Join renowned Shakespeare scholar and ASC Co-Founder and Director of Mission Ralph Alan Cohen for this entertaining and enlightening series of lectures and conversations, recorded live from the Blackfriars Playhouse! Dr. Ralph provides his unique and cunning insight into early modern theatre and beyond with charm and good humor. Often features guest hosts and speakers such as Artistic Director Ethan McSweeny, Director of Education Sarah Enloe, scholars, actors, playwrights, and many more!
The text has been chosen and cut, the actors given their parts, the play is rehearsed, and there's only one element missing: the audience. Nova Myhill, KP Powell, and Lia Wallace join us to discuss why the audience is perhaps the most crucial ingredient in the recipe of live performance, especially during a directorless Ren Season at the ASC. Want to learn more? Read this blog post about how eye contact between actors and audiences generates empathy. Got comments or questions? Email us at dr.ralphpresents@americanshakespearecenter.com.
What is it really like in a "ren" rehearsal room? How is that different from the way early modern plays portray "rehearsal"? Does rehearsal every really end? Scholar Richard Preiss and ASC favorites Sarah Fallon and Brandon Carter do a deep dive into the art of rehearsing. Want to learn more? See our blogs on Open Rehearsals and Dress rehearsals. Got comments or questions? Email us at dr.ralphpresents@americanshakespearecenter.com.
This week scholar Sarah Dustagheer, actor-scholar Bob Jones, and Sarah Enloe, ASC's former Director of Education, join us to discuss the multifaceted world of "original practices" and which of them ASC actor's embrace (and some we don't). Got comments or questions? Email us at dr.ralphpresents@americanshakespearecenter.com.
Dr. Roslyn Knutson and actors Tyler Moss and Chris Johnston explore the limitations of what historical records can actually tell us about early modern playing companies, what scholars can only guess at, and what today's theatre professionals know to be true about repertory and the collaborative nature of their profession. Want to learn more? See our blog on Collaboration and Companies. Got comments or questions? Email us at dr.ralphpresents@americanshakespearecenter.com.
What do director-less actors do with their scripts once parts are distributed? How did Shakespeare's actors negotiate lines and staging? How do ASC actors - veterans and newcomers to our stage - work through that process now? Ben Blyth, John Harrell and Meme García have a spirited conversation about what it takes to translate a work from page to stage. Want to learn more? See our blog on Cutting and Line Negotiations. Got comments or questions? Email us at dr.ralphpresents@americanshakespearecenter.com.
After the text comes the technology of how that text is distributed to actors. Scholar Jim Marino and actors Gregory Jon Phelps and John Harrell discuss what has changed (and what has not) in the 400 or so years from Shakespeare's time to our current Actors' Renaissance Season. Want to learn more? See our blog on Cue Scripts. Got comments or questions? Email us at dr.ralphpresents@americanshakespearecenter.com.
This season we're exploring the question, “What is a ‘Ren' Season?”. Hear from past and present members of the American Shakespeare Center Company in discussions surrounding how the iconic ASC Actors' Renaissance Season works— Episode 1: Join in discussing all things TEXT - scansion, rhetoric, paraphrasing, and stage directions with Dr. Ralph Cohen, James Keegan, John Harrell, and Zoe Speas!
And now the thrilling conclusion of the first table read of Henry V!
The penultimate Act of this summer's Henry V!
Listen in to the first table read of Summer 2021's Henry V! This episode contains Act 3.
Continue the adventure with Act 2 of ASC's Henry V!
Hear the first table read of ASC's Actors' Renaissance Summer production of Henry V. This episode contains Act 1.
Our intrepid Fall 2020 SHXSpace students (ages 14-18) spent several weeks engaging with Shakespeare through text, speech, movement and more alongside ASC Education Artist Aubrey Whitlock. Now, they're turned what they know into amazing podcast-style performance-discussions of Shakespeare's greatest hits. This episode: Twelfth Night!
Our intrepid Fall 2020 SHXSpace students (ages 14-18) spent several weeks engaging with Shakespeare through text, speech, movement and more alongside ASC Education Artist Aubrey Whitlock. Now, they're turned what they know into amazing podcast podcast-style performance-discussions of Shakespeare's greatest hits. This episode: As You Like It!
Our intrepid Fall 2020 SHXSpace students (ages 14-18) spent several weeks engaging with Shakespeare through text, speech, movement and more alongside ASC Education Artist Aubrey Whitlock. Now, they're turned what they know into amazing podcast podcast-style performance-discussions of Shakespeare's greatest hits. This episode: Hamlet!
Our intrepid Fall 2020 SHXSpace students (ages 14-18) spent several weeks engaging with Shakespeare through text, speech, movement and more alongside ASC Education Artist Aubrey Whitlock. Now, they're turned what they know into amazing podcast podcast-style performance-discussions of Shakespeare's greatest hits. This episode: Julius Caesar!
