ShakesPod

These are two spooky vignettes that were popular or occurred during Shakespeare's time. First, Elizabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess of Hungary seems far removed from Shakespeare's time, when in reality they were born just 4 years apart. Her thirst for the immortality of youth has become the basis for many vampire legends. Then we turn to a ghost story told in Shakespeare's time--the t...

Special Guests: Shawn Andrei Janine Burgener James Lucas Today we take a dive into the first published French version of Hamlet, written by Jean Francois Ducis. We hear a scene in the original French, we translate it and see how it compares to Shakespeare's scene.

Special Guests: Sara Kannen Dean--Artistic Director of the Pear Theater, and director of The Importance of Being Earnest. Alycia Adame--plays Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest. Annalisa Tkacheff--plays Gwendolen Fairfax in The Importance of Being Earnest Drew Benjamin Jones--plays Algernon Montcrieff in The Importance of Being Earnest Kyle Dayrit--Plays Jack Worthing in The Importan...

This episode is an interview with Kunal Prasad, director of this summer's South Asian inspired Much Ado About Nothing!!

This week we interview Tom Gough, the director of SVS' free Shakespeare in the Park play, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, done in a totally awesome 1980's time warp! Find out more about Tom, Two Gents, the 80s and find out the answer to the most important question of all---Joan Jett or Pat Benetar?

Guest performers: James Lucas Video Performers: Christian Pizziarani--Narrator Amanda Le Nguyen--Amanda Dan C.--Dan

Guest performers: James Lucas Tonya Mara Paul Pinza

Guest cast: Hero--Angie Higgins Claudio--Bryan Freeman Leonato/Benedick--James Lucas Don Pedro--Tom Shamrell Don John,/Friar Francis/Beatrice/Queen Elizabeth--Doll Piccotto

Let's take a look at SVS' upcoming season--Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Much Ado About Nothing through the lens of Reddit's AITA! Special Guest actor: James Lucas

Was Dickens a real life Ebenezer Scrooge? Well, listen in and find out. It's always a little disappointing when we discover that our literary heroes weren't as heroic as we hoped. So how do we process that with the King of Christmas himself? Actors: Charles Dickens--James Lucas "An Arbor Day Carol" cast: Voice 1: Doll Piccotto Voice 2: James Lucas Scrooge: James Lucas Bob Cratchit: Doll Piccotto T...

Katelyn Miller--Mercutio from Romeo & Juliet Doll Piccotto--Marc Antony from Julius Caesar Sydney Harmon & Melissa Brown--Iachimo & Posthumus from Cymbeline Pat Tyler--Hamlet from Hamlet Bryan Freeman--The Gaeler's Daughter from Two Noble Kinsman James Lucas--Titania from A Midsummer Night's Dream

Tonight for your Halloween hauntings we present two stories--There Was A Man Dwelt Beside a Churchyard--a continuation of the story Mamilius begins to tell in A Winter's Tale, and the Ghost Story of Annie Walker. Narrator of the Ghost Story of Annie Walker: James Lucas

Stories of outdoor theater from SVS' actors, directors and crew.

Thank you to Erin Southard for a delightful interview regarding her direction of Silicon Valley Shakespeare's production of Emma. Additional acting by: Mr. James Lucas

A look at this summer's Richard III and a comparison between Shakespeare's Richard and History's Richard! Acting Credits: Richard III--James Lucas Lady Anne--Doll Piccotto Sir Thomas More--James Lucas Poem: "Richard" by Carol Anne Duffy Performed by James Lucas

Roll for initiative and prepare for a storm of epic proportions! In this episode of Shakespod we chat with Drew Jones, Director of The Tempest at Frank Bramhill Park in San Jose, June 6-22, 2025 and find out what inspired his Dungeons & Dragons take of this epic play!! Thank you to Drew Jones for his time and energy!

A first scholarly look at our 2025 Summer Free Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest, directed by Drew Benjamin Jones. Actors: James Lucas--Oberon, Puck, Prospero Doll Piccotto--Titania, Ariel

This episode dives into the weird and wacky world of Christopher Marlowe---or does it? Actors: James Lucas--Sir Toby Belch, Dogberry, Lear's Fool Doll PIccotto--Maria, Verges, King Lear

Acting Credits: Caesar and Portia: Doll Piccotto Soothsayer: James Lucas

Did Shakespeare Trick or Treat? Tune in and find out!! Players: Vincent Shakesprice--James Lucas First Fairy/Juliet--Sydney Nurse--Melissa Mei Jones Puck--Tonya Mara Sources: Astonishing legends.com 'Did Shakespeare Go Trick or Treating'--Cassidy Cash: "All Saints Day"--Britannica 'Samhain"--History.com "Imbolc"--History.com "Beltane"--History.com "Lughnassa"--History.com "Origin of Halloween"--Ha...

Ever wonder what school was like in Shakespeare's Day? Well, tune in this week to find out! This week we dive into Shakespeare's school days, what kind of education he had, and why some people think that means he couldn't have written his plays. Merry Wives of Windsor Scene performed by: Sydney Harmon, Oliver Piccotto, Doll Piccotto, and James Lucas as Sir Hugh. Sources for this podcast: Elizabeth...

This episode of Shakespod dives into the history of theatre in China and when and how Shakespeare made his arrival there. Special Guest: James Lucas performing Marc Antony from Julius Caesar. Sources: SHAKESPEARE IN CHINA Ho Hsiang-Lin The Comparatist Vol. 13 (MAY 1989) , pp. 11-21 (11 pages)Published By: University of North Carolina Press Shakespeare Reception in China by Yanna Sun Theory and Pra...

In this episode, we take an in-depth look at the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which provides the backdrop for our 2024 summer production of THE COMEDY OF ERRORS in Sanborn Park. The episode also features an interview with Melissa Mei Jones, director of THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, discussing her experience as a first-time director, her experience directing an AAPI-centric production, and much, much mor...