Three-time Tony Award–winning director, producer, and writer JACK O’BRIEN joins host Nathan Winkelstein for a deep dive into the evolution of language and Shakespeare’s verse. From memory, O’Brien delivers Marc Antony’s famous speech from Act 3 Scene 1 of Julius Caesar — “O pardon me thou bleeding piece of earth,” — before unpacking the nuances of Shakespeare’s text, its rhythm, and its structure. Plus, he shares his unforgettable Middle English party trick!

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Appearing on stages all across the country and the Off-Broadway rialto, RAPHAEL NASH THOMPSON has built a sterling reputation as a brilliant actor in the classics. He joined host NATHAN WINKELSTEIN, Red Bull’s Associate Artistic Director, and special guest JESSE BERGER, Red Bull’s Founder and Artistic Director, for a conversation focused on Shakespeare’s Pericles. Thompson tackled the role of Gower in Red Bull Theater’s 2003 production. He reprised the role in 2016 at Theater for a New Audience under the direction of Trevor Nunn. Thompson read an except from Act 3 Prologue—“Now sleep yslackèd hath the rout;”—and joined in a discussion of the rewards and challenges of this unique Shakespeare play. (10/4/2021)

This event was part of PERICLES 2021 – a multi-faceted endeavor to provide an opportunity for our entire community to explore William Shakespeare’s Pericles – the founding production of Red Bull Theater (2003) – with BIPOC voices in our present moment.

The incomparable character actor MICHAEL EMERSON joins host Nathan Winkelstein for a riveting conversation centered on Claudius from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Emerson brings his signature intensity to a chilling reading of the king’s guilt-laden soliloquy from Act 3 Scene 3 — “O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven” — illuminating the psychological depth and moral ambiguity of one of the Bard’s most enigmatic villains. Together, they unpack the emotional weight and political cunning embedded in the text, offering rich insights into performance, motivation, and the enduring relevance of Shakespeare’s work.