The Oregon Shakespeare Festival simply rocks. Read about their new American history project, inspired by who else? Shakespeare!
The United States History Cycle. Shortly before he took over in 2007, the festival’s artistic director, Bill Rauch, announced a 10-year plan to commission 37 new plays — a nod to the number in Shakespeare’s canon — about critical moments in American history. Up to 15 will get full productions at the festival; others, it is hoped, will be produced elsewhere.
In an interview Mr. Rauch said he was inspired by the role that Shakespeare, through his history plays, filled in helping his fellow citizens confront the major political questions of their day. “He lived in an age of anxiety about who would replace the childless monarch Elizabeth,” Mr. Rauch said. “He dramatized stories from his country’s past to study the transfer of power and to entertain and move and provoke people, and that got me thinking about our own country’s
history.”
1 comment:
What a wonderful and worthy project. It's the kind of thing that spreads the worth of Shakespeare while also showing how relevant history is. Glory!
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