UH, Brazos Bookstore Team Up for Summer of Shakespeare

Readings, Discussions Led by UH Faculty, Actors

The Houston Shakespeare Festival (HSF) is a few months away, but enthusiastic audiences can begin celebrating the Bard in June. The University of Houston’s School of Theatre & Dance and Brazos Bookstore are teaming up for the inaugural Summer of Shakespeare.

During the Summer of Shakespeare, UH faculty will offer dramatic readings of some of the Bard’s most memorable passages and share insights on his works -- including HSF plays “Macbeth” and “The Merchant of Venice.”

Summer of Shakespeare events are free. They begin June 12 and run through Aug. 12 at Brazos Bookstore (2421 Bissonet St.). For additional details, visit the Brazos Bookstore website. A schedule of events is as follows:

Performances

  • “The Sonnets” – 6 p.m., June 12: Jim Johnson, director of UH’s School of Theatre & Dance, and other actors will share a selection of Shakespeare’s most poetic pieces.
  • “The Soliloquies” – 6 p.m., July 24: Jack Young, head of UH’s graduate acting program and HSF actor, performs the Bard’s most stirring speeches.
  • “Scenes for Kids” – 2 p.m., Aug. 8: Houston’s Main Street Theatre presents an abridged version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for young audiences.

Book Groups

  • “Macbeth” – 7 p.m., June 24: Rob Shimko, associate professor of theatre history and dramaturgy, will dissect one of Shakespeare’s bloodiest plays.
  • “The Merchant of Venice” – 7 p.m., July 8: Jack Young and Ann Christensen, associate professor of English, will discuss one of the Bard’s most controversial works.
  • “The Tempest” – 7 p.m., Aug. 12: Rob Shimko examines one of Shakespeare’s final plays.

This year, UH’s School of Theatre & Dance presents the 41st edition of the Houston Shakespeare Festival Aug. 1 – 9 at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Alternating performances of “Macbeth” and “The Merchant of Venice” begin at 8:30 p.m. each night of the festival. For more details on this year’s event, visit the HSF website.