoors performance space, Shakespeare’s Garden.

The company is also presenting a special treat on the weekend of February 18 at 7 pm  and 19 at 2 pm. Lovers’ Spat-Shakespeare’s Famous Couple Encounters offer readings of scenes from Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Night’s Dream among other Shakespeare plays where the characters  deal with the challenges all lovers face. The case includes Shakespeare and Company favorites Elizabeth Aspenlieder, Tamara Hickey, David Joseph, Jason Asprey and others.

 

Go to the Shakespeare and Company website for details.

Shakespeare and Company

For details about the rest of the season, click below

Allyn Burrows and 2017 Season