The Shakesolo Festival features Bard-inspired solo performances. Revisit both the beloved and maligned plays of Shakespeare via the perspectives brought by ambitious women, victims of abuse, and internet personality quizzes. Join us in person or watch from the comfort of your own home via livestream. Shows below!
TWO HOUSEHOLDS
Thursday July 22nd & Thursday July 29th
Two Households, a one person adaptation of Romeo and Juliet follows the journey of a morning's exploration of gender, self love, and what it means to have an audience. Written and performed by Rachel Weekley, Directed by Zeynep Akça with music composed by RJ Christian.
I FUCKING HATE SHAKESPEARE
Friday July 23rd & Sunday July 25th
Gina Femia is a playwright. William Shakespeare is a playwright, too - maybe you've heard of him? Through the lens of different Shakespeare plays, and juxtaposing him with the abusive relationships that defined her coming of age, Gina discusses how her experience with the Bard has shaped her origin story as a playwright. Directed/Co-Developed by Michele Travis.
UNSPOKEN GARDEN/ LO QUE CALLA EL JARDIN
Saturday July 24th, Wednesday July 28, Saturday July 31st
Unspoken Garden/ El jardin que calla is a bilingual one-woman show that portrays female Shakespeare monologues in the form of real life testimonies of women from Latin America using elements such as theatre, dance, and music. This performance confronts Shakespeare’s world (written 500+ years ago) with ongoing stories of the real abuse and rejection Latinx women face in present day society, and raises awareness of how little today’s socio-political system has changed with women of color still being silenced, undermined and living in a Shakespearean-like world that should no longer exist.
TO THINE OWN SELF, OR YOUR TASTE IN PANCAKES WILL REVEAL WHICH SHAKESPEAREAN HEROINE YOU ARE (MAYBE): A ONE-PERSON PLAY
Friday July 30th, 2021 - 10:00PM
In which lifelong Shakespeare nerd Dani Herd explores identity (gender and otherwise) through sea shanties, Internet personality quizzes, and, of course, the Bard.
**This show will be livestreamed into the Kraine theatre. The performer will be performing live from Atlanta.**
SHE WOLF
Saturday July 31st, 2021 - 10:00PM
Queen Margaret was the original Cersei Lannister. She was the model for Claire Underwood. She was a woman so cutthroat and cold, she would give Lady Macbeth a run for her money. Only, none of that is true. From Hillary Clinton's emails, to Margaret of Anjou cursing the royal family, the way we view women in positions of power hasn't changed much.
People don't tend to realize that Shakespeare's histories are propaganda, and even 500 years later, very little has changed: Artists need to appeal to government for funding, leaders and rulers want to be praised, and women with power are more terrifying than the devil.
So here we are in the 21st century, and the question still begs to be asked: If all history remembers of you are the lies, does the truth even matter?
Yes, this is a comedy.
**This show will be livestreamed into the Kraine theatre. The artist will be performing live from Australia.**
You can purchase in person tickets or purchase streaming tickets via Broadway on Demand.
