Titus Andronicus: Breaking it Down

by NapaShakes Dramaturg Dr. Philippa Kelly A WAR: Titus Andronicus begins with the death of the emperor of Rome, right at the same time that Titus, Rome’s warrior, arrives home from a successful battle against the Goths. Titus brings with him as prisoners Tamora, the Queen of the Goths, and her three…

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Measure for Measure + Dido and Aeneas: A Shakespeare-opera mash-up from 1699 takes the stage

September 27, 2016 | By Shakespeare & Beyond Sometimes characterized as a “problem play,” Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure was first performed in the early 1600’s and was printed in the 1623 First Folio where it is listed as a comedy. During the Restoration, many of Shakespeare’s plays were adapted to suit the times, and Measure is no exception. Playwrights deleted problematic characters, moral…

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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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