THEA 221
Acting Shakespeare Spring 2025
Division I

Acting Shakespeare: In this course we will learn to understand, unpack, and embody Shakespearean text. Our work will be both intellectually and physically rigorous, with equal time spent on the meaning and mechanics of the language–and decoding the secret directions for actors Shakespeare embedded in his plays–and on the physical and vocal training necessary to fully embody these texts. Actors must feel empowered to take full ownership of Shakespeare’s work, rather than being too reverent or shrinking in its shadow. So we will spend the final part of the semester “meddling” with Shakespeare, finding opportunities to explode, expand, and explore these endlessly resilient and versatile plays. Classwork will include written assignments as well as rigorous scene work and monologue work. We will work with selections from several plays, including Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Romeo and Juliet, and Richard III.