Summer of Shakespeare Redux
Article by staff
After the bardolatry bonanza of last year's Summer of Shakespeare, we're excited to partner with the Houston Shakespeare Festival again this summer! With 2016 being the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, it's been a big year for commemorating the Bard—you might have seen our death-day celebrations with HSF in April, or the traveling exhibition of one of Shakespeare's First Folios making its way around the country. It's clear that for literature fans, Shakespeare is far from dead and gone.
We’re excited to welcome back to the store Jack Young, HSF Artistic Director, who will give a talk called “Finding the Clue’s in Shakespeare’s Verse” on Saturday, June 25 at 2pm. Young will give you a look under the hood of Shakespeare’s writing. Come find out how to make what’s embedded in the writing come clear in the speaking.
Furthermore, this summer, we're bringing back our Summer of Shakespeare book clubs! We'll be discussing the two plays HSF will be performing in this summer's run at Miller Outdoor theater, HENRY V and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Performances start July 29!
Join us on Wednesday, June 29 at 7PM to discuss HENRY V with HSF Associate Dramaturg Weston Twardowski. Arguably the most famous of the history plays, Henry V has enjoyed a number of fantastic performances in the past few years, from a phenomenal classic production at Shakespeare's Globe to a great punk-rock riot at our own Classical Theater Company here in Houston.
Then, join us on Wednesday, July 6 at 7PM to discuss MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with HSF Associate Dramaturg Rob Kimbro. This sharp-witted and sharper-tongued comedy is also enjoying a renaissance in attention after a stripped-down film production by director Joss Whedon—come find out how HSF's going to stage their newest production at the book club!
In the meantime, get in the Shakespeare spirit with some great adaptations!
Hogarth is releasing a phenomenal line of new Shakespeare adaptations from amazing authors: try Jeanette Winterson's retelling of The Winter's Tale, THE GAP OF TIME, for a great romance; SHYLOCK IS MY NAME is Man Booker Winner Howard Jacobson's stark adaptation of The Merchant of Venice; and we cannot wait for Anne Tyler's VINEGAR GIRL, a hilarious and smart retelling of The Taming of the Shrew!
Comics virtuoso Ryan North has done it again. After the success of last year's Kickstarted TO BE OR NOT TO BE, North continues his laugh-out-loud hilarious mashup of Shakespeare and webcomics with a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure version of Romeo and Juliet! With cameo art by dozens of comic artists, as well as paths that include making out at parties, becoming an assassin, and Juliet getting totally shredded as a lifeguard, you will enjoy every single choice of this wild ride.
We've also got fantastic Shakespeare tote bags from our favorite friends at Out of Print! Check out those, and all these great titles, at the store now.
