Thinking Shakespeare Live!

Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.
Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage
Old Globe Theatre
Conrad Prebys Theatre Center

Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein will offer an encore of his program Thinking Shakespeare Live!, a 90-minute exploration of the language of Shakespeare, on Saturday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. This fast-paced, funny, and altogether fascinating presentation based on Edelstein’s book, Thinking Shakespeare: A How-To Guide for Student Actors, Directors, and Anyone Else Who Wants to Feel More Comfortable with the Bard, reveals a performer’s approach to Shakespearean language so audiences may easily understand the poetry of the Bard. As Edelstein and three skilled actors demonstrate live on stage the methods he imparts to professional actors in the rehearsal room, this entertaining behind-the-scenes look at the creative process offers a primer on the tools used to hear and understand Shakespeare.


Publicity Photos
Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein leads Thinking Shakespeare Live! on June 15, 2013. An encore presentation of Thinking Shakespeare Live! will be held Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at The Old Globe. Photo by Doug Gates.
Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein (far left) with actors (from left) Krystel Lucas, Jason Maddy and Christopher Salazar during Thinking Shakespeare Live! on June 15, 2013. An encore presentation of Thinking Shakespeare Live! will be held Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at The Old Globe. Photo by Doug Gates.
Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein (center) with actors (from left) Krystel Lucas, Jason Maddy and Christopher Salazar during Thinking Shakespeare Live! on June 15, 2013. An encore presentation of Thinking Shakespeare Live! will be held Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at The Old Globe. Photo by Doug Gates.

 

 
   
 
Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein will offer an encore presentation of Thinking Shakespeare Live! on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at The Old Globe. Photo by Joseph Moran.
  


Barry Edelstein Profile

  Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein is a stage director, producer, author, and educator. Widely recognized as one of the leading authorities on the works of Shakespeare in the United States, he has directed nearly half of the Bard’s works. Most recently Edelstein made his directorial debut at The Old Globe with The Winter’s Tale. As Director of the Shakespeare Initiative at The Public Theater (2008-2012), he oversaw all of the company’s Shakespearean productions, as well as its extensive educational, community outreach, and artist-training programs. At The Public, Edelstein staged Julius Caesar starring Jeffrey Wright for Shakespeare in the Park, Timon of Athens with Richard Thomas, and The Merchant of Venice featuring Ron Leibman’s Obie Award-winning portrayal of Shylock. He was also Associate Producer of The Public’s Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino. From 1998-2003 he was Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company, where he produced and directed some of New York’s most memorable classical productions. Edelstein’s Shakespearean directorial credits include The Winter’s Tale with David Strathairn, As You Like It with Gwyneth Paltrow, and Richard III with John Turturro. His additional credits include the Lucille Lortel Award-winning revival of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons; the world premiere of Steve Martin’s The Underpants, which he commissioned; Molière’s The Misanthrope starring Uma Thurman in her stage debut; and the world premiere of novelist Nathan Englander’s play The Twenty-Seventh Man. He has also directed new and classical work extensively at regional theatres around the USA. His book Thinking Shakespeare was published in 2007 and is now the standard text on American Shakespearean acting. He is also the author of Bardisms: Shakespeare for All Occasions. Edelstein is a graduate of Oxford University, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.