"From Upstart to Icon: Shakespeare at 400"

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KURT SCHREYER, PhD
University of Missouri St. Louis    

 "From Upstart to Icon: Shakespeare at 400"
Sunday, January 31, 2016

 Cocktails ~ 12:30   Lunch ~ 1:00
$35 members  ~  $40 guests
Cash Bar  ~  Guests welcome

Kurt Schreyer, Associate Professor at the University of Missouri St. Louis, teaches courses on Shakespeare and early English drama. He received his MA at the University of Notre Dame and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. His interests extend to a wide variety of genres and texts — across the traditional medieval/Renaissance disciplinary divide, from Chaucer to Milton, and from epic and romance to devotional lyric.  In his teaching, he stimulates student curiosity by underscoring the historical, cultural, and linguistic differences between pre-modern England and our own society. His recently published book, Shakespeare's Medieval Craft: Remnants of the Mysteries on the London Stage (Cornell University Press), demonstrates the central importance of various theatrical practices from pre-Reformation religious drama to Shakespeare's stagecraft.

Schreyer's review of the amazing icon that Shakespeare has become is part of our St. Louis branch's Shakespeare 400 Weekend, celebrating the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare's death. The National ESU has designated the entire year as "Shakespeare 400 — Celebrating the Legacy 1616-2016."  Around the globe in 2016, theater companies, orchestras, cinemas and opera houses are presenting Shakespeare's work — and works inspired by him — which will undoubtedly represent the biggest Shakespeare extravaganza in our lifetimes. Be sure to attend our own St. Louis Branch festivities!

SATURDAY PERFORMANCE: As a further part of the weekend celebration, our annual branch Shakespeare Competition will take place the previous day, Saturday, January 30, beginning at 9:30 a.m.  All ESU members are welcome and encouraged to attend the competition performances — at FontbonneUniversity in the Lewis Room theatre, on the ground floor of the Library building, the contemporary building located at the center of the main horseshoe drive. Each competing area student, from a high school in the metro area, will present a Shakespearean sonnet and monologue. These presentations are entertaining and truly inspiring. ESU members, along with students' teachers and parents, form a live audience that adds extra vitality to the performances. The competition is guaranteed to make you proud of our branch support for strong Shakespeare experience in area high schools! No charge or reservations required; parking in the horseshoe drive or University lots. "Brush up your Shakespeare," at the start of this celebratory weekend!

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