It's Webcast Wednesday!

Join the webcast at 11:30 this morning for a live discussion of Fuente Ovejuna with Director of Literary Services David Prosser and actors Scott Wentworth (Commander Guzman) and Robert Persichini (Mengo).

Plus, get the female perspective on the topic ("love, lust, and revenge") in a pre-recorded interview with Sarah Topham (Laurencia) and Severn Thompson (Pascuala).

Ask a question in advance.

Webcast at 4:30 ET

"Hamlet's Women" is the subject of this afternoon's webcast. Maria Ricossa (Gertrude) and Adrienne Gould (Ophelia) join webcast host and Festival General Director Antoni Cimolino for a live chat right here.

Unable to watch the live version? You can ask a question now and get the answer when you watch the episode on-demand sometime tomorrow.

First Preview Today

The 2008 Stratford Shakespeare Festival season begins today with a preview of Hamlet; the unveiling of the new Festival Theatre lobby (including cafe and concert stage), the new Discovery Centre Theatre Store; and a special chorus of "Happy Birthday" for the bard.

Voice coach Patsy Rodenburg will be on hand in the store to sign copies of her book, The Second Circle. Rodenburg and the Festival's Head of Coaching Janine Pearson will be featured in today's webcast (at 4:30 ET). And, of course, you can always ask a question in advance.

Check Out The YouTube Channel

The most recent webcast, which featured actors Ian Lake and Stacie Steadman, Birmingham Conservatory Director Martha Henry, and fight director John Stead, is now available on the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's YouTube channel.

If you've already seen it, there are a number of other videos to keep you amused this weekend:

Teaching Shakespeare at Stratford (in two parts);

Bruce Dow's video diaries;

A LEGO version of Emilia Galotti to get you excited for the touring production;

Plus all the behind-the-scenes featurettes with directors, designers, and actors from this season and last. Enjoy!

Webcasts On-Demand

Yesterday's live webcast with Birmingham Conservatory graduates and Love's Labours Lost actors Ian Lake (Berowne) and Stacie Steadman (Jacquenetta) is now available on-demand.

Click the link (the video isn't available on the Festival's YouTube channel yet), and enjoy the q-and-a with the actors and pre-recorded segments with fight director John Stead and Birmingham Conservatory director Martha Henry.

While you're there, check out the past webcasts:

#1 General Director Antoni Cimolino, who hosts all webcasts, introduces the 2008 season.

#2 Director Peter Hinton reveals that Queen Elizabeth I will be making a personal appearance in the induction of The Taming of the Shrew (2008).

#3 Peter Donaldson (Friar Lawrence) answers questions about the Romeo and Juliet (2008) you have to see.

#4 Though he's "never been an actor afraid of going out on a limb", Bruce Dow (Emcee) seems a bit concerned that his role in Cabaret (2008) isn't defined in the script.

#5 Gareth Potter (Romeo) and Nikki M. James (Juliet) talk about the play and a bit about themselves. Lucy Peacock (Nurse) appears in a pre-taped interview.

#6 Designer Patrick Clark walks through the costume and scene shops preparing for a very exciting production of The Music Man (2008).

#7 Jonathan Goad (Harold Hill) and Leah Oster (Marian Paroo) misbehave during pre-recorded segments with Music Man director Susan Schulman. And a bit on camera.

Wednesday Webcast #8

This afternoon, Birmingham Conservatory graduates Ian Lake (Berowne) and Stacie Steadman (Jaquenetta) will be with Stratford Shakespeare Festival General Director Antoni Cimolino to discuss Love's Labours Lost (2008).

Follow this link to join in the live webcast, scheduled for 4:30 ET.

Remember, you can always ask a question in advance, and that all previous webcasts are available on-demand and through the Festival's YouTube channel.

Rehearsing The Music Man

If you missed yesterday's live webcast, or want to watch it again, it is now available in the archives and on the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's YouTube channel (the following links are specific to YouTube).

After a brief introduction of our host, General Director Antoni Cimolino, and guests, Leah Oster and Jonathan Goad, part one gives us a pre-taped interview with director Susan Schulman.

Part two begins on the stage of the Avon Theatre, where designer Patrick Clark shows us a surprising number of set pieces. Then it's back to the studio for audience questions. Leah Oster discusses her work history and the audition process; Jonathan Goad bandies with himself about the differences between Shakespeare and musical theatre; and they both gush about their costumes.

