What we’re about
Twin Cities Shakespeare Readers meets once a month to discuss the plays of William Shakespeare, the greatest writer who ever lived. Our goal is to approach the wisdom, beauty and cognitive power of his poetry.
We meet at 6 PM on the last Monday of every month at Minneapolis Central Library in the Doty Board Room, room N-280.
The Doty Board Room, room N-280, is located on the second floor of the Minneapolis Central Library. Take the elevator or escalator up from the lobby to the second floor and go down the hallway to the left.
Audio performances of 2023 plays
Spotify: https://spotify.link/BxDcBu4hFCb
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6f0Fq3KbiVLF3TceUXVClCn9YjlxjKqa&si=4AZzbvIrVhEP6gmv
Donate
PayPal: paypal.me/robblarson
Venmo: @Robb-Larson
Upcoming events (3)
See all- “Henry V”Minneapolis Central Library, room N-202, Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Central Library: Room N-202.
There is underground parking beneath the library, off 4th St. S., for about $5. Go in to the Library lobby and then in to the book stacks area. Take the elevator or stairs up to the 2nd floor, then go all the way to the left.
This is a discussion about the play, not a reading or showing of it.
SYNOPSIS (from the Folger Library)
• Henry V begins at the English court, where the young king is persuaded that he has a claim to the throne of France. When the French dauphin, or heir apparent, insults him by sending him tennis balls, Henry launches his military expedition to France.
• Before departing, Henry learns that three of his nobles have betrayed him, and he orders their execution. Meanwhile, his old tavern companions grieve over Sir John Falstaff’s death, and then leave for France.
• Henry and his army lay siege to the French town of Harfleur, which surrenders. The Princess of France, Katherine, starts to learn English, but the French nobles are sure of success against Henry. Instead, Henry’s forces win a great victory at Agincourt.
• After a brief return to England, Henry comes back to France to claim his rights and to set up his marriage to Princess Katherine. The play’s epilogue points out that Henry will die young and that England will as a result lose most of his French territories.FREE VIDEO PERFORMANCES (YOUTUBE)
• Film (Laurence Olivier) (1944)
• Film (Kenneth Branagh, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, and Judi Dench) (1989)LOCAL LIVE PERFORMANCE
• BRICK BY BRICK PLAYERS
Elision Playhouse, 6105 42nd Ave N, Crystal, MN
May 24, 2025 - one day, two shows only: matinee and eveningKANOPY APP
Download the free app. Then link your library account to it. This will allow you free access to many Shakespeare plays.VIDEO ARTICLE
• Tim Nance (NanceNotes and Narwhals): Shakespeare’s Henry VARTICLES
• Wikipedia: “Henry V”
• “About Shakespeare’s Henry V” by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine
• “A Modern Perspective: Henry V” by Michael Neill
• SparkNotes: Henry V - Key Facts
• SparkNotes: Henry V - Full Play Summary
• SparkNotes: Henry V - Full Play Analysis
• Further Reading: Henry VGENERAL INFORMATION
• The Folger Shakespeare Library has free and paid (includes notes) downloadable texts of all of Shakespeare’s plays.
• The Folger Library: Shakespeare Documented has copies of original documents from Shakespeare’s time.
• PlayShakespeare: The Ultimate Free Shakespeare Research
• Podcast: “Approaching Shakespeare”
• SparkNotes 101: Shakespeare [Excellent synopses of all the plays.]
• Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber [Excellent analysis of all the plays.]FACEBOOK PAGES
• The Official William Shakespeare Page
• Shakespeare Study Group
• William Shakespeare: His Works and His WorldFORUM DISCUSSION
• Shakespeare Staging ProblemsAPP
• Shakespeare App - "Musical Settings for Shakespeare" at Black Forest InnBlack Forest Inn, Minneapolis, MN
June 9, 2025
7:00 - 9:00 pm"Musical Settings for Shakespeare" at Black Forest Inn
Black Forest Inn
9 E. 26th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55404Performance is in room just east of the garden.
Free admission. Great food and drinks available to order.
"Musical Settings for Shakespeare" by Ken Takata and Sarah Zuber
In this edition, participating artists and performers: Sarah Callahan, Sophie Caplin, Eric Struve, and Sarah Zuber.
Description
We know that music played a crucial role in the original productions of Shakespeare's plays because there are over 70 texts that are supposed to be sung. Unfortunately, most of the original music has been lost. This is both a problem and an opportunity for theatre companies. On one hand, productions need to figure out what music to use, which can be tricky. At the same time, productions can also use music to solve "staging problems." These are practical problems that a company might want to address and solve. The problems could be created by 1) the text, 2) the physical circumstances of the production, 3) the audience, or 4) the general culture and context of the performances.
One example of a staging problem is the disparity between the demographics of the plays and the audience. Only 16 percent of the characters in Shakespeare are female. That's in stark contrast to most audiences that go to see Shakespeare, and it raises this simple question: can you use musical settings of the texts to bridge this demographic gap?
We'll look at this and other staging problems. I promise, by the way, that this isn't going to be a lecture. 80 percent of this will be musical performances featuring three vocalists, Sarah Callahan, Sophie Caplin, and Sarah Zuber. Musical styles include the Great American Songbook, period correct (i.e., circa 1600), Western swing, glam rock, parodies of radio ads from the 1940s, and several other genres, in other words, a little something for everyone.
More details and examples at https://kentakata.com.
“This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.”
- Theatre In The Round Players: "Endometriosis: The Musical" ($5)Theatre in the Round, Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, June 19, 2025, 7:00 pm.
Theatre in the Round Players (TRP)
245 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis MN 55454"Endometriosis: The Musical" by Kristin Stowell & Maria Bartholdi
Join us for the final dress rehearsal of "Endometriosis: The Musical". The cost is $5.00 at the door. Cash preferred. NO LATE SEATING.
A shorter version of this play was a smash hit at the Minnesota Fringe Festival and it is likely to sell out here. The starting time is actually 7:30 pm but we are listing it as 7:00 pm so we can get there early enough to get seats. We suggest getting there no later than 6:45 pm.
Play Description:
The 2022 Minnesota Fringe hit is back! This new full-length production takes a humorous and playful look at the deeply flawed world of healthcare. Smart and ambitious, Jane is passionate about Business™ and is ready to take the next step in her career. When an important business presentation is derailed by chronic pain, she begins a journey for a diagnosis, discovering the complex, and oftentimes infuriating, realities of navigating a system built for anyone but you. With a catchy and moving score, be prepared to laugh until you cry (and maybe both at the same time) at this world premiere event!Run time: t/b/a
Content Warning: Strong Language
PARKING:
1. Parking is NOT free at parking meters in the evening.
2. There is a surface parking lot directly across the street from Theatre in the Round, behind The Corner Bar, where the cost is $5.00.
3. You can also park nearby in the ramp of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 1500 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454. Remember your license plate and when you are leaving the theater there is a QR code you can scan with your smart phone and only pay $5.50. (Four hour limit at this discounted price.)There is always a small chance that a performance might be cancelled at the last minute, so call TRP that afternoon to check 612-333-3010, and also check Meetup messages for this event.
