Blog Updates
Black Lives Matter June 3, 2020 - View “Anti-Racism Next Steps” Shakespeare is not a voice we naturally turn to for racial justice. There are elements of his work that are problematic for Black artists and audience members. But at his best what Shakespeare tries to do in his plays is to see every person as a full and complete human being. […]
The Spirit of the Holidays – with wine and cheese February 19, 2021 - by Christian Wills, Arts Journalist-in-Residence What makes cheese and wine so special when paired together? Why do we often combine the two with the performing arts? How do we apply these to the holidays? For as long as we can remember, dining and entertainment have always gone hand and hand. Spending time with friends and […]
Shakespeare Book Club January 29, 2021 - “Knowing that I lov’d my books, he furnish’d me from mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.” – The Tempest As winter turns to spring, join Del Shakes for a monthly book club diving into the world of Shakespeare-inspired literature. These online Zoom discussions will be held the last Sunday of the […]
An ancient tale told anew December 15, 2020 - by Gail Obenreder, Arts Journalist-in-Residence To end a challenging season – an amalgam of virtual events and safely distanced outdoor presentations – Delaware Shakespeare rounded out 2020 with an online reading of a challenging play, William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline. After a year spent offstage, exploring the canon’s scenes, monologues, and nooks and crannies, Del Shakes actors […]
Building Bridges Through Culture December 15, 2020 - by Christian Wills, Arts Journalist-in-Residence The topic around race and culture among Shakespeare productions is an ongoing conversation with those in the theatre. Audience members can gleam onto an actor’s struggle between their true selves and what’s being represented on stage. For Del Shakes, the discovery of what a culturally-specific production is and how impactful […]
Book Drive for Brevity Bookspace December 11, 2020 - This holiday season, we’re inviting you to take part in a Diverse Book Drive to support Brevity Bookspace, a mobile bookshop that aims to provide all humans of Wilmington with woke words and wisdom! Take a look at this book list of titles by culturally diverse authors, make some purchases (due to COVID-19, Brevity is requesting new books only), and then drop-off at Grace United Methodist Church. Brevity will […]
Shakespearean-esque stories at Fort Christina December 10, 2020 - by Christian Wills, Arts Journalist-in-Residence Performing arts and Mother Nature go together like cheese crackers and fine wine. Throughout history, many have seen countless outdoor plays; be it on college campuses or outdoor arenas. Many can be seen from up close or in your neighbor’s backyard. For Del Shakes, a similar, yet unique experience was […]
Two perspectives on “Color-Blind vs. Color-Conscious Casting in Shakespeare” November 29, 2020 - Del Shakes asked its two Arts Journalists-in-Residence, Christian Wills and Gail Obenreder (one BIPOC, and one white), to both share reflections on Del Shakes’ October online discussion. We hope these reflections add another dimension to the conversation. You can view the original panel HERE. COLORFUL CASTINGby Christian Wills Everyone can enjoy a cast of colorful […]
Take part in the ArtAddiction Art Contest with our friends at Latin American Community Center! Learn more in the link.
This Sunday at 4pm we're hosting our first Shakespeare Book Club: HAMNET via Zoom! The event is free to register for and you'll be invited to pay-what-you-decide after! For more info and to register visit bit.ly/delshakesbookclub![]()
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We hope these reviews are getting you excited for some lively Shakespeare-inspired literature discussion (read the full review at bit.ly/HamnetWashingtonpost)!
Join us online for Shakespeare Book Club: HAMNET on Sunday, February 28 at 4pm! There's still time to read Maggie O'Farrell's historical fiction novel based on the story of Shakespeare's marriage and son. Register and find out more at bit.ly/delshakesbookclub![]()
Check out the full review by Dawn Miranda Sherratt-Bado for "The Literary Review" at bit.ly/hamnetliteraryreview
“Text Exchange Tuesdays” is back with Episode Three. Today, Del Shakes’ Cassie Alexander takes us to nature with Duke Senior’s “Now my co-mates and brothers in exile” speech from AS YOU LIKE IT (Act 1, Scene 7). Saliym Cooper from @Brevity Bookspace responds to this text about the peace of nature in a somewhat unexpected way with an African American tall tale - THE CHAMPION LIAR. For Saliym, it’s about the nature of children and never underestimating somebody who wants something really deeply: whether it’s the peace of nature like Duke Senior or the peace of having a cow all to your own like the little boy.
It's great to see some movement in the theatre field!![]()
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"...after last summer’s Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the sense of urgency to create a more equitable theatre has intensified. ... People have recognized that to dismantle a flawed system, we need to invest in a new one. After decades of talk about funding theatres and artists of color, some are finally stepping up with the money."
After Years of Talk, Finally Some Money for Black Artists and Theatres
www.americantheatre.org
Efforts like the Black Seed, the Drinking Gourd, Next Wave initiative, and the Sprinkle-Hamlin award are directing funding to develop work by Black artists.