The question-and-answer period continues in part three. Oster and Goad talk about their characters falling in love, kissing on stage, preparing for their roles. There's also a sneak preview of Goad's rapping talents.

Enjoy!

NEXT WEDNESDAY: Ian Lake and Stacie Steadman on Love's Labours Lost (2008).

Wednesday Webcast #7

Stars Jonathan Goad and Leah Oster are set to chat about The Music Man (2008) this afternoon at 4:30 ET. (Follow the link here to watch.)

If you can't make it, you can ask a question in advance, and then watch the archived version tomorrow. Or watch last week's webcast with designer Patrick Clark now.

Wednesday Webcast for March 12

This Wednesday Webcast is over, but you can look forward to the archived version tomorrow, and enjoy these highlights in the meantime:

-- General Director Antoni Cimolino takes us on a backstage tour of Cabaret (2008), emphasizing the millinery and costume departments;

-- We meet company members Jewelle Blackman (from Toronto; her most recent run was in We Will Rock You, during which she met Evan Buliung) and Sam Strasfeld (this is his third season, following four at the Shaw Festival);

-- During the question and answer session, Bruce Dow admits he's "never been an actor afraid of going out on a limb", and then proceeds to discuss the frightening freedom in preparing for his role as the Emcee (a character who is not defined in the original script);

-- Plus, find out what Cimolino says "blew his mind"!

DON'T FORGET: past webcasts are available online, too, and feature director Peter Hinton talking about The Taming of the Shrew (2008) and actor Peter Donaldson talking about Romeo and Juliet (2008).

NEXT WEDNESDAY: Stars Gareth Potter and Nikki M. James join the second webcast on Romeo and Juliet (2008). Already know what you want to ask? Ask a question in advance.

Romeo and Juliet Webcast Archived

This week's Wednesday Webcast is now available in the archives.

NEXT WEDNESDAY: Antoni Cimolino and actor Bruce Dow (Emcee) take us backstage at the Avon Theatre for Cabaret (2008).

It's Webcast Wednesday

At 4:30 PM, a live webcast will feature Romeo and Juliet (2008) both backstage and in discussions with Stratford Shakespeare Festival General Director Antoni Cimolino, Artistic Director (and R and J director) Des McAnuff, and actor Peter Donaldson, who will be playing Friar Lawrence.

If you can't make it, don't fret; all the webcasts are being archived here. And you can now ask a question in advance, so when you watch it a day or two later it will be just like watching it live.

Shrew Webcast Archived

In the Wednesday Webcast for February 27, director Peter Hinton and Stratford Shakespeare Festival General Director Antoni Cimolino took viewers on a backstage tour of The Taming of the Shrew (2008) and answered questions as they were posed live by the online audience.

You can now watch (or re-watch) that webcast in the video archives.

Don’t have a half-hour at the moment? No worries. Here are a few highlights:

-- The Taming of the Shrew (2008) has been rehearsing for four weeks now, and is just moving into the Festival Theatre (where previews begin May 19);

-- Director Peter Hinton believes that both Katherina (Irene Poole) and Petruchio (Evan Buliung) fall in love with each other. Cimolino thinks the result is a "gentle, thoughtful approach"” to the controversial play;

-- In the scene during which Petruchio and Lucentio (Jeff Lillico) exchange identities, they will also be exchanging their clothes on stage. And, since the actors are different sizes, it will be both comic "and believable";

-- Hinton is planning on using the induction. Often ignored for drawing attention to the play within a play, Hinton enjoys the induction not only because it sets the tone of the piece, but because it is the single portion of the canon that takes place in Shakespeare’s London;

-- Queen Elizabeth I (Barbara Fulton), an important element of that present, will be making an appearance in the induction as the lord who devises to put on the play. Her costume is based on the Ermine Portrait, pictured below.
Peter Hinton, who is spearheading the production of Shakespeare’s Universe (Her Infinite Variety) (2008), also managed to give us a few concrete details about what it will involve – scenes and sonnets from Shakespeare, period dances and songs, poetry written by Queen Elizabeth I, and a very special swordfight for the women.

If you missed the casting announcement for Shakespeare’s Universe (Her Infinite Variety) (2008), details are available here.

