About us
The Twin Cities Shakespeare Readers had its first meeting in April 2022. We meet once a month to discuss a play by William Shakespeare, the greatest writer who ever lived.
We usually meet on the last Monday of every month, 6-8 p.m., at the Minneapolis Central Library in downtown Minneapolis, usually in Room N-202.
We also post other events that may be of interest to our members.
We would be happy to send you a pdf file that tells you more about our group and also lists upcoming performances of Shakespeare plays in Minnesota. You can contact us by email at: TCSR.MINN@gmail.com.
Upcoming events
3
Musical Settings for Shakespeare
American School of Storytelling, 1762 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, US“Musical Settings for Shakespeare” by the Ken Takata Ensemble. Verses from Shakespeare's works set to music and singing.
Admission Price $10.
Performers: Sarah Callahan, Sophie Caplin, Laura Lentz Landstad, Ken Takata, and Sarah Zuber.
June 4th, 2026, Thursday, 7:00-9:00 pm, the American School of Storytelling, 1762 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN.
The venue is located two blocks south of the Walker Art Center. We’ve deliberately picked a Thursday evening, which is the same night that the Walker is open for free after 5 pm.
More info at https://kentakata.com
6 attendees
Theatre In The Round Players: "Blithe Spirit" ($5)
Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USThursday, June 18, 2026, 7:30 pm.
Theatre in the Round Players (TRP)
245 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis MN 55454"Blithe Spirit" by Noël Coward
Join us for the final dress rehearsal of "Blithe Spirit". The cost is $5.00 at the door. Cash preferred. NO LATE SEATING.
Play Description:
In this sparkling supernatural comedy, novelist Charles Condomine invites a medium to conduct a séance – but instead of inspiration, he accidentally conjures his late (and mischievous) first wife, Elvira. As Elvira wreaks ghostly havoc on Charles and his current marriage, things go from strange to absolutely otherworldly. With razor-sharp wit, eccentric characters, and Coward’s signature charm, Blithe Spirit is a delightfully witty reminder that the past has a way of lingering… especially when it’s not quite ready to leave.There is also a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Monday, June 29, 2026, 7:30 pm.
PARKING:
1. Parking is NOT free at parking meters in the evening, but it is not expensive. About $5.
2. 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.
3 attendees
“Pericles, Prince of Tyre” Discussion
Minneapolis Central Library, room N-202, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, mn, USMonday, June 29, 2026, 6-8 pm
Minneapolis Central Library
(Downtown Minneapolis)
300 Nicollet Mall - Room N-202
Minneapolis, MN 55401There is underground parking beneath the library, off 4th St. S., for about $6. There is also paid parking at parking meters.
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.
Few love to hear the sins they love to act.
– Pericles, Pericles; Act 1, Scene 1My Dionzya, shall we rest us here
And by relating tales of others’ griefs
See if ’twill teach us to forget our own?
– Cleon, Pericles; Act 1, Scene 4Who makes the fairest show means most deceit.
– Cleon, Pericles; Act 1, Scene 4A man whom both the waters and the wind
In that vast tennis court hath made the ball
For them to play upon entreats you pity him.
– Pericles, Pericles; Act 2, Scene 1Help, master, help! Here’s a fish
hangs in the net like a poor man’s right in the law:
’twill hardly come out.
– Second Fisherman, Pericles; Act 2, Scene 1Opinion’s but a fool that makes us scan
The outward habit for the inward man.
– Simonides, Pericles; Act 2, Scene 2O, come, be buried
A second time within these arms.
– Pericles, Pericles; Act 5, Scene 3SYNOPSIS OF PLAY (from the Folger Library)
FREE VIDEOS - FULL PLAY (YOUTUBE)
• Shakespeare in the Park (Eugene, OR) (2019)
• GreenStage Shakespeare in the Park (2022)
• The Adventures Of Pericles (2016)
• Pericles (Paul Scofield, Judi Dench) [audio only]FREE VIDEOS - OTHER (YOUTUBE)
• Tim Nance: Shakespeare’s Pericles Discussion and Summary (22:38)
• Harvard ENGL E-129 - Lecture 9: Pericles by Marjorie Garber (2007) (1:52:23)KANOPY APP
Download the free app. Then link your library account to it. This will allow you free access to many Shakespeare plays. You can also watch the Shakespeare series “Upstart Crow” for free.
(Currently it appears that Hennepin County, St. Paul, and Ramsey County library systems are not participating in this program, but that Anoka County and Washington County library systems are.)ARTICLES
• Wikipedia: Pericles, Prince of Tyre
• SparkNotes: Pericles - Overview
• SparkNotes: Pericles - Full Play Summary
• SparkNotes: Pericles - Full Play Analysis
• SparkNotes: Pericles - Mini Essays
• SparkNotes: Pericles - Suggested Essay Topics
• About Shakespeare’s Pericles by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine
• A Modern Perspective: Pericles by Margaret Jane Kidnie
• Appendix: The “Pericles” Story in Gower and Twine
• The post-modern peregrinations of Pericles by Sujata Iyengar
• Further Reading: PericlesPODCASTS & TRANSCRIPTS
• Approaching Shakespeare (Emma Smith): Pericles
• Shakespeare Unlimited, Episode 131:
How Pericles Inspired Mark Haddon’s novel The Porpoise (October 28, 2019)
• The Play’s the Thing: PericlesLIVE PERFORMANCES IN MINNESOTA
• “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” (June 25 - July 25, 2026)
Great River Shakespeare Festival, Winona, MNGENERAL RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
• 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”
• Podcast: “Shakespeare Unlimited” Play by Play
• Play On Podcasts
• SparkNotes 101: Shakespeare [Excellent synopses of all the plays.]
• Book: Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber [Excellent analysis of all the plays.] Kindle edition only $5.99!FACEBOOK PAGES
• The Official William Shakespeare Page
• Shakespeare Study Group
• William Shakespeare: His Works and His WorldAPP
• Shakespeare AppBEST SHAKESPEARE USED BOOK SELECTIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES
• Midway Books, St. Paul
• The Book House, Minneapolis
• James & Mary Laurie Booksellers, Minneapolis
• Magers and Quinn, Minneapolis
• Half Price Books6 attendees
Past events
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