ShakesPod

Roll for initiative and prepare for a storm of epic proportions!In this episode of Shakespod we chat with Drew Jones, Director of The Tempest at Frank Bramhill Park in San Jose, June 6-22, 2025 and find out what inspired his Dungeons & Dragons take of this epic play!!Thank you to Drew Jones for his time and energy!

A first scholarly look at our 2025 Summer Free Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest, directed by Drew Benjamin Jones.Actors:James Lucas--Oberon, Puck, ProsperoDoll Piccotto--Titania, Ariel

This episode dives into the weird and wacky world of Christopher Marlowe---or does it?Actors:James Lucas--Sir Toby Belch, Dogberry, Lear's FoolDoll PIccotto--Maria, Verges, King Lear

Acting Credits:Caesar and Portia: Doll PiccottoSoothsayer: James Lucas

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Did Shakespeare Trick or Treat? Tune in and find out!! Players: Vincent Shakesprice--James Lucas First Fairy/Juliet--Sydney Nurse--Melissa Mei Jones Puck--Tonya Mara Sources: Astonishing legends.com 'Did Shakespeare Go Trick or Treating'--Cassidy Cash: "All Saints Day"--Britannica 'Samhain"--History.com "Imbolc"--History.com "Beltane"--History.com "Lughnassa"--History.com "Origin of Halloween"--Hauntpay.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

Ever wonder what school was like in Shakespeare's Day? Well, tune in this week to find out! This week we dive into Shakespeare's school days, what kind of education he had, and why some people think that means he couldn't have written his plays. Merry Wives of Windsor Scene performed by: Sydney Harmon, Oliver Piccotto, Doll Piccotto, and James Lucas as Sir Hugh. Sources for this podcast: Elizabethan Education by Linda Alchin "A Double Spirit of Teaching--What Shakespeare's Teachers Teach Us" by Patricia Winson Why Some People Think Shakespeare Didn't Write Shakespeare, Explained--by Constance Grady Greene's Groats-Worth of Witte--Folger Shakespeare Library Children in Elizabethan England--Julia Bossonis Welcome to Grammar School Famous Shakespeare Authorship Skeptics--Shakespeare Oxford Fellowship Yes, Shakespeare Really Was Shakespeare--Shiladitya Sen The Rediscovery of Shakespeare's Greek--Earl Showerman Yes, Shakespeare Really Did Write Shakespeare--Alex Knapp A Note on a Phrase In Shakespeare's Play King Lear-"A Plague Upon your Epileptic Visage"--Tim and Hannah Betts --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

This episode of Shakespod dives into the history of theatre in China and when and how Shakespeare made his arrival there. Special Guest: James Lucas performing Marc Antony from Julius Caesar. Sources: SHAKESPEARE IN CHINA Ho Hsiang-Lin The ComparatistVol. 13 (MAY 1989), pp. 11-21 (11 pages)Published By: University of North Carolina Press Shakespeare Reception in China by Yanna Sun Theory and Practice in Language Studies, Vol. 2, No. 9, pp. 1931-1938, September 2012 © 2012 ACADEMY PUBLISHER Manufactured in Finland. Why China's Love Affair With Shakespeare Endures Enid Tsui, Post Magazine https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/1996061/why-chinas-love-affair-shakespeare-endures Shakespeare in China L.E. https://legrandcontinent.eu/fr/2017/03/12/shakespeare-in-china/ Royalty-Free Renaissance music provided by:Pixabay --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

In this episode we take a deep dive into the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which provides the backdrop for our 2024 summer production of Comedy of Errors in Sanborn Park. We then continue with an interview with Melissa Mei Jones, director of Comedy of Errors, on what her experience was as a first-time director, and more importantly, her experience directing an AAPI-centric production--historically and personally. Sources: Royalty Free Music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com National Archives--archives.gov Office of the Historian--history.state.gov Library of Congress--loc.gov Bill of Rights Institute--The Chinese Exclusion Act--Stephanie Hinnershitz NPR--As Chinese Exclusion Act Turns 135, Experts Point to Parallels Today--Kat Chow Calisphere--Chinese Exclusion Act Exhibition Leland Stanford on Chinese Exclusion--1889 Tour of San Francisco's Chinatown --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

