I am currently teaching Grade 12 University English at summer school in York Region. I actually enjoy summer school; it’s one group of kids for one month doing one course. It’s condensed, it’s intensive, it has none of the distractions of Day School, and on a selfish note, the pay ain’t too shabby. This month,… Read More What are we trying to learn here?
It’s very interesting to see that, in the final months of the 400th anniversary of his death, we are still seeing Shakespeare in the news. In the last week, two major announcements have been made about Shakespeare’s works, and the performance of them. Will and Kit Based on new research using data and algorithms, it… Read More Shakespeare in the News
In January 2017, my production of Much Ado About Nothing will go up at Theatre Aurora in Aurora, Ontario. You should come and audition! My producer Mary MacDonald-Rival and I have met and set the dates and information about the show. Auditions will take place September 6th and 8th, with callbacks on September 11 Actors… Read More Much Ado Auditions
With a final click on the University of Birmingham’s Canvas portal, I submitted (and verified that it was submitted) my paper for the Shakespeare and Pedagogy module, thereby officially completing the first year of my MA. *insert huge sigh of relief here.” It has been quite a journey. I think back to that afternoon in… Read More Here Endeth Year One
On the first day of the IDEA Paris Conference last summer, as I sat in the Theatre de l’Odéon waiting for the morning’s keynote, a young Irish doctoral candidate who was sitting next to me asked me if I’d be willing to complete a short survey for her thesis. I agreed, and she began asking… Read More The Best of Both Worlds
When I was in Stratford-upon-Avon for the Pedagogy Module in my MA in Shakespeare and Education, one of the first exercises we had was to establish a philosophical premise for an active approach to teaching Shakespeare. One of the quotes that was used in the exercise was from Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey.… Read More “Translating” Shakespeare
Well, I had my first major mess-up as a Grad student. The final essay for the Research Skills and Methods module was due on April 30th at Noon GMT, which is 7am EST, where I live. My General MO is to submit the essay the night before, just so I have some time to make… Read More No Witty Fool
Graphic Courtesy Shakespeare in the Ruff I recently had the opportunity to write a guest blog for the Toronto-based Shakespeare in the Ruff, a newer outdoors Shakespeare company that operates in Withrow Park, in the Danforth-Riverdale neighbourhood. I have been a fan of theirs since I saw their first show a few years ago,… Read More My Guest Blog for Shakespeare in the Ruff
One of the reasons I had originally chosen doing the MA at the Shakespeare Institute (besides the program itself) was that they offered summer session courses. I was really looking forward to going to England for two summers to complete my coursework on campus – I’m very much a classroom learner, which is why doing… Read More The cost of actually *going* to school
WHEN in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself, and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featur’d like him, like him with friends possess’d, Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope,… Read More One of those days…
Better a Witty Fool than a Foolish Wit 