Splash Biography

Shakespeare's 153 sonnets contain some of his most masterful and provocative poetry. But they aren't just sappy love poetry. Shakespeare's sequence explores everything from insomnia to death, and most are addressed to a man! In a whirlwind overview of the sonnets, we will learn some fundamentals about sonnets (what makes a poem a sonnet? what's the difference between an English and Italian sonnet?)before exploring Shakespeare's sequence. Expect to learn some of his "greatest hits" as well as some lesser know gems. Every student will have an opportunity to do a dramatic reading of a sonnet and try their hand penning their own masterpiece. Whether you are a Shakespeare buff or never read a word by him in your life, come explore some of his most accessible poetry.

Ever wondered why Shakespeare is so popular? Sure, cool insults like "glass-gazing, super-serviceable finical rogue" have some appeal (King Lear II.2), but what really inspires Will's fanclub today? In this class, we will share with you our passion for the Bard, and a wealth of experience in professional Shakespearean acting, starting with the basics of Shakespeare's language (what's the difference between "thy" and "thine", and WHAT ON EARTH does "anon" mean?), and leading into a close study of Shakespeare's infamous (and cursed) tragedy, Macbeth. We will focus on understanding the drama of the text, and how it comes to life in performance. "Suit the action to the word, the word to the action" (Hamlet, III.2).