Doll Piccotto, SVS' Resident Dramaturg and 3 guests, Alika Spencer, director of SVS' Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Myles Rowland, actor who is playing Henry Jekyll and James Lucas--because he's entertaining and loves movies--discuss 3 different film versions of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. CORRECTION: We often call the John Barrymore version the 1931 version--it is in fact the 1920 version. Films Discussed: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde--John Barrymore (1920)--Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjQaAK5Vof4 Dr. Jekyll & Ms. Hyde--Tim Daly/Sean Young (1995)--Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFf9khNkOtc Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde--Michael McKell (2021)--Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAd6bp0naAA --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

Join Doll Piccotto, our resident dramaturg as she takes a walk on the light and dark side in this discussion of Jekyll & Hyde, Dualism and Allegory. Be sure to see our production of Jekyll & Hyde this summer at Sanborne Park in Saratoga, CA. Special Guest recordings by James Lucas. Ale and Anecdotes by Darren Curtis | https://www.darrencurtismusic.com/ Music promoted on https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

All's Well that Ends Well....or does it? Listen in as a director, a professor and a dramaturg discuss Shakespeare's 'problem plays' and the issues that hinder a 'happy ending' in All's Well that Ends Well. Dr. Adrienne Eastwood from San Jose State Universityand and Marley Rose-Teter, the Director of Silicon Valley Shakespeare's All's Well that Ends Well sit down with Doll Piccotto, our resident dramaturg to pick apart these fascinating plays and discuss why they don't sit well with our modern sensibilities. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

In this episode, SVS Resident Dramaturg, Doll Piccotto, does a deep dive into Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

In the third edition of "Flipping the Script," SVS presents another round of artists performing monologues in roles they wouldn't be traditionally cast in. Featuring pieces from Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, The Importance of Being Earnest, and more; this episode will having you seeing these characters in a new light.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

Silicon Valley Shakespeare's Production Manager, Tonya Mara, has a lively discussion with guests Doll Piccotto and Christian Pizzirani about all the good (and bad) examples of Shakespeare inspired films as SVS gears up for Shakespeare in Love, opening at Sanborn this summer. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

In this episode, SVS Resident Dramaturg, Doll Piccotto, does a deep dive into Shakespeare's King Lear. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/svshakes/support

Silicon Valley Shakespeare Production Manager, Tonya Mara, sits down with Twelfth Night's co-directors, Ivette Deltoro and Erin Southard, to discuss their vision of SVS's upcoming Willow Street production of Twelfth Night. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Kicking off our 2023 season, SVS Resident Dramaturg, Doll Piccotto, gives a fun and interesting in depth look at Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

