Announcing the 2013 Shakespeare in the Park Cast

We recently held auditions for our 2013 Shakespeare in the Park production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and after several days full of some of the best actors Nashville has to offer (and some fun impromptu dance sessions), we finally picked our cast. As our Artistic Director, and Director of Midsummer, Denice Hicks said: “We saw some exceptional talent this year! It’s a crazy, 3D puzzle. How I wish there was a way to hire every fantastic actor in Nashville!”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Metro Nashville’s Centennial Park Bandshell
August 15 – September 15, 2013
Directed by Denice Hicks

Athenians:
Theseus	Brad Brown
Hippolyta	Nettie Kraft
Hermia	Lauren Ballard
Hermia (understudy)	Sydni Hayes
Helena	Savannah Frazier
Helena (understudy)	Emily Eytchison
Lysander	Raffeal Sears*
Demetrius	Houston Mahoney
Egeus	Derek Whittaker
Fairies:
Oberon	Nat McIntyre*
Titania	Apolonia Davalos*
Puck	Andrew Gumm
Peaseblossom	Bre Mastrodonato #
Cobweb	McKenna Harrington #
Moth	Ali Valentine #
Mustardseed	Camille Thompson #
Kudzu	Austin Hunt #
Cicada	Brandon Johnson #
Mechanicals:
Peter Quince	Bonnie Keen*
Nick Bottom	Craige Hoover
Francis Flute	Jaye Phelps #
Tom Snout	Will Miranne #
Snug	Tyler Manivong #
Robin Starveling	Douglas Corzine #
2013 Apprentice Company:
	Camille Thompson
	Ali Valentine
	Austin Hunt
	Brandon Johnson
	Jaye Phelps
	Will Miranne
	McKenna Harrington
	Douglas Corzine
	Tyler Manivong
	Bre Mastrodonato
Director’s Apprentice	Casey Flythe
Stage Manager’s Apprentice	TBA

* Denotes Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
# Denotes Member of 2013 Apprentice Company

Help Wanted: Seed Bomb Nashville In the Name of Puck

Have you heard of seed bombs? Despite the destructive sounding name, seed bombs are are a type of compressed soil and seed mixture that makes it super easy to distribute seeds and bring flowers to unexpected spaces. Peaked your interest yet? Well, we need your help with a seed bombing project.

This summer in the park, we will be presenting A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, directed by our artistic director Denice Hicks. We’re setting this year’s production in Nashville, 2013. In the play, the fairy world claims responsibility for the environment and climate change, so our fairies are going to be urban environmentalists and guerrilla gardeners. As the other characters toss Starbucks cups, water bottles and other excess away, the fairies will be recycling and repurposing them into clothing and accessories.

Where do you come in? In the name of “Puck” (the mischievous fairy in the play), Denice would like to see neglected and forgotten spaces around the city blooming with indigenous flowers. We could use some help in strategizing, building and distributing. Interested? Please email volunteers@nashvilleshakes.org

On April 21st from 2p-6p we will be celebrating Shakespeare’s birthday in Cumberland Park and we’ll have a seed bomb building station set up all day. Additionally, there will be live music, (Bardaroo!) food trucks, birthday cupcakes and the 4th annual staging of the Biggest Balcony Scene Ever (everybody who’s ever wanted to play Romeo or Juliet performs the scene all together at the same time! It’s quite silly and a lot of fun.). Again, let us know if you’re interested in helping!

For more information about the Nashville Shakespeare Festival and upcoming events and auditions, visit: www.nashvilleshakes.org

Shakespeare in the Park runs August 15-September 15, and photos of the results of the seed bombing will be on display during the run.

Bardaroo! April 21st at Cumberland Park

Shakespeare will be turning 449 this month and we are in the mood to celebrate! On April 21 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., bring a picnic, your friends & your dog to Downtown Nashville’s beautiful Cumberland Park (by the Shelby Street walking bridge) to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday with Bardaroo!, a free musical birthday celebration!

What will the afternoon hold??

• Free LIVE MUSIC will be ongoing, featuring Nashville favorites such as the The Mabels, Adam Burrows and artists from Foothill Entertainment.

• BYOP (Bring Your Own Picnic) or dine at Various local food trucks (List coming)!

• Free birthday cupcakes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• The FOURTH annual Biggest Balcony Scene EVER at 3 p.m.: Everyone present will play Romeo or Juliet in a mass recitation of the famous balcony scene.

• Costume Contest: Fun prizes will be given in the following categories: best star-crossed couple, best dog costume, and most creative costume (adult and children).

• Seed Bomb Station: All are invited to create seed bombs made of clay, compost and flower seeds. The seed bombs can then be launched into neglected areas around the city in need of beautification. As the flowers grow and bloom, photos will be taken to be put on display during A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM this summer.

