“Acting Shakespeare” at the NRPL

In 1980 Ian McKellan created “Acting Shakespeare,” a one-man show of Shakespearean scenes interspersed with theatrical anecdotes that delighted audiences around the world. Now – to celebrate Shakespeare’s 458^th birthday April 23^rd —  the Irvington Shakespeare Company will bring its adaptation of the play to New Rochelle on Sunday, May 1^st at 3 pm at the New Rochelle Public Library’s Ossie Davis Theater. This free performance is co-sponsored by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts and the New Rochelle Public Library.

This freely adapted, 90-minute version of Ian McKellen’s legendary one-man show — reworked for four actors — will unlock Shakespeare’s greatest characters for a new generation of audiences and theater lovers alike. The New York Times called the original production  “A distinctive theatrical experiment — part autobiography, part classroom lecture, part vaudeville show, along with hefty chunks of Shakespearean poetry and drama.”

“Acting Shakespeare is freely adapted from the play, originally compiled and written by Ian McKellen,” says Kamran Saliani, Founder and Executive Director of the ISC. “We thank him for creating this stunning piece of theater and are honored to have his personal support in our efforts to revive it for a new generation! A special thank you to Bruce Norris, Caroline Wood, and Michael Longhurst at the Donmar Warehouse.” This performance of Acting Shakespeare is a co-production between the Irvington Shakespeare Company, the New Rochelle Public Library and the New Rochelle Council on the Arts.

The Irvington Shakespeare Company (ISC) seeks to produce professional theatre to entertain and inspire audiences showcasing local talent in Westchester and the greater Hudson Valley. We will take steps to ensure our productions are inclusive creatively as well as accessible physically by producing plays with an anti-racist, intersectional lens. ISC’s goal is to decolonize Shakespeare and open up his works for all audiences to engage with and enjoy. For more information go to https://irvshakespeare.org/