In the second edition of "flipping the script" SVS presents another round of artists performing monologues in roles they wouldn't be traditionally cast in. Featuring pieces from Hamlet, King Lear, Dr. Faustus, and more; this episode will having you seeing these characters in a new light. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Bard Talk “The World of Jane Austen” What was it like to be a woman in Regency England? What does the right of primogeniture even mean?!? Dive into the world of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility with SVS Dramaturg Doll Piccotto to answer these questions and more. Reference material: 1. An Analysis of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Schatzie Speaks, Owlcation Online, June 19, 2018 2. Sense and Sensibility Analysis--Elinor and Marianne, Close Reading with Dr. Octavia Cox, YouTube, May 15, 2020. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Production Manager, Tonya Mara, sits down and discusses SVS's upcoming Sanborn production of Measure for Measure with show's director, Doll Piccotto. This episode does contain mention of sexual assault so listener discretion is advised. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS' 2022 live season starts with a LGBTQ+ version of Romeo & Juliet. To help us kickstart our season, SVS Artistic Director, Angie Higgins, sits down with company Dramaturg, Doll Piccotto, to discuss the history of R&J and LGBTQ+ in Shakespeare. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS Production Manager, Tonya Mara, sits down with Ivette Deltoro (Casting Assistant for City Lights Theater Company), Sara Dean (Executive Artistic Director for South Bay Musical Theatre), and Melinda Marks (Free lance director/artist in the Bay Area) to discuss helpful tips and tricks for actors when going back in to the audition room. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS Artistic Director, Angie Higgins, sits down with company founder, Louis Stone-Collonge, and executive director, Rosalind Sanchez, to chat about the importance of inclusion-based theatre productions, artistic programming, and quality arts education. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS is “flipping the script” and presenting gender-swapped performances of Shakespearean monologues. Featuring pieces from Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Othello and more, this episode will have you seeing these characters in a new light. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Just in time for Halloween, SVS Resident Dramaturg Doll Piccotto gives a spooky new Bard Talk all about ghosts in Shakespeare's plays. From Richard III to Macbeth, Julius Caesar to Hamlet, ghosts play a significant roles in some of Shakespeare's most iconic works. Learn about how ghosts were perceived during the Elizabethan Era, and how beliefs during that time molded the way Shakespeare included ghosts as characters in his plays. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Silicon Valley Shakespeare presents Richard III, our final summer Bard audio play. Directed by Doll Piccotto with sound design & editing by Ryan Lee Short, this riveting production follows one of Shakespeare's (and history's) most devious, manipulative villains in his pursuit of the crown. Hear the tale as you've never heard it before—as a 1940's radio drama, complete with era-inspired commercials. CAST Richard III… LaMont Ridgell Buckingham… David Boyll Queen Margaret, others… Valerie Façhman Lady Anne, others… Sarah Benjamin Richmond, others… Kyle Dayrit Clarence, others… Muse Lee Queen Elizabeth, others… Sarah Lee Edward, others… Tom Shamrell Duchess of York, others… Cynthia Lagodzinski --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Silicon Valley Shakespeare presents The Comedy of Errors, our second summer Bard audio play. Directed by Angie Higgins with sound design & editing by Phil Surtees, this hilarious farce of mistaken identity follows two sets of identical twins who were separated from each other years before but now find themselves in the same city. It will have you reeling with laughter! CAST Antipholus of Syracus & Ephesus… Tom Gough Dromio of Syracus & Ephesus… Evelyn Huynh Adriana… Regina Kohl Luciana, Second Merchant… Nicole Javier Egeon, Officer… Kyle Smith Emelia, First Merchant… Josie Burgin Lawson Courtesan, Balthazar… Ambera DeLash Duke Solinus, Angelo, Servant… James Eric Lucas --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Silicon Valley Shakespeare presents Titus Andronicus, the first in our summer Bard audio plays series. Directed by Tonya Mara with sound design, music & editing by Charlie Hoyt, this chilling tale begins when Roman general Titus Andronicus returns from war with four prisoners. What follows is a series of murders, retaliation and revenge. CAST Titus… Evan Darwin Winet Tamora… Lucy Littlewood Saturnius… Arthur Scappaticci Marcus… Sarah Thermond Lucius/Martius… Melinda Marks Lavinia/Aemilius… Stephanie Whigham Bassianus/Publius… Andre Leben Chiron/Quintus… Arturo Dirzo Demetrius/Mutius… Alan Coyne --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS Marketing Director Laura Domingo sits down with EnActe Arts Artistic Director Vinita Sud Belani and Director of Education Vijay M. Rajan. They discuss how the Silicon Valley theatre company and arts organization is on a mission to be a talent incubator and to tell South Asian stories with universal appeal. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Silicon Valley Shakespeare's Resident Dramaturg Doll Piccotto talks about how the social and political structures of 16th century Venice—including the restrictions placed on Jewish residents—made the city one of the only places where the story of The Merchant of Venice could be set. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Local playwright, Ross Harkness, sits down with other Bay Area writers to discuss what it's been like as a playwright during quarantine in our latest episode of ShakesPod --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS Artistic Director Angie Higgins sits down with our new Executive Director, Annalisa Tkacheff. Hear all about Annalisa's journey to Silicon Valley Shakespeare, her own personal history with the Bard, and her vision for the company's future. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS Artistic Director Angie Higgins sits down with our new Executive Director, Annalisa Tkacheff. Hear all about Annalisa's journey to Silicon Valley Shakespeare, her own personal history with the Bard, and her vision for the company's future. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS Resident Dramaturg Doll Picotto explores the complex history of race in Shakespeare performance, including the lens in which we view his works, and the life of Ira Aldridge, the first Black Shakespearean actor. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS sits down with the professors from the College of Adaptive Arts, a non-profit in San Jose that's paving a new path for adults with special needs, to chat about why art and accessibility is important for everyone. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Ross Harkness sits down with other local playwrights, Max Tachis, Lauren Doyle, and Anne Kobori to talk all things behind the scenes and the creative effort it takes to create the shows we love. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS dramaturge, Doll Piccotto, give us an in depth look at the Politics of Julius Caesar, just in time for the Ides of March! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Our "Love is Love" series continues as SVS Production Manager Tonya Duncan sits down with Bay Area artists and members of the LGBTQ+ community Larry Barrott, Kein Heath, and Marley Teter to discuss LGBTQ+ representation on the stage. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

