Shakespeare on Sleeping with a Stranger

“Would you have sex with a stranger to save your brother’s life?” NapaShakes Dramaturg Dr. Philippa Kelly’s cheeky take on “Measure for Measure” Would you have sex with a stranger to save your brother’s life? This is the question Shakespeare throws at Isabella, a Catholic novitiate, in the most famous…

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Shared Passions: Measure for Measure & Dido and Aeneas

Both Measure for Measure and Dido and Aeneas dramatize the conflict between public duty and private passion. Angelo’s commitment to Vienna is tested by his lust for the virtuous Isabella, while Dido’s passion for Aeneas threatens her rule of Carthage and delays his destiny as the founder of Rome. Indecent…

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All About Derek Jacobi

Read about Sir Derek Jacobi, coming to NapaShakes in the premiere of Measure + Dido in September Derek Jacobi, one of England’s most beloved and respected stage actors, has been acting for nearly 60 years and is more in demand now than ever. Having recently completed a scene-stealing run as…

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Three Cheers for the Red, White & Bard

From the Napa Valley Register Newspaper, April 17, 2016 by Laura Rafaty As America’s 2016 election cycle coincides with worldwide celebrations of the 400th Anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death in 1616, we at Napa Valley’s own NapaShakes aim to prove that America’s Shakespearean actors are every bit the equals of…

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