It’s not a class; it’s not required. It’s just for the love of Shakespeare.
“I came up with the idea several years ago,” said Kelly Thomas, Augusta University’s Maxwell Theatre director, about a new program that will be held on the theater’s portico. “And we revisited it at the beginning of last semester.”
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Speaking Shakespeare is a joint effort between the theater and the university’s Department of English and World Languages. The series begins March 2 and will be held every other Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. It’s open to Augusta University students, faculty and staff.
The group will be reading “Much Ado about Nothing.” It won’t be performed. There won’t be any sets or costumes, just reading and interpreting the words on the page.
“Our thought is that we’ll read the same play for three weeks with whoever comes,” he said.
From there, they will explore some of Shakespeare’s other works.
Dr. Blaire Zeiders, an assistant professor, said they wanted to start with something a little lighter and maybe not a play that everyone was as familiar with.
“We were wondering what would be good for a first play. More people probably have experience with ‘Romeo and Juliet,’” she said. “We thought of something maybe a little more comedic.”
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They hope this will be the type of program that will grow as students become involved.
Thomas said he doesn’t know where it could lead. He said he hopes that the students will guide it. When pandemic restrictions lift, he said he could see this program eventually expanding to the general public if there are any Shakespeare lovers who’d be interested.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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