“I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.” (Much Ado About Nothing, Act IV, Scene i) SVS Production Manager Tonya Duncan sits down with Erika Cisnernos, Outreach Coordinator for the LGBTQ Youth Space, to discuss their work within the LGBTQ+ community. A San José-based non-profit, the LGBTQ Youth Space provides mental health programs and community support for LGBTQ, questioning, and ally youth and young adults. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

We continue our journey through the sounds of Shakespeare next Saturday with part two of ShakesPod’s "Music to My Ears." SVS Actor and Photographer Christian Pizzirani sits down with some of the Bay Area’s favorite sound designers — Charlie Hoyt, Phil Surtees, and George Psarras — to talk about the behind-the-scenes world of sound design and composition. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

SVS Production Manager Tonya Duncan sits down with some of the Bay Area’s top musical theatre aficionados to chat about musicals inspired by Shakespeare. Featuring SVS Executive Director (and musical theatre director) Doug Brook, director and vocal director Diane Milo, and director and SVS stage veteran Walter Mayes, our guests gab about your favorite Shakespeare-inspired musical, and some hidden Broadway gems you might not know about. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

It's the season of giving! For this special episode, we've decided to highlight another organization that speaks to our motto: to innovate, illuminate, and inspire. SVS veteran Evelyn Huynh (last seen on stage in her award-winning performance as Greenie in The White Snake) sits down with Red Ladder Theatre Company Director Karen Altree Piemme, and Actor/Facilitator Tasi Alabastro, to discuss their work with the nationally acclaimed, award-winning social justice theatre company. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

It’s the second half of ShakesPod’s Nasty Women series, featuring the behind-the-scenes stories from the ultimate lady bosses of theatre, our panel of female stage managers. This week, ShakesPod shines a spotlight on the ladies who defy convention. Hosted by SVS Production Manager Tonya Duncan, and featuring Bay Area stage managers Chrissie Schwanhausser, Michelle Singh, and Alexandra Maisonneuve Teixeira, this episode is an inside look at the empowered women of our daily lives. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

ShakesPod shines a spotlight on the ladies who defy convention. We’re diving into the history of women in theatre with SVS dramaturg Doll Piccoto and featuring some of the most talented female-identifying and non-binary actors as they tackle traditionally male Shakespearean monologues. Featuring pieces from Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello, and other iconic Shakespearean monologues, this episode is a battle cry for Nasty Women. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

In this episode, SVS is getting into the Halloween spirit! This frighteningly funny Halloween special is hosted by the creepiest couple on the block, Ms. Tamora and Titus (Doll Piccotto and James Lucas). Join our devilishly delightful hosts as they interview the infamous witches of Macbeth. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

We sat down with Bay Area theatre veteran Aldo Billingslea to chat about his work with The Black Theatre Fund, which supports the development and production of Black Theatre across the United States. Learn more about the fund and donate here. Learn more about Aldo's production of Polar Bears, Black Boys & Prairie Fringed Orchids here. Hosted by SVS Managing Director Annalisa Tkacheff --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support

Our premiere episode, “Bard Talk: History of Macbeth,” dives into the horrific hidden history of Macbeth and features special performances by 2019’s Macbeth Theatre Bay Area Award Finalist Witches (Drew B. Jones, Sarah Thermond, and Sara Razavi) and Porter (Keenan Flagg). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/svshakes/support