Shakespeare Anyone?

In recognition of the National Day of Mourning/Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, we are exploring how the "Age of Exploration" and Colonial Imagination in Early Modern England influenced Shakespeare's works--specifically The Tempest . Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith"....

To wrap up our deep dive into Shakespeare's  Twelfth Night , we are bringing things full circle by examining the 00's teen classic movie that introduced both of us (and many others) to the plot of  Twelfth Night:  She's the Man , starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney S...

In today's mini-episode, we are talking all about Christopher Marlowe, one of Shakespeare's contemporaries. We'll talk about what is known about this mysterious playwright's life as well as the legends that surround him! Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith". Episode written and re...

In today's episode, we are exploring the character of Malvolio by diving into the history of the Puritan Movement in Early Modern England. Because Malvolio is described throughout the play as a Puritan, we will examine what a contemporary understanding of Puritanism would have added to the play (and especially that letter scene) for Shakespeare's audiences.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and prod...

In today's episode, we are talking about what might be the most famous theatre in the English-speaking world: The Globe Theatre, and what we know about what it would be like to be an audience member seeing a Shakespeare play at The Globe.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith". Epi...

Where did Shakespeare get his jokes? In today's episode, we dive into the comedic tropes Shakespeare uses in the plot of Twelfth Night and where they came from.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith". Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on Instagram at @s...

In today's episode, we'll be covering cross-dressing in early modern England. Shakespeare depicts cross-dressing in multiple plays, but what was the contemporary cultural context? We'll dive into early modern reactions to cross-dressing both onstage and off and how Shakespeare uses cross-dressing as a plot device across his plays.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and...

In today's episode, we explore Shakespeare's Twelfth Night through the lens of Gender and Queer Theory. We take a look at how Early Modern concepts of gender and queerness may have influenced the writing of  Twelfth Night and how modern productions use the play to explore themes related to gender and queer identity.  In the second half of the episode, we are joined by our first ever guest of the p...

In today's mini-episode, we are exploring Shakespeare's Language Framework. In this episode, we will discuss technical elements of how Shakespeare plays  were written,  as well as provide tips and tricks for navigating what can be a major hurdle to reading and performing Shakespeare: the text itself. How do you actually start to understand what is written on the page? We dive into the clues that c...

Scholars know that Shakespeare's  Twelfth Night was performed at court. But what does that mean?  In today's episode, we're diving into what producing a play at court looked like for Shakespeare and his contemporaries as well as how performing at court influenced characters and themes of plays like  Twelfth Night.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note...

In this episode, we will go over the major themes of Twelfth Night and touch on topics we will cover in depth in future episodes as well as any fun facts.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith". Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Follow us on...

It's time to dive into our second play! To cleanse our palates of the murder and mayhem of Macbeth , we are switching to one of Shakespeare's comedies: Twelfth Night ! As with  Macbeth,  we are starting off with a summary of the action in the play--just in case it has been a while since you've read the play or if you are unfamiliar with it.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney...

We can hardly believe it, but here it is: our final episode in our  Macbeth series (for now)! Before moving on to our next play, we wanted to cover how  Macbeth  has been adapted for stage and screen and how the myth of the hero turned tyrant continues to shape our world narratives.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded...

Ever wonder where Shakespeare got his inspiration or ideas for plays? In this episode, we explore the history behind one of Shakespeare's major sources for many of his plays: Holinshed's Chronicles .  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith". Episode written and researched by Kourtney...

Remember when we said that we'd cover all of the different parts of  Macbeth that were influenced by King James being on the throne or written *just* for him? In this episode, we finally get around to talking about all of that! Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was "Korey Leigh Smith". Music is "Never...

Today we have a new mini-episode for you!  In these mini-episodes, we'll be exploring topics that are related to Shakespeare but aren't necessarily connected to whatever play we've been discussing. And they're mini, because well, they're shorter than our other episodes. They're like quartos if the regular episodes are folio editions. In today's episode, we are exploring the Four Humours, which wer...

In this week's episode, we'll be discussing the elements of tyranny and treason as they appear in Shakespeare's play  Macbeth as well as modern parallels to the plot and character of Macbeth and the implications of tyranny and treason in the Early Modern Era.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created, written, produced, and hosted by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kour...

Introducing the first of our Mini Episodes!  In these mini-episodes, we'll be exploring topics that are related to Shakespeare but aren't necessarily connected to whatever play we've been discussing. And they're mini, because well, they're shorter than our other episodes. They're like quartos if the regular episodes are folio editions.  In this episode, we dive into the Gunpowder Plot--an event wh...

In this episode, we are examining the gender politics of Shakespeare's Macbeth : how gender is represented in the play and how it affects our understanding of characters.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created, written, produced, and hosted by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "Korey Leigh Smith". Music is "Neverending Minute" by...

In this episode, we tackle reading King James I's Demonology so you don't have to! Because it. is. a. lot. But there's also plenty of source material in there that likely informed the depiction of witchcraft in Macbeth . Shakespeare Anyone? is created, written, produced, and hosted by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Our theme music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander. Works Referenced: K...

Ever read  Macbeth  and wonder, "Why witches?" Well, if you were trying to earn favor with your new Scottish King who was OBSESSED with witchcraft, maybe you'd write some witches into your very Scottish play.  In this episode, we explore the concept of witchcraft in Early Modern Scotland, King James I's obsession with the topic, and the North Berwick Witch Trials to discover the cultural context t...

There's so much to talk about with each play that doesn't fit into the synopsis or into its own episode, so we've decided to cover several topics in this episode. In this episode, we discuss major thematic elements in Shakespeare's  Macbeth as well as topics that are usually covered or talked about in reference to this play.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse...

Before diving into our discussions surrounding Macbeth , we wanted to give a synopsis of the events of the play as they are written for anyone who hasn't read the play at all, in a while, or found it confusing to try and read on their own.  Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Note: When this episode was recorded, Kourtney Smith was using the stage name "K...

This is Part 3 of our intro series "Stuff You Should Know," which covers some background and context into the life and times of Shakespeare, because art isn't created in a vacuum. In this episode, we'll be covering some basic information about Shakespeare. And when we say basic, we mean basic. And, even though Shakespeare is a famous figure, scholars and historians actually know quite little about...

This is Part 2 of our intro series "Stuff You Should Know," which covers some background and context into the life and times of Shakespeare, because art isn't created in a vacuum. In this episode, we'll be covering some basic information about early modern England during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. And when we say basic, we mean basic. This is a quick overview of early modern England, more...