Shakespeare projects & writing samples
Podcast: Shakespeare's Shadows
In April 2017, I launched Shakespeare's Shadows, a podcast that explores a single Shakespeare character in each episode, weaving together interviews with actors and academics. Episodes are available to stream and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and shakespearesshadows.com. You can follow the podcast on Instagram at @shakespearesshadows. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign supported by 76 backers, the podcast relaunched with its second season in December 2023.
Praised as "an absolute gem," "impeccably edited and researched," "the right balance of erudition and accessibility,” and "the perfect amount of nerdy and just excellent storytelling," Shakespeare’s Shadows has been recognized as a valuable resource for actors and teachers. Among those I’ve interviewed for the podcast (for episodes available now and upcoming episodes) are Dame Harriet Walter, Patrick Page, Harry Lennix, Lisa Wolpe, and professors at Harvard and Oxford.
Praised as "an absolute gem," "impeccably edited and researched," "the right balance of erudition and accessibility,” and "the perfect amount of nerdy and just excellent storytelling," Shakespeare’s Shadows has been recognized as a valuable resource for actors and teachers. Among those I’ve interviewed for the podcast (for episodes available now and upcoming episodes) are Dame Harriet Walter, Patrick Page, Harry Lennix, Lisa Wolpe, and professors at Harvard and Oxford.
Video: Shakespeare at 400
At HitFix, I pitched, produced, conducted interviews for, and wrote for a video series saluting the Bard on the 400th anniversary of his death. Watch the flagship video here, and here you can watch videos featuring readings by Liev Schreiber, Maggie Grace, and other actors who participated in the video project.
Theater production: Nothing of Woman in Me |
In Stratford-upon-Avon, I assistant directed the premiere staging of new work Nothing of Woman in Me, four monologues for Shakespeare's voiceless women, written and directed by Juliano Zaffino. We first mounted the production as part of the Shakespeare Institute Players' 65th Anniversary Festival with monologues for Titus Andronicus' Lavinia, The Merchant of Venice's Jessica, Macbeth's Lady Macbeth, and The Winter's Tale's Hermione. We then revived the piece with one new monologue (for Measure for Measure's Isabella) at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Dell festival in July 2018.
MA dissertation: Women's final silences in Shakespeare comedies
For my master’s degree at the University of Birmingham, my dissertation was titled “Female Characters’ Final Silences in Four Shakespeare Comedies: How Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing Can Follow Performance Traditions of Measure for Measure and The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” I examined the rich 20th and 21st century performance history of addressing Silvia’s and Isabella’s silences at the end of Two Gents and Measure for Measure and argued that Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing also have potentially troubling final silences for the characters Viola and Beatrice that can be better addressed in performance with the values of modern audiences in mind. My research included conducting interviews with actors and directors who had staged these four plays with endings that either highlight or adapt these women’s final silences.
Articles
Shakespeare’s Ophelia gets bold new makeovers in a film and a video game • LA Times • July 6, 2019
How ‘Ophelia’ chillingly speaks to issues facing modern women • Vanity Fair • July 2, 2019
André Holland talks about 'Othello,' 'Wrinkle' and the wild 'Moonlight' Oscar night • LA Times • March 11, 2018
Shakespeare in Griffith Park Takes Its Chances on a 'Riskier' Lineup This Year • LA Weekly • June 23, 2017
Exclusive photos: Fran Kranz in new adaptation of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ • HitFix • May 20, 2016
How sad videos of cute animals helped Marion Cotillard prepare for 'Macbeth' • HitFix • Dec. 4, 2015
Interview: 'Cymbeline' director Michael Almereyda on reuniting with Ethan Hawke • HitFix • March 13, 2015
'Much Ado About Nothing': Why Claudio is wearing a snorkel whilst sipping a martini • EW • June 30, 2013
'Much Ado About Nothing': How a YouTube comedy duo joined the Whedonverse • EW • June 23, 2013
How ‘Ophelia’ chillingly speaks to issues facing modern women • Vanity Fair • July 2, 2019
André Holland talks about 'Othello,' 'Wrinkle' and the wild 'Moonlight' Oscar night • LA Times • March 11, 2018
Shakespeare in Griffith Park Takes Its Chances on a 'Riskier' Lineup This Year • LA Weekly • June 23, 2017
Exclusive photos: Fran Kranz in new adaptation of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ • HitFix • May 20, 2016
How sad videos of cute animals helped Marion Cotillard prepare for 'Macbeth' • HitFix • Dec. 4, 2015
Interview: 'Cymbeline' director Michael Almereyda on reuniting with Ethan Hawke • HitFix • March 13, 2015
'Much Ado About Nothing': Why Claudio is wearing a snorkel whilst sipping a martini • EW • June 30, 2013
'Much Ado About Nothing': How a YouTube comedy duo joined the Whedonverse • EW • June 23, 2013