Demos

These demonstrations illuminate how Shakespeare’s text can undergo subtle changes and allow audiences to more fully understand not only the language but also the depth of the stories.

As our President and Co-Founder Lue Douthit says, "I can’t fully explain Play On Shakespeare to you, you need to experience the work yourself to understand what we’re doing.”

Hearing the language side-by-side in these in-person demonstrations has been overwhelmingly positive and profound for so many.

Whether you are an audience member, artist, or educator, we hope you discover something new about Shakespeare’s plays through the translations. And once you have, we have a feeling that you’ll be ready to Play On with us!

Try it again, bite-size

King Lear

Translator: Marcus Gardley
Dramaturgs: Nakissa Etemad & Philippa Kelly

Act 3 • Scene 4

Lisa Wolpe steps into an important moment in the play King Lear. Lear and his followers have rushed out into the storm and have found shelter out on the heath. It’s as different from his privileged life as king as could possibly have. In a good story, people must make decisions that can change the trajectory of their lives. In this moment of the play, something big is about to change

Romeo & Juliet

Translator: Hansol Jung
Dramaturg: Aaron Malkin

Act 1 • Scene 1

In the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet, we find Sampson and Gregory, played by actors Rodney Gardiner & Amy Kim Waschke, two servants of the house of Capulet, strolling through the streets of Verona. They discuss their contempt for their rival family, the Montagues. We experience the Capulet companions discussing violence as tools to dominate their rivals.

Macbeth

Translator: Migdalia Cruz
Dramaturg: Ishia Bennison

Act 1 • Scene 7

With a performance by actor Wayne T. Carr, this scene (Macbeth, Act I, Scene VII) finds Macbeth as he contemplates the planned assassination of King Duncan. We see Macbeth in a room in his castle, meditating on whether to murder Duncan, which would allow him to seize the throne of Scotland for himself.

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