Originally recorded live at the Blackfriars Playhouse on February 14, 2020. Gust host and ASC Artistic Director Ethan McSweeny speaks with nationally recognized director, playwright, author, and teacher Scott Kaiser about a variety of topics, including the development of a classical acting troupe in the modern era and Kaiser's work at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival/beyond. Join renowned Shakespeare scholar and ASC Co-Founder and Director of Mission Ralph Alan Cohen for this entertaining and enlightening series of lectures and conversations, recorded live from the Blackfriars Playhouse! Dr. Ralph provides his unique and cunning insight into early modern theatre and beyond with charm and good humor. Often features guest hosts and speakers such as Artistic Director Ethan McSweeny, Director of Education Sarah Enloe, scholars, actors, playwrights, and many more! Visit Our Website Stream BlkFrs TV while we are dark! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Help Keep The Lights On
Originally recorded live at the Blackfriars Playhouse on April 5, 2019. ASC's longest-running company member & text captain John Harrell discusses Falstaff - one of the most famous characters in Shakespeare's canon. Recorded in 2019 while Harrell was playing Falstaff in Henry IV, Part 1 and The Merry Wives of Windsor. In 2020, Harrell continued to play the merry knight in Henry IV, Part 2 while reprising his role in Part 1 - both of which are now streaming on BlkFrsTV! Join renowned Shakespeare scholar and ASC Co-Founder and Director of Mission Ralph Alan Cohen for this entertaining and enlightening series of lectures and conversations, recorded live from the Blackfriars Playhouse! Dr. Ralph provides his unique and cunning insight into early modern theatre and beyond with charm and good humor. Often features guest hosts and speakers such as Artistic Director Ethan McSweeny, Director of Education Sarah Enloe, scholars, actors, playwrights, and many more! Visit Our Website Stream BlkFrsTV while we are dark! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Help Keep The Lights On
Originally recorded live at the Blackfriars Playhouse on January 31, 2020. ASC College Prep Programs Manager and graduate of Mary Baldwin University’s Shakespeare & Performance graduate program presents an abridged version of her thesis on what ASC's "lights on" philosophy does to an audience's social neurosensors! Join renowned Shakespeare scholar and ASC Co-Founder and Director of Mission Ralph Alan Cohen for this entertaining and enlightening series of lectures and conversations, recorded live from the Blackfriars Playhouse! Dr. Ralph provides his unique and cunning insight into early modern theatre and beyond with charm and good humor. Often features guest hosts and speakers such as Artistic Director Ethan McSweeny, Director of Education Sarah Enloe, scholars, actors, playwrights, and many more! Visit Our Website Stream BlkFrs TV while we are dark! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Help Keep The Lights On
Originally recorded live at the Blackfriars Playhouse in 2015 - yep, it's #retro! Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen discusses Shakespeare's classic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream - now available to stream on BlkFrs TV! Join renowned Shakespeare scholar and ASC Co-Founder and Director of Mission Ralph Alan Cohen for this entertaining and enlightening series of lectures and conversations, recorded live from the Blackfriars Playhouse! Dr. Ralph provides his unique and cunning insight into early modern theatre and beyond with charm and good humor. Often features guest hosts and speakers such as Artistic Director Ethan McSweeny, Director of Education Sarah Enloe, scholars, actors, playwrights, and many more! Visit Our Website Stream BlkFrs TV while we are dark! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Help Keep The Lights On
Originally recorded live at the Blackfriars Playhouse on February 21, 2020 Dr. Ralph Alan Cohen discusses A King and No King, with insights into the language, the performance, and the Shakespeare connections of this Francis & Beaumont masterpiece - now available to stream on BlkFrs TV! Join renowned Shakespeare scholar and ASC Co-Founder and Director of Mission Ralph Alan Cohen for this entertaining and enlightening series of lectures and conversations, recorded live from the Blackfriars Playhouse! Dr. Ralph provides his unique and cunning insight into early modern theatre and beyond with charm and good humor. Often features guest hosts and speakers such as Artistic Director Ethan McSweeny, Director of Education Sarah Enloe, scholars, actors, playwrights, and many more! Visit Our Website Stream BlkFrs TV while we are dark! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Help Keep The Lights On
Originally recorded live at the Blackfriars Playhouse on February 7, 2020 Wondering who Prince Hal in Henry IV is? What happened before the play? How did we get here? Dr. Ralph presents Dr. Mary Hill Cole, professor of history at Mary Baldwin University and director of the Virginia Program at Oxford. Spice up your knowledge of Shakespeare's history cycle with Mary as she presents English regnal history through Henry V as a primer for theatre goers. Join renowned Shakespeare scholar and ASC Co-Founder and Director of Mission Ralph Alan Cohen for this entertaining and enlightening series of lectures and conversations, recorded live from the Blackfriars Playhouse! Dr. Ralph provides his unique and cunning insight into early modern theatre and beyond with charm and good humor. Often features guest hosts and speakers such as Artistic Director Ethan McSweeny, Director of Education Sarah Enloe, scholars, actors, playwrights, and many more! Visit Our Website Stream BlkFrs TV while we are dark! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Help Keep The Lights On
Originally recorded live at the Blackfriars Playhouse on March 13, 2020 Dr. Ralph (boomer) covers the family dynamics at play in Much Ado About Nothing and Henry IV - three plays a part of our 2020 Actors' Renaissance season! Join renowned Shakespeare scholar and ASC Co-Founder and Director of Mission Ralph Alan Cohen for this entertaining and enlightening series of lectures and conversations, recorded live from the Blackfriars Playhouse! Dr. Ralph provides his unique and cunning insight into early modern theatre and beyond with charm and good humor. Often features guest hosts and speakers such as Artistic Director Ethan McSweeny, Director of Education Sarah Enloe, scholars, actors, playwrights, and many more! Visit Our Website Stream BlkFrs TV while we are dark! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram Help Keep The Lights On
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