Author Archives: Laurie Swigart

Or 101-level-syllabus-in-a-Book… Or Semester-Unit-in-a-Book…Or… “Performance Approaches to Shakespeare” is a concise, all-in-one resource for directors and teachers at all levels of drama and English education – all the way from middle school to the university level and even beyond. Written, as the title suggests, not from a literary or academic perspective (and not necessarily aContinue reading “Workshop-in-a-Book…”

Because of the very narrow demographic niche of “Performance Approaches to Shakespeare,” I opted to self-publish. The book is aimed toward middle and high school English and Theatre educators and directors as well as for potential use as a college textbook in an “Intro to Performing Shakespeare” course. It isn’t the kind of book peopleContinue reading “Available only on lulu.com!”

To Cut or Not to Cut [Activity excerpt from “Performance Approaches to Shakespeare,” p. 20] Purpose:      To demonstrate how to decide if and how a scene can be successfully cut, in this case, to 2-3 minutes in length Preparation:      Access to selected scene or soliloquy Process:      1. Read the scene aloud lineContinue reading “Fun Friday”

[excepts from “Performance Approaches to Shakespeare”, p. 14] No teachers or directors need to put pressure on themselves to be an expert in Shakespeare. The purpose of the strategies presented in this book is to provide guidelines, like a loosely written recipe with a dollop of this and a pinch of that. It is everyContinue reading “Thursday’s Thought”

This woman is my hero! Last week I posted a video featuring Dame Judi Dench reciting a sonnet. Today I was directed to this youtube video wherein she and her co-author, Brendan O’Hea, discuss her new book, “Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent” available on Amazon. I resonate so much with what she saysContinue reading “Judi Dench, Part 2”

Macbeth Act Two, Scene Three Here’s a knocking indeed! If aman were porter of hell-gate, he should haveold turning the key. Knocking withinKnock,knock, knock! Who’s there, i’ the name ofBeelzebub? Here’s a farmer, that hangedhimself on the expectation of plenty: come intime; have napkins enow about you; hereyou’ll sweat for’t. Knocking withinKnock,knock! Who’s there, inContinue reading “Knock Knock, Who’s There?”

(from Macbeth Act 2, Scene 1, spoken by Macbeth) Is this a dagger which I see before me,The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.Art thou not, fatal vision, sensibleTo feeling as to sight? or art thou butA dagger of the mind, a false creation,ProceedingContinue reading “Monday Movie & Monologue – Macbeth 2.1”

(activity #2 from “Performance Approaches to Shakespeare,” p. 20) Purpose:To identify similarities and differences among acting editions Preparation:Access to the same scene from three different acting editions (RSC, Arden, Norton, Penguin, etc. Process:1. This can be an individual or group process.2. Summarize what is taking place in the scene.3. Identify three differences among the threeContinue reading “Comparing Acting Editions”