Watch the entire webcast (or selected parts via the "Video Playlist" tab) for more talk on working at the Studio Theatre versus the Festival Theatre, how Lucy Peacock ended up in the role of Grumio, and some great visuals in the costume and props shops.

NEXT WEDNESDAY: Go behind the scenes of Romeo and Juliet (2008) with Antoni Cimolino and director Des McAnuff.

Wednesday Webcasts to be Regular Feature

This time last month, we were gearing up for a live webcast with General Director Antoni Cimolino (the archived version is available here).

This time this month, we’re sorry there wasn’t a great deal of notice about the live webcast behind the scenes of Taming of the Shrew (2008) with Cimolino and director Peter Hinton.

It will be archived soon (we promise), but until then, please enjoy this good news: the Stratford Shakespeare Festival will feature a live webcast every Wednesday at 4:30 ET.

There are eight more webcasts until the season begins on April 23. Here’s what you can look forward to:

MARCH 5 – Behind the scenes of Romeo and Juliet (2008) with Antoni Cimolino and director Des McAnuff;

MARCH 12 – See the 76 trombones being used in The Music Man (2008) with an as-yet-unidentified host.

MARCH 19 – A sneak peek of Cabaret (2008);

MARCH 26 – Discussions (participation welcome) about classical theatre and why it is relevant – and necessary – to us today;

APRIL 2 – Guest actors (to be announced) will be featured in this webcast about Romeo and Juliet (2008);

APRIL 9 – A guided tour of the renovations at the Festival, most likely including the new Festival Theatre lobby and Discovery Centre gift shop (and perhaps the Festival Pavilion);

APRIL 16 – Hamlet (2008) gets a facelift, and you get an exclusive preview;

APRIL 23 – Promoting and discussing the uncommon works on the playbill, such as Emilia Galotti (2008) and Fuente Ovejuna (2008). The season begins with a matinee preview of Hamlet (2008)!

We’ll be bringing you updates (yes, about the mysterious guest actors) and details each week on Webcast Wednesday. Just look for the tag.

Wednesday's Webcast Now Online

If you missed the live webcast with General Director Antoni Cimolino yesterday, or you want to see it again, it's now available online at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

All segments will play by default, but you can open each individually from the video playlist.

PART A - Introduction from Antoni Cimolino. (5 minutes)

PART B - Backstage tour. (20 minutes)

You'll see maquettes for Romeo and Juliet (2008), The Taming of the Shrew (2008), Hamlet (2008), and The Music Man (2008) in the scenic arts shop.

Then it's off to the Avon Theatre, where Cabaret (2009) really does look as if it's "been through a war".

Backstage at the Festival Theatre, in the wardrobe department, you'll see sketches for Bruce Dow and Leah Oster, as well as shoes being made for Stephen Ouimette.

Finally, they'll spoil a plot point from Cabaret (2008) in the props shop.

PART C - Antoni Cimolino takes questions from live participants. (11 minutes)

Why do Shakespeare today? What can you tell us about new play development in the fall? (It's expanded, so news will be slow.) Why do musicals in the Avon? Are you really doing Shaw? (Yes, it's part of the repetoire.)

And then it lapses into promotional information about the new $20 ticket program, the Festival Pavilion, and whether or not passports are required for crossing the border on land.

Cimolino also announced that there will be seating available on the Tom Patterson stage for There Reigns Love (2009), a look at Shakespeare through his sonnets developed and performed by Simon Callow.

Just follow the link for your own guided tour behind the scenes of the 2008 season at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Live Webcast at 4:30 ET

Just a reminder of the live webcast this afternoon at 4:30pm. Stratford Shakespeare Festival General Director Antoni Cimolino will be leading a tour of the backstage area and answering questions.

To participate, follow the links on the Festival website.

For more details, defer to this post.

Backstage in Webcast Wednesday

Rehearsals begin today for the 2008 Stratford Shakespeare Festival season.

Enthusiasts are invited backstage into the costume and scene shops during a webcast airing live this Wednesday, January 30.

General Director Antoni Cimolino will lead the tour, which will focus on the first four Shakespearian productions - Hamlet (2008), The Taming of the Shrew (2008), Love's Labours Lost (2008), and All's Well That Ends Well (2008) - as well as both musicals - The Music Man (2008) and Cabaret (2008).

Cimolino will also answer questions from participants.

While you're waiting for the 4:30pm ET webcast, check out the production construction photographs posted earlier this month.