Will: What Is He Good For?
At ”Will: What Is He Good For?” We seek to explore the question of who was the Real Shakespeare - who wrote his beautiful words - because understanding who he was can unlock the key to understanding his works and words in a new way. It also can help to inform the argument - who is he for? Is Shakespeare an old relic - only the academics, those of his time, and the cultural “elite.” Or is he indeed for everyone who wants to know and experience his plays? Throughout our series, we’ll explore the Man from Stratford’s life, history, and explore textual clues that will prove who owns Shakespeare’s words, relevance, and most importantly his legacy.
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Episodes
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
The question surrounding whether or not the man from Stratford-Upon-Avon, known as William Shakespeare, really wrote his plays, or more commonly known as the “authorship question” is a weird one. People will twist themselves into knots to discredit Shakespeare and justify alternative theories. However, if you follow the arc of his life, there is evidence that he is who he is and he did write his plays. In our first episode, we take a look at how Shakespeare's early life laid the groundwork for some of history's greatest playwriting.
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
In "Will: What Is He Good For?" we explore the question of authorship. Was that man from Stratford really the man who penned epics like Hamlet and King Lear? Listen to our quick intro to hear more about what we think and why we'll be diving into this issue over the next 6 weeks.
About Your Hosts
William Downes
Founder, Artistic Director | Classics on the Rocks
Prior to founding the NYC based theater company, Classics on the Rocks, William Downes spent years honing his craft in and around New York City. He's had the honor of playing some of Shakespeare's most delightful clowns such as Dogberry (Much Ado About Nothing) Dromio of Syracuse (Comedy of Errors) Touchstone (As You Like It) and Launce (Two Gentlemen of Verona). On the more serious side, he's played such intricate roles as Macbeth (MacBeth) Othello (Othello) Roderick (Double Falsehood) and Petruchio (Taming of the Shrew) He also teaches master classes on the use of cue scripts, and First Folio acting technique. In addition to his work with Classics on the Rocks, he does private verse and text coaching.
Victoria Wood
Associate Director | Classics on the Rocks
After graduating with her BFA from Emerson College, Victoria returned home to New York to be a part of the classical theatre scene. After playing such roles as Viola (Twelfth Night), Mistress Ford (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Lady MacDuff (Macbeth), Nerrissa (The Merchant of Venice) and Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), she also received her Masters of Public Administration at Baruch College. Victoria has been directing and co-producing classes and performances with Classics on the Rocks since 2014.
About Classics on the Rocks
Classics on the Rocks is a NYC-based ensemble acting company founded in 2013. At Classics on the Rocks, we believe that just as whiskey doesn't need anything more than rocks to tame its bite, Shakespeare doesn't need fancy concepts, modernizations, frilly costumes, or big sets to make it relatable. All you need are talented actors who trust the text and tell the story.
Our mission is to create a warm, friendly environment where actors and audience can come together and experience classical theatre in an easily accessible, and engaging way. Learn more at www.classicsontherocks.org