Despite being one of the most famous playwrights in the English language, the world doesn’t know for sure what day William Shakespeare was born. Baptized April 26, 1564, his actual birthday remains a mystery. April 23 is often used to celebrate the Bard, who died on the day in 1616. Whichever the day, 2022 marks the 458th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s arrival in this world before he went on to give us some of the most famous tragic heroes, star-crossed lovers, and iconic villains to grace the stage.
Born at the beginning of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, where the modern-day Royal Shakespeare Company honors his work, Shakespeare has become the focus of much research, yet not much is known about his personal life. Little evidence has survived to conclusively resolve questions scholars have about his religious affiliation, his sexuality, his intentions with certain works, among other debates. Some have even argued that Shakespeare could not have written the plays himself.
His impact can be found in the 1,700 words he contributed to the English language, the continued common use of phrases he invented, and the 37 (or 39…or 40…) plays from Hamlet and Macbeth to Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream which he wrote. From all of this and more has also come a plethora of décor items featuring out-of-context quotes from the Bard. Here’s hoping that the little girls sleeping in cribs under posters of “Though she be but little, she is fierce” don’t grow up to scratch out the eyes of best friends-turned-frenemies in drug-induced love quadrangles.
In honor of Shakespeare’s work and his lasting influence on theatre audiences and Etsy shop owners alike, Playbill considers some of his best stage directions out-of-context for modern times.
1. For the Sake of Argument The Situation: The pandemic, with its cabin fever-fueled arguments, may be winding down, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that arguments have disappeared from life. A small difference of opinion can still become a contentious conversation. Perhaps you try to end the discussion gracefully to little success, so you try your next move: leaving the room. The other person, however, really wants the last word.
[Exit, pursued by a bear.]
Original Context: Famously from The Winter’s Tale, this stage direction anticipates the death of Antigonus, an old man who nobly defends his queen’s innocence. Chased out by a bear, the stage direction is a nod to the rather horrifying and common use of bears in entertainment halls and bear-baiting dens across Elizabethan and Jacobean London.
2. A Day at the Beach The Situation: The sun is out, the temperature is warm, and the day has finally arrived when it’s hot enough to go to the local spot for a dip in the water. With a packed beach bag full of sunscreen and towels and sunglasses on, it’s time to strip down and head for the water. (*Swimsuits are highly recommended when going to public beaches and pools.)
[They fly, leaving their clothes behind.]*
Original Context: In the case of the French in Henry VI, Part 1, it’s quite possible all clothing was left behind as they flee an English attack on their military encampment. Set during the One Hundred Years’ War, these soldiering characters may have sacrificed abiding by public decency laws for safety in this scene.
3. A Night on the Town The Situation: After three postponements and a long group chat about where to meet, your friends are finally getting together to catch up. Everyone’s finished their latest round, but no one is quite ready to go home. The group’s unofficial leader suggests a move to another watering hole for the next round.
[They advance to another post.]
Original Context: From one of Shakespeare’s so-called ‘problem plays,’ Antony and Cleopatra, comes this stage direction which isn’t about a bar crawl with friends, but rather the heightened alert and protection of soldiers and watchmen.
4. In Love and War The Situation: Every single-and-ready-to-mingle could use a little help from Aphrodite and her son Eros, the Greek goddess and god of love. The modern dating world is an interesting place, to say the least. From dating apps to chance meet-cutes at local coffee shops, dangers abound in the form of catfishing, gross pick-up lines, Tinder swindlers, and on and on. The decision to enter the dating arena is often not made lightly, and comes with a certain amount of preparation.
[Enter Eros, with armor.]
Original Context: Also from Antony and Cleopatra, this stage direction sadly does not singnal the arrival of the god of love coming to help out an unfortunate mortal. Rather in the play, Eros is an attendant of Marc Antony’s and helps the title character dress for the coming battle with Rome. It’s a rather unfortunate twist as the play ends the love story of Cleopatra and Marc Antony (spoiler alert: they both die) while the Roman Empire conquers and colonizes Egypt.
5. All Your Born Days The Situation: So, it’s finally the day of the year many a child waits for—their birthday. It’s the day they get to add another finger to the ones they hold up when asked how old they are, and they’re a year closer to being considered ‘big.’ Playmates have arrived and the birthday party has gone off with laughter and joy. It’s time to sit down and enjoy some cake.
[She puts a paper crown on his head.]
Original Context: Quite the opposite, Henry VI, Part 3 does not feature a birthday party, but rather the horrors of betrayal, family, and war as the play deals with the chaos and realities of the Wars of the Roses. In the scene, Queen Margaret taunts her enemy, the captured York, with a mocking coronation. Needless to say, there wasn’t any cake.
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Can You Guess These Shakespeare Plays Only From Their Character Names?
Can You Guess These Shakespeare Plays Only From Their Character Names?
FUNNY GIRL opened last night, Sunday, April 24 at the August Wilson Theatre and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big night Check out photos from the post-show celebration below.
She is risen And a new cast recording is on the rise On April 29, Jesus Christ Superstar Highlights From The All-Female Studio Cast Recording, will at lastbe available as a full collection of songs at all digital music services.
The actor is currently starring in the Pulitzer Prize–winning drama opposite Mary Louise Parker.
Actor David Morse appeared on Good Morning America April 22 to discuss returning to the role of Uncle Peck in Paula Vogel’s How I Learned To Drive 25 years after the show’s Off-Broadway debut.
