Course Description:

This course will consider six of Shakespeare's most popular plays, three tragedies, two comedies, and one history play.  While it will discuss many of the significant issues and approaches in Shakespeare studies today, its focus will be on performance: how the scripts were brought to life on Shakespeare's stage and how they continue to be brought to relevant life on the contemporary stage.  The question about performance will lead to a second question: how performance creates meanings in the play for its audiences.