There are those who can recall times when Bob Glenn beat his brains out producing the Shakespeare Festival. Despite Bob’s being gone from active participation, his beloved productions of Shakespeare continued on to become known as Shakespeare Dallas. It’s been a treasure, but relegated to outdoor venues in the summer and educational programs.
Today a change has been announced and a big one at that. Thanks to the Mankoff Family Foundation, “a new artistic collaboration that over the next five years will present” The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.
That means that during the months of September, October, November, January, February, March, April and May, monthly staged readings in the Nancy B. Hamon Hall in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House will take place with local and regional actors and directors on stage.
“Shakespeare’s timeless work connects with diverse audiences on every level, and now all of these works will be presented in one place in the span of a few years,” said Doug Curtis, acting president and CEO of the AT&T Performing Arts Center. “This is exactly the kind of creative, even ambitious programming Dallas expects this Center to present.”
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare will utilize a staged reading format with simple props, lighting and costumes to keep the focus on the poetry and brilliance of the text. The performances will take place on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings, encouraging participation by a wide range of Dallas’ theatrical artists and audiences alike.
The 2012-2013 season is tentatively scheduled to have:
- September 23 and 24 — Much Ado About Nothing
- October 14 and 15 — Othello
- November 25 and 26 — The Taming of the Shrew
- January 13 and 14 — The Winter’s Tale
- February 17 and 18 — Henry VI Part 1
- March 10 and 11 — Henry VI Part 2
- April 14 and 15 — Henry VI Part 3
- May 19 and 20 — Richard III
“We, obviously, have a passion for Shakespeare and his entire catalogue of work,” said Shakespeare Dallas’ Raphael Parry. “This unique partnership really allows us to utilize our decades of experience in order to share all of this, including his lesser known works, with Dallas audiences.”
Seating will be limited to 200 people per performance, so when the tickets are made available for purchase, hop to it.
The Bard and Bob are probably so pleased with this announcement. Nice one, Mankoff Family Foundation.