Will: What Is He Good For?

Season 4, Teaser: Will: What Is He Good For? - The First Folio

Shakespeare’s death in 1616 could have meant the loss of his words forever. Many of his plays existed only in fragile manuscripts and cheap, error-filled quartos. Then, seven years later, two of his fellow actors—John Heminges and Henry Condell—took on the monumental task of preserving their friend’s work.
Their project became the First Folio of 1623: the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays. Without it, we would have no Macbeth, no Twelfth Night, no The Tempest. With it, Shakespeare’s reputation leapt from playwright of his time to literary giant for all time.
Season 4 of Will: What Is He Good For? uncovers the story of the First Folio: how it was assembled, why it mattered, and how one book turned Shakespeare into a legend whose words continue to shape our world four centuries later.

He Had a Blank Space (Baby)

In the Season 3 finale of Will: What is He Good For? we explore how Shakespeare’s writing was shaped not only by the theaters and venues where his plays were performed, but also by the monarchy and the shifting tastes of his audiences.
We trace his evolution from writing for traveling troupes—where simple staging and minimal sets were a necessity—to the grandeur of the Globe, where plays like Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, and Hamlet thrived on the energy of large, dynamic spaces. Later, with access to the more intimate Blackfriars Theatre, Shakespeare experimented with subtler staging and more introspective storytelling, giving us works like The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest.
Across these spaces, Shakespeare’s characters and stories grew in depth and complexity, reflecting not just his genius but also the demands and opportunities of the stage.
To close the season, we ask: who really shaped Shakespeare? Was it the patronage and influence of monarchs like Elizabeth I and James I, the performance spaces that demanded new styles of writing, or was it simply Shakespeare’s unmatched ability to tune into his world and transform it into timeless art?

We Believe, the Children are our Future

Along with the adult acting troupes, such as the Queen's Men, there was another genre of acting troupes that influenced Shakespeare and his writing.  Children's, or boy acting troupes and their rise in popularity caught Shakespeare's attention and caused him to elevate his writing. 

Season 3, Episode 2: Not the Billing, The Bill.

On February 2nd in 1585, Shakespeare signs a baptismal certificate for his twin children Judith and Hamnet.  This is the last record we have of what he is doing for the next seven years and beginning what scholars call his “lost years”  There are many, many theories of what he was doing during this time. In this episode, we explore the story of William Knell and the Queen’s Men, and how it may shed some light on the unexpected journey the young man from Stratford would ultimately embark on.  

Season 3, Episode 1: Now, That's Entertainment

This season, we're taking a deeper look at the evolving theatre scene of the 1500-1600s and how the way plays were produced influenced what ended up in the final texts we have of William Shakespeare.  In our first episode, we explore one of the earliest influences on the young Bard: traveling and touring theater companies. Listen in to learn more about the types of productions being produced in the late 1500s and the way those touring productions shaped the written texts we know today. 

Introducing Season 3: From the Stage to the Page

Season 3 of Will: What is He Good For? is coming soon! Join us for another fun-filled series of Shakespeare history and an exploration of his plays. This season we're taking deeper look at the landscape of Elizabethan theatre, who was performing what and how. 
Listen to our teaser episode to learn more about what to expect from this season. 
From the traveling acting troupes that he would eventually join, to the children’s acting troupes that rivaled his own Lord’s Chamberlain's Men in popularity, to the spaces he worked and wrote for.  
We’ll look to the text to find examples of how Shakespeare incorporated his life on the Elizabethan stage, into his work and also consider the broader historical context. 
Join us for Season 3 of Will: What is He Good For? From the Stage to the Page.

Bonus Episode: Get to know the team behind The Merry Wives of Windsor!

In this bonus episode of "Will: What is He Good For?", hosts Victoria Gomez Wood and William Downes sit down with Rachel Purcell Fountain, the director of Classics on the Rocks' upcoming summer 2024 production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor." The trio delves into the unique challenges and exciting elements of bringing this beloved Shakespearean comedy to life. Rachel shares her vision for the production and the ways in which modern audiences can connect with the humor and themes of the play. Listen in to learn more and save the date - July 18, 19, and 20th in NYC - to see The Merry Wives of Windsor!

Soo... Good Talk?

Over the past several episodes, we've explored some of the common themes presented in Shakespeare's married couples that hint at how he felt about marriage. 
In Julius Caesar, Calpurnia and Portia are clear examples of what happens when you don't listen to your wife.
From Portia and Bassanio to Jessica and Lorenzo in Merchant of Venice - marriage doesn't guarantee a happily ever after - but in finding common ground and a shared vision for life with your partner - happiness is within reach.
As demonstrated by Kate and Petruchio, marriage is a partnership and requires teamwork as you play the game of life. 
There is one more concept that appears in Shakespeare's plays frequently from his most famous couples to those lesser known. Trust.
Trust and respect is pivotal in nearly all relationships in Shakespeare, and he offers some pretty drastic consequences for letting a marriage break.
Today, we’ll look at two plays that sum up what we feel his perspective on marriage may have been... Macbeth and The Winter's Tale.