Reading Shakespeare out loud is one of the joys of life. Simply speaking such immortal language is edifying and thrilling; but to ACT it, with your friends and loved ones, is a real experience. Our guided Shakespeare parties put the audience on stage. Reading volunteers, drawn from the audience and assigned at the beginning of each scene, take roles in some of Shakespeare’s best loved plays, including Hamlet, King Lear, and Twelfth Night. There are small parts, medium parts, huge parts, and even parts that require singing. The night’s readings are punctuated by incidental music and songs, newly composed just for these online performances by the Brothers Balliett, and recorded by some of the finest artists in New York City. Let your inner ham out, and be the Shakespearian actor you always knew you were.

Participants: 30 recommended, 50 possible if there are many people who want to watch rather than participate in speaking lines. Plays: Macbeth, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, A Winter’s Tale, King Lear, "Greatest Hits” Scenes Artists: Doug Balliett, Brad Balliett, hosts; plus invited musicians Time: 2 hours Family friendly: Yes