"Shakespeare was passionately interested in the history of Rome, as is evident from plays like Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, and Antony and Cleopatra. His tragedy Coriolanus was probably written around 1605-07, and dramatizes the rise and fall of a great Roman general, Caius Martius (later surnamed Coriolanus because of his military victory at Corioli). This play is unusual in that it provides a strong voice for the ordinary citizens of Rome, who begin the play rioting about the high price of food, and who continually clash with Coriolanus because of his contempt for plebians. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)"
"Troilus and Cressida is Shakespeare's "problem" play about the Trojan War. As the opening Chorus tells us, the play "begins in the middle" of the epic conflict, and counterpoints the drama of battle with the romance of the title characters. Just as Agamemnon and his Greek forces (particularly the smooth-tongued Ulysses) attempt to woo the invincible Achilles to resume fighting on their side, the Trojan go-between Pandarus tries to bring together Troilus, a son of King Priam, with his niece, the lovely Cressida. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett)"
"At a house in the country 8 guests are invited to enter a magical wood to see what might have happened had they made a different choice in life. Even though they are warned away from the wood, they take a chance and enter. The title comes from Shakespeare: "The fault lies in our selves, dear Brutus, not in our stars...," and summarizes the theme of this play: given a second chance, will people still make the same mistakes? (summary by David O)"
"The Rover, or The Banish'd Cavaliers, is a play in two parts written by the English author Aphra Behn. The first part features multiple plot lines, dealing with the amorous adventures of a group of Englishmen in Naples at Carnival time. The "rover" of the play's title is Willmore, a rakish naval captain, who falls in love with a young woman named Hellena, who has set out to experience love before her brother sends her to a convent. Complications arise when Angellica Bianca, a famous courtesan, falls in love with Willmore and swears revenge on him for his betrayal. Meanwhile, Hellena's sister Florinda attempts to marry her true love, Colonel Belvile, rather than the man her brother has selected. The third major plot of the play deals with the provincial Blunt, who becomes convinced that a girl has fallen in love with him but is humiliated when she turns out to be a prostitute and a thief. (Summary by Wikipedia)"
"Born and raised in Maryland, Erik Myers grew up watching "Saturday Night Live" and dreaming of one day being a comedian. His very first Stand Up performance was during a second grade "show and tell" where he used a stuffed animal prop. All of the kids loved it! Officially, he started his comedy career thirteen years ago with a performance at Winchesters Pub in Baltimore, Maryland. Since then he has performed in over 35 states across America. Myers is a high-energy comedian with a machine gun delivery. He entertains crowds with stories about getting sober, bad jobs, and bad dates. Think Rodney Dangerfield meets Sam Kinison.
Myers has opened for some of the biggest names in comedy, including Mitch Hedberg, Daniel Tosh, Pablo Francisco and Louis CK. He is the winner of the 2005 Funniest Person in Baltimore Contest, 2nd Runner Up in the 2006 Funniest Comedian in DC Contest and he won the 2012 Florida's Funniest Comedian Contest. He recently filmed his first TV appearance in Gotham Comedy Live on AXS TV and released his first 1 Hour Special on Hulu called Dopeless Romantic. Some of Myers' early influences include Sam Kinison, Bill Hicks, Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, and Chris Farley. Once Myers got started in comedy, he became addicted. It was all he ever wanted to do!"
"Ari Shaffir's debut Comedy Central album, PAID REGULAR, is a tribute to his origins as a stand-up comic. Shot in the Original Room of the world-famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, California, Ari explores the hackiness of racism, life in the weed-challenged city of New York, and all the small ways you too can challenge authority. Thank you, Universe, for taking care of Ari on Acid at a UFC match, and thank you, Comedy Store, for making him a Paid Regular even though it took 37 showcases."
"Standup comedian Aziz Ansari presents his third standup album, where he shares his uniquely hilarious perspective on fears of adulthood, babies, marriage, and more. Ansari's look at life on the cusp of 30 years old is smart, unfiltered, and hysterical."