“The world has changed so much,” Morse shares. “Twenty-five years ago people were not having these conversations. When we come out after a performance, there were people on the street who just couldn’t leave, because of things they had been through in their life. They just had to be around people who understood what they went through, and we would be on the street having conversations with them. Now, thankfully, the world is changing… at least we’re talking about it, things are being addressed.” Watch Morse’s full appearance on the morning show above.
Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of How I Learned to Driveopened on Broadway April 19, following previews beginning March 29. The new production of Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer-winning play is running at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, after being delayed due to the COVID-19 Broadway shutdown.
The production, which follows a woman coming to terms with her sexually abusive uncle through a series of flashbacks, reunites the original cast and director from its 1997 Off-Broadway premiere, featuring direction by Mark Brokaw and leading performances by Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse, who reprise their roles of Li’l Bit and Uncle Peck, respectively. They’re joined by fellow original cast member Johanna Day and newcomers Alyssa May Gold and Chris Myers. Rounding out the company as understudies are Suzy Jane Hunt, Emily Young, Curt Bouril, and Charles Browning.
The play’s creative team includes scenic design by Rachel Hauck, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Mark McCullough, original music and sound design by David Van Tieghem, video design by Lucy MacKinnon, music direction and vocal arrangements by Stephen Oremus, dialect coaching by Deborah Hecht, and production stage management by James Fitzsimmons. The production is cast by Kelly Gillespie, Nancy Piccione, and Caparelliotis Casting.
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First Look at How I Learned to Drive Staring Mary-Louise Parker
First Look at How I Learned to Drive Staring Mary-Louise Parker
13 PHOTOS
David Morse and Mary-Louise Parker
Jeremy Daniel
David Morse
Jeremy Daniel
Chris Myers
Jeremy Daniel
Mary-Louise Parker
Jeremy Daniel
David Morse and Mary-Louise Parker
Jeremy Daniel
Johanna Day, Mary-Louise Parker, Alyssa May Gold, and Chris Myers
Jeremy Daniel
Mary-Louise Parker, Johanna Day, and Alyssa May Gold
Jeremy Daniel
Alyssa May Gold
Jeremy Daniel
Chris Myers and Mary-Louise Parker
Jeremy Daniel
Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse
Jeremy Daniel
David Morse and Mary-Louise Parker
Jeremy Daniel
David Morse and Johanna Day
Jeremy Daniel
Alyssa May Gold, David Morse, Mary-Louise Parker, Johanna Day, and Chris Myers
Laurence Fishburne, one of three megastars currently appearing inDavid Mamet’s American Buffalo on Broadway, was sidelined from tonight’s performance due to a positive Covid-19 test.
The Broadway Green Alliance’s Earth Day event features Saint Aubyn, Brittney Johnson, Arielle Jacobs, and more.
To celebrate Earth Day 2022, The Broadway Green Alliance presents a free Broadway Earth Day Concert April 23 in Times Square between 41st and 42nd Streets from 11 AM-5 PM.
Young performers will take the stage in the afternoon, including groups from R.Evolución Latina, Perkiomen Valley High School, Eastchester High School, and Epic Players.
On April 20 the Broadway Green Alliance offered a Textile Drive in the center of Duffy Square. The event featured a collection for Towels for Toto, a joint initiative with the Alliance, the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, and animal activists Bill and Dorothy Berloni that upcycles towels, blankets, and linens for local animal shelters, where they will become bedding and provide comfort to rescue dogs and other animals.
“I’m so excited for the theatre community to gather again in person and raise our voices in solidarity with our Earth and for communities most impacted by the climate crisis,” said Broadway Green Alliance Director Molly Braverman in an earlier statement. “We have an opportunity to loudly and visibly advocate for climate solutions and use our collective power as cultural leaders to move us forward to a healthy, equitable, and climate-positive future.”
“The Times Square Alliance, as part of our longstanding partnership with the Broadway Green Alliance and the Department of Transportation, is pleased to present this remarkable array of programming as part of Car Free Earth Day in the heart of Times Square,” added Alliance President Tom Harris. “Kicking off the opening of Broadway to pedestrians at 42nd Street on Car Free Day that will extend all the way to Union Square, people will discover a wonderful celebration of the Broadway community and its commitment to the environment that is shared with our friends at the Broadway Green Alliance.”
Co-directed by Jennifer Shirley and Kevin Carillo, the work follows themes of connection and isolation.
Uncensored returns for an in-person run April 22-24 at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space, following two years of digital performances. The show follows the theme of connection and isolation and features performers both virtually and on stage.
Co-directed by Jennifer Shirley and Kevin Carillo, this annual production invites New York City teens to “speak their truth” on the MCC stage after participating in the Youth Company Performance Lab. The show features student-written monologues, scenes, music, and ensemble pieces.
Featured performers include Amani Parbolus, Omar Haidara, Cole Iturregui Shirley, Destiny Hooker, Eleanor “LouLou” Hubner, Gabrielys Rosa-Lozada, Grace Brockington, Jazlyn Claudio, Jociel Tambone, Natoya Murray, and Zelia Ryan-Young, with Daryl Embry as the scenic and lighting designer.
Performances are April 22 at 7:30 PM, April 23 at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, and April 24 at 2:30 PM. Tickets are pay-what-you-can.
In addition to Uncensored, MCC Theater’s current line-up includes Which Way to the Stage by Ana Nogueira with direction by Mike Donahue and soft by Donja R. Love with direction by Whitney White.
Theevent will honor Bonnie Comley Stewart F. Lane Tony Award-Winning Founders of BroadwayHD, Daphne Rubin-Vega Tony Award-Nominated Actor Tom Costanzo, and Schele Williams Director, Author for their commitment to expanding access to the arts and for ensuring that young people see their stories represented.
