BT天堂

The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre at the University of Central Arkansas will offer educational prep sessions, workshops, lectures and talkbacks to enhance theatergoers鈥� understanding of the plays produced during AST鈥檚 13th summer season on the BT天堂campus.

Following the model of other acclaimed and established Shakespeare festivals in the country, like Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Utah Shakespeare Festival, AST will utilize the talents of academic leaders, professional actors and other members of the AST creative team to enrich the exploration of and expand the understanding of the performances鈥� themes and ideas.

Here is a lineup of this summer鈥檚 offerings, all held at locations on the BT天堂campus:

Tuesday, June 11, 5-6 p.m., Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center
Paige Martin Reynolds, AST actor, artistic collective member, and director of dramaturgy: 鈥淧erforming Shakespeare鈥檚 Women鈥� What happened to Shakespeare鈥檚 women, and why does it matter to us today? Join Reynolds for a discussion of what is at stake for Shakespeare’s female characters (and the actors who play them), based on her recent book, 鈥淧erforming Shakespeare’s Women: Playing Dead鈥� (Bloomsbury Arden, 2019).

Tuesday, June 18, 5-6 p.m., McAlister Hall Mirror Room
Mary Ruth Marotte, AST executive director and BT天堂professor of English: 鈥淭he Comedy of Errors for Dummies鈥� Two sets of twins, a shipwreck, unrequited love and much more! Marotte will discuss 鈥淭he Comedy of Errors鈥� plot and themes in a user-friendly way to enhance your viewing pleasure of AST鈥檚 outdoor summer production.

Friday, June 21, 5-6 p.m., McAlister Hall Mirror Room
Robert Frost, AST music director: 鈥淟oesser is Morer: The Music of Frank Loesser鈥� Frank Loesser, a composer most well-known for 鈥淕uys and Dolls鈥� and 鈥淗ow To Succeed,鈥� penned a large body of work that spanned many styles and genres. Music Director Frost takes a look at his most popular material, while also delving into his lesser-known works, pieces which signal a significant departure from his commercial hits.

Wednesday, June 26, 5-6 p.m., McAlister Hall Mirror Room
Chad Bradford, AST actor/director and artistic collective member: 鈥淚t鈥檚 Good to Be King: Staging and Status in Shakespeare鈥� How does Shakespeare seek to convey status onstage? Join AST鈥檚 Bradford in an interactive talk about stage directions and status in the Elizabethan era.

Friday, June 28, 5-6 p.m., Reynolds Performance Hall
Rebekah Scallet, AST producing artistic director: 鈥淏ehind the Scenes of Shakespeare鈥檚 鈥楳acbeth鈥欌�� Prepare yourself to journey into the Middle Ages with a helpful introductory session by AST鈥檚 own Scallet, who鈥檒l be directing 鈥淢acbeth鈥� this season.

Wednesday, July 3, 5-6 p.m., McAlister Hall Mirror Room
Nick Narcisi, AST company actor: 鈥淭he Scottish Curse鈥� What has caused theater companies to close, along with untimely accidental deaths and burns to Charlton Heston? Could it be simply saying the word 鈥淢acbeth鈥� while in a theater? Why is this famous play so cursed? And why do so many actors fear the title? Narcisi explores both the play and the history books for answers.

Talkbacks with the actors will be held:

• June 25, following 鈥淕uys & Dolls鈥�;

• June 26, following 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥� and 鈥淭he Comedy of Errors鈥�;

• June 28 and 29, following 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥�;

• July 2, following 鈥淕uys & Dolls鈥�;

• July 4, following 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥�; and

• July 5, following 鈥淢acbeth鈥�

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre is the state鈥檚 only professional Shakespeare company and is proud to make their home on the BT天堂campus. Each summer, AST offers full productions of a range of Shakespeare’s works, as well as other plays and musicals that help fulfill AST’s mission to entertain, engage and enrich the community.