In this episode, Sarit and Elisheva speak with Nat Cassidy, and award-winning actor, writer, and musician who has acted in four full productions of Hamlet, three times as the title role and once as Claudius. They talk about what drew Nat to Hamlet originally and what kept him coming back, the differences between his many Hamlet productions, and how to get into this enormous role as an actor. They also discuss what Hamlet teaches us about theatre's purpose. 

Nat's website: http://www.natcassidy.com/

Check out Nat on Twitter: https://twitter.com/natcassidy

Get ready for this super fun episode in which Sarit and Elisheva talk with three talented theater professionals and friends about their Free Shakespeare in the Parks Tour production entitled Hamlet: Viking Prince of Denmark (Black Henna Productions in association with Theatre Beyond Broadway). The director Kelly Johnston, producer Malini Singh McDonald, and Hamlet actor Ian McDonald reminisce about cutting and adapting the play to best bring their Hamlet to life, discuss the ins and outs of creating a traveling show that uses nature as its setting, and share their strong value of making Shakespeare accessible to all. This is the ultimate theater lovers episode, with theater stories and advice mixed with laughter and that sense of camaraderie that only comes from working on a production together! 

For more information on Hamlet: Viking Prince of Denmark and Black Henna Productions: http://blackhennaproductions.com/news/

Theatre Beyond Broadway website: https://theatrebeyondbroadway.com/about-2/

Malini's website: https://malinism.com/

Check out Malini on Twitter: https://twitter.com/malinism?lang=en

Kelly's podcast on all podcasting platforms: The Cruelest Month 

Check out Kelly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gilgameshenkidu?lang=en

Ian's website: http://www.ianmcdonald-actor.com/

Check out Ian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ian_mcd

In this episode Sarit and Elisheva talk with Patrice Miller, an accomplished director-choreographer and performance artist! They discuss Patrice's directing and workshopping of a contemporary Hamlet drawing on the writings of Arunhati Roy and Edward Snowden to embody themes of performance, exile, surveillance and violence. They discuss the connections between acting and being watched within Hamlet, theater, and life in general. 

Patrice's website: https://www.patricemillerperformance.com/

For more information on Patrice's contemporary Hamlet workshop: https://ishallmourntherivers.wordpress.com/ and http://dixonplace.org/performances/hamlet-or-i-shall-mourn-the-rivers/?fbclid=IwAR09KBlJuCorE2ey12-N2N2Xa3HNi3u2CgtBhokD6hPcliSebLI9kt2rf0A

Check out Patrice on their socials:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mspatricemiller

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madamunnameable/?igshid=1m8chmbwjgqrc

In this episode Sarit and Elisheva talk with Ashley Griffin, an award winning writer, performer, and director! They discuss her groundbreaking gender-swapped Hamlet production, for which Ashley both directed and played Hamlet, becoming the first person in history to be nominated for a major award for both playing and directing Hamlet. They also discuss gender inequality in theater, how one acts and directs in the same production, and Hamlet's own acting advice!

Ashley's website: https://www.ashleygriffinofficial.com/

For more information on Ashley's Hamlet: https://www.ashleygriffinofficial.com/hamlet 

Check out Ashley on her socials:

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashleyjgriffin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleygriffinofficial/?hl=en

Welcome to The Play's the Thing podcast with Sarit Perl and Elisheva Hirsch. In this introductory episode, join Sarit and Elisheva as they introduce themselves and discuss their theater and Shakespeare backgrounds. Find out how they met, what inspired this Hamlet and theater interview series, and learn their favorite tips for how to understand and love Shakespeare!