• DJ IndieChris will host a DANCE PARTY from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. to close out the afternoon of fun!

More information to come as we get closer to April 21st. In the meantime, go ahead and mark your calendars. You don’t want to miss out on this fun Shakespeare afternoon!

We Want YOU For the 2013 Apprentice Company

To schedule an appointment, email nettie@nashvilleshakes.org

More info about the Apprentice Company can be found here: nashvilleshakes.org/apprentice

Shakespeare Upright: The Merchant of Venice

Join us for the inaugural Shakespeare Upright on February 16th at the Nashville Main Library!

February 16th at noon at the Nashville Main Library we will be presenting a staged reading of The Merchant of Venice. What is Shakespeare Upright!? This is a new series of staged readings of selected plays with actors cast in specific roles. The series is intended to enrich the Shakespeare Allowed! experience through further exploration of the play for that month (for more detailed information).

The following is the Merchant of Venice cast:

Announcing Shakespeare Upright!

In conjunction with our 25th Anniversary, we are launching a new program, Shakespeare Upright!, at the Nashville Public Library. Shakespeare Upright! is a series of staged readings of selected plays with actors cast in specific roles. The series is intended to enrich the Shakespeare Allowed! experience through further exploration of the play for that month. All readings will be presented without rehearsal at noon in the 3rd floor reading room where we do Shakespeare Allowed!

This year, we have four Shakespeare Upright! productions planned. All feature plays that are rarely produced but definitely worth hearing.

The tentative schedule for the year is as follows:
February 16th: The Merchant of Venice
July: As You Like It
September: Henry V

We will definitely need people to roles! If you would like to be considered for a role, email Denice Hicks at denice@nashvilleshakes.org. All roles will be assigned 2 weeks in advance.

Note: All roles for The Merchant of Venice have been filled.

Dive into Shakespeare with “Shakespeare Uncovered” on NPT

David Tennant and Jude Law discuss the challenges of playing Hamlet on Shakespeare Uncovered

William Shakespeare will get the full PBS treatment in Shakespeare Uncovered, a six-part series to show on Nashville Public Television on three consecutive Saturday evenings starting January 26.

Originally broadcast on the BBC, Shakespeare Uncovered combines history, biography, iconic performance, analysis and the personal passion of its hosts — Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Irons, Derek Jacobi, Trevor Nunn, Joely Richardson and David Tennant — to tell the stories behind some of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. Each episode combines interviews with actors, directors and scholars, along with visits to key locations, clips from some of the most celebrated film and television adaptations and illustrative excerpts from the plays especially staged for the series at Shakespeare’s Globe in London.

Shakespeare Uncovered Premieres on Nashville Public Television, Saturday, January 26 at 9 p.m. with Ethan Hawk researching the role of Macbeth (appropriate, right?).

The full schedule (so you can set your DVRs) is as follows:

Saturday, January 26
9:00-10:00 p.m.
Macbeth with Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke invites viewers to join him in his quest to play Shakespeare’s murderous Thane of Cawdor by uncovering the true story that served as inspiration.

10:00-11:00 p.m.
The Comedies with Joely Richardson
Joely Richardson, along with her mother Vanessa Redgrave, investigates the legacy of the two brilliant cross-dressing comedies Twelfth Night and As You Like It.

Jeremy Irons, right, discussing “Henry IV” and “Henry V” with Dominic Dromgoole of the Globe Theater.

Saturday, February 2
9:00-10:00 p.m.
Richard II with Derek Jacobi
Derek Jacobi returns to a role he played 30 years ago, coaches actors at the Globe in aspects of the play, reveals why it could have cost Shakespeare his life.

10:00-11:00 p.m.
Henry IV & Henry V with Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons uncovers the enduring appeal of Shakespeare’s “history plays,” from the facts of English history to the father-son drama that Shakespeare created.

Saturday, February 9
9:00-10:00 p.m.
Hamlet with David Tennant
David Tennant meets with fellow Hamlets, including superstar Jude Law, comparing notes on the titanic challenge of playing the most iconic of all roles.

10:00-11:00 p.m.
The Tempest with Trevor Nunn
Trevor Nunn, the legendary director who has directed 30 of Shakespeare’s 37 plays, takes viewers through the magical and mysterious world created in Shakespeare’s last complete play.

We know what we will be doing for the next three weeks!

Shakespeare Uncovered also has a companion website that is an amazing resource for videos, classroom materials and all around Shakespeare fun.

Shakespeare Uncovered is produced by Blakeway Productions, 116 Films and Thirteen in association with Shakespeare’s Globe. Richard Denton, producer; Bill O’Donnell, series producer; Stephen Segaller and David Horn, executive producers for Thirteen; Fiona Stourton, executive producer for Blakeway.