Shakespeare Shorts at AS220

Ever wonder what Shakespeare and karaoke would look like? How about hip-hop and Shakespeare? It is that spirit of collaboration that producer Corinne Wahlberg and Milo MacPhail had in mind last fall when they began collaborating on a festival. The result? Too Much of a Good Thing: A Shakespeare Shorts Festival. The phrase, borrowed from the Bard’s As You Like It runs February 11-17 at AS200’S Black Box Theatre. Each night showcases not only a different afterparty, but a different show as well.

Each night will be broken into three acts, act one will feature shorts, followed by an act with a featured performer, and then an after party including events ranging from a Shakespeare karaoke contest to Bard the Band. Producer Corinne Wahlberg is excited to bring this festival to AS220. “Ultimately what I’m most excited about is the fact that so many different types of artists are coming together for this festival.”

The festival ends each night with a party, which according to Wahlberg is, “What Will would have wanted,” and I, for one, heartily agree. Too often we see Shakespeare as this stuffy out-of-date material inaccessible to students, belonging on a shelf for only the educational elite. However, Shakespeare’s plays are fun and dirty, and have a violence that really could make Quentin Tarantino blush. To go to a Shakespearean play was an event, and it is definitely an event that will descend on AS220 next weekend. If you’re looking for something new with a familiar twist, this is the event for you!

Thu, Feb 15 at 7:30pm, Featuring Shakespeare to Hip Hop; After Party: Shakespeare Karaoke Contest

Fri, Feb 16 at 7:30pm, Featuring What Cheer? Shakespeare Company; After Party: Shakesperotica

Sat, Feb 17 at 7:30pm, Featuring The Rhode Island Shakespeare Company; After Party: Bard the Band

Single night tickets or festival passes available: brownpapertickets.com/event/3327207