"Recorded at the historic 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, Kyle Kinane's new special delivers wonderfully grim anecdotes filtered through his own optimistic lens. In "I Liked His Old Stuff Better" Kinane chooses to marvel rather than rue such experiences as falling in the shower and receiving pickled eggs as a token of love. It is his second album for Comedy Central."
""Prometheus Bound" is the only complete tragedy of the Prometheia trilogy, traditionally assumed to be the work of Aeschylus. Jupiter has turned against Prometheus for protecting mankind and has ordered him to be chained to a rock. But Prometheus is comforted by his knowledge of a way to bring about the downfall of Jupiter. (Summary by Libby Gohn)"
"Seven against Thebes is the third play in an Oedipus-themed trilogy produced by Aeschylus in 467 BC. The trilogy is sometimes referred to as the Oedipodea. It concerns the battle between an Argive army led by Polynices and the army of Thebes led by Eteocles and his supporters. The trilogy won the first prize at the City Dionysia.
The trilogy's first two plays, Laius and Oedipus, as well as the satyr play Sphinx, are no longer extant. When Oedipus, King of Thebes, realized he had married his own mother and had two sons and two daughters with her, he blinded himself and cursed his sons to divide their inheritance (the kingdom) by the sword.
The two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, in order to avoid bloodshed, agreed to rule Thebes in alternate years. After the first year, Eteocles refused to step down, leading Polynices to raise an army of Argives (captained by the eponymous Seven) to take Thebes by force....The bulk of the play consists of rich dialogues between the citizens of Thebes and their king Eteocles regarding the threat of the hostile army before their gates. - Summary by Wikipedia"
"A full-cast BBC Radio 3 production of Shakespeare’s quick-witted summer tragedy.
In a town full of hatred, where the streets ring with the Capulet/Montague feud, and swords are too easily drawn, Romeo and Juliet find each other - and love - and never let go.
In Shakespeare’s famous play, first performed in 1595, the warring Capulets and Montagues have been sworn to keep the peace on pain of death. When Capulet’s daughter Juliet meets Montague’s son Romeo at a masked ball, they immediately fall in love.
With the help of Friar Lawrence and Juliet’s Nurse, the pair decide to marry in secret. Disaster strikes when Romeo is banished for murder, and flees after just one night with his new wife. Juliet, meanwhile, is betrothed against her wishes to Count Paris. Friar Lawrence intervenes to help, but tragedy is at hand…
Rising young stars Trystan Gravelle and Vanessa Kirby play the star-crossed lovers, with David Tennant as Prince Escalus, Rosie Cavaliero as the Nurse and Ron Cook as Friar Lawrence."
"From London to Cornwall, then to Italy and France, a short, shabby priest takes on bandits, traitors and killers. Why is he so successful? The reason is that after years spent in the priesthood, Father Brown knows human nature and is not afraid of its dark side. Thus he understands criminal motivation and how to deal with it. The award-winning Colonial Radio Theatre on the Air has dramatized G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown stories from The Innocence of Father Brown with a full cast, music score, and sound effects.Included in Vol. 2:“The Invisible Man”
The inimitable Father Brown is called to help in the hunt for a mysterious killer, known only as an “invisible man.”“The Wrong Shape”
Novelist Leonard Quinton has long been an eccentric, but his habits are driving his wife to the point of mania. When death finally comes to Quinton’s unconventional home, it’s fortunate that Father Brown and his good friend Flambeau are on hand.“The Sins of Prince Saradine”
A dream holiday turns into a nightmare for Father Brown and his best friend, Flambeau. Why has the notorious Prince Saradine come to England, and who wants him dead?“The Hammer of God”
Norman Bohun is a man with many enemies, so it comes as no surprise when he’s eventually murdered. But Father Brown’s biggest problem is in identifying a killer who must possess superhuman strength."
