Open Forum

Hey all. Like some of you, in addition to my theatre duties, I also teach English classes. For our sophomores, the Shakespeare play we read is Julius Caesar (not my favorite of the bard's, but it's what I got). Because plays are meant to be seen, heard, and performed, not simply read, I always incorporate performance in one way or another into my Shakespeare curriculum for the English class. To that end, I have used Shakespeare Set Free in the past when teaching Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Alas, I do not believe they make one for Julius Caesar. I was wondering if anyone knew of a unit like Shakespeare Set Free for Julius Caesar, or had possibly made one that incorporates performance that I could borrow. Thanks!

------------------------------
Christopher Hamilton
Drama Teacher
Kamiakin High School
WA
------------------------------

Hi Christopher,
Although not specific to JULIUS CAESAR, I am attaching a copy of an article I wrote called "Shakespearean Slide Shows." Hope it helps!

------------------------------
Rosalind Flynn
Head of the M.A. in Theatre Education
Director, The High School Drama Institute
The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC
drama.cua.edu/graduate/MATE
drama.cua.edu/summer
------------------------------

Are you aware that No Fear Shakespeare is now free online?  Since you have used Shakespeare Set Free previously, you might be able to use the same techniques with the No Fear materials. 

My Theatre I students loved the No Fear paraphrases when working on Shakespearean monologues, and I used the practice as an opportunity to explain how study materials like Spark Notes are fine when used in addition to reading assigned books or plays, not instead of reading them. 

https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/juliuscaesar/

------------------------------
CJ Breland
Retired Theatre Arts Educator
NC
------------------------------

Hi, Christopher!

I present a one-man show called "Breakneck Julius Caesar" (I'm working my way through ALL the Shakespeare plays "breakneck style") and it races through the play in just about an hour. It's very audience-participation oriented, as the audience has lines (that they read off of projected slides) in the character of the crowd, the senators and especially the mob (during "Friends, Romans, Countrymen). It's available to watch as a video at www.BreakneckShakespeare.com and I've published it as a book as well. (I'd be happy to send a copy your way.)

(I also tour the U.S., performing it on the road for high schools and colleges, along with "Breakneck Hamlet," "Shakespeare's Histories," "Breakneck Romeo & Juliet" and "Breakneck Comedy of Errors.")

Please let me know if I can be of any service,

Tim Mooney
847-757-3648

------------------------------
Tim Mooney
www.timmooneyrep.com
www.moliere-in-english.com
------------------------------