Tag Archives: Othello
IF Fall 2018
Improbable Fictions is hosting three events this fall:
· Wednesday, Sep 12, 7:30 pm, Medieval Medley, a staged reading of several Medieval plays, including works from Hrotsvitha and the Chester Cycle, at 205 Gorgas Library
· Wednesday, Oct 17, 7:30 pm, a staged reading of Shakespeare’s Othello at the Tuscaloosa Cultural Arts Center (http://cac.tuscarts.org/contactus.php)
· Friday, November 2, 5:00 pm, Improbable Fictions will present an array of American Literature readings as part of First Friday Art Walk in Downtown Tuscaloosa and the Southern Literary Trail’s Exhibit of the Steve Soboroff Typewriter Collection. On display will be George Bernard Shaw’s typewriter along with others used by Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, Gore Vidal, Ray Bradbury, Tom Hanks, Maya Angelou, and John Lennon. The readings and exhibit will be at the Tuscaloosa Cultural Arts Center (http://cac.tuscarts.org/contactus.php).
As always, if you’re interested in getting involved, leave a comment or email me at nrhelms@ua.edu!
IF’s Spring 2018 Season and Casting Call!
We’re still casting for all shows, so feel free to reach out to Nic Helms (nrhelms@ua.edu) or any of our directors if you’d like to participate!
- Thursday, Jan 18, 7:30pm at 205 Gorgas Library, a staged reading of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, directed by Mark Hulse (mchulse@crimson.ua.edu).
- Thursday, Feb 15, 7:30pm at the Tuscaloosa Cultural Arts Center (http://cac.tuscarts.org/contactus.php), a staged reading of Shakespeare’s Henry IV part 2, Electric Boogaloo, directed by Richard LeComte, dramaturgy by Austin Whitver (richard.lecomte@ua.edu, hawhitver@ua.edu).
- Late March or early April, an Easter-themed Medieval staged reading, venue TBA, directed by Deborah Parker, dramaturgy by Cordelia Ross (parkerburch@comcast.net, caross4@ua.edu).
- Thursday, Apr 19, 7:30pm at the Tuscaloosa Cultural Arts Center (http://cac.tuscarts.org/contactus.php), a staged reading of Edward Bond’s Bingo, a play about the last years of Shakespeare’s life, directed by Steve Burch (sburch@as.ua.edu).
And here’s the poster for our first show:
Cry Havoc!
If you get a spare 30 minutes (during a drive or run, perhaps), listen to the most recent Folger Shakespeare Library podcast:
http://www.folger.edu/shakespeare-unlimited/war-stephan-wolfert
Stephan Wolfert’s work with veterans and Shakespeare is worth talking about for many reasons, but one stands out as relevant to my own work on Shakespeare and mindreading. Wolfert notes that in decades of work with Shakespeare’s plays, he’s never heard a veteran question why Othello would believe the things Iago says about Desdemona. Iago and Othello served together in combat, and for former soldiers that bond serves as the ultimate foundation for trust. Don Pedro, Don John, and Claudio are in a very similar situation (if we can assume they all fought together before the start of Much Ado). So much language in the play talks about the transition from war to home life! I’ll have to keep military service in mind as I continue to work through misread minds in Shakespeare..
Improbable Fictions’ 2017-18 Season
Fall 2017 casting calls!
If you’re interested in reading for Titia Andronica, please contact Erin Hildebrand (eahildebrand@crimson.ua.edu) and Courtney Parker (caparker4@crimson.ua.edu).
If you’re interested in reading for Samson Agonistes, please contact Nic Helms (nrhelms@ua.edu).
If you’re interested in reading archival World War I materials at the Kentuck Festival of the Arts, please contact Deborah Parker (parkerburch@comcast.net).
Casting calls for Spring 2018 will come in December.
Sprockets and Springes 