The nonprofit AT&T Performing Arts Center and Shakespeare Dallas announced today the celebration of Sonnets, the final readings of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare and the conclusion of a five-year artistic collaboration with Shakespeare Dallas presenting all of William Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. Sonnets, will be hosted by well-known Shakespeare aficionado and comedian, William Sutton. City officials, arts community, and local celebrities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area will participate in this two-and-a-half-hour event reading of all 154 of the Bard’s sonnets, which is free to the public. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare readings of Sonnets will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 28th at the Center’s Community Stage at Sammons Park in the downtown Dallas Arts District.
In addition to the Sonnets readings, the afternoon will also include a pre-show discussion, two intermissions and post-show Q&A with cast and creative team.
Below is the schedule for The Complete Works staged reading of Sonnets with Shakespeare Dallas:
- 2 p.m. – Pre-show discussion with William Sutton
- 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Readings (3 Acts; 2 intermissions)
- Post-show Q&A with cast and creative team to follow at conclusion of readings.
The 2016/2017 season of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare marks the fifth and final season of a five-year artistic collaboration presenting all of William Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is produced and directed by Shakespeare Dallas, under the leadership of Executive and Artistic Director Raphael Parry. This highly successful series has been made possible through the generosity of the Mankoff Family Foundation.
“Completing five years of work by the greatest playwright of all time is an overwhelming achievement for all involved,” said Raphael Perry, Executive and Artistic Director of Shakespeare Dallas. “I am thrilled to have the community join us in the reading of the Sonnets, a fitting culmination to such an important project for the city of Dallas. While I am joyful to see the end in sight, I am also wistful that this significant project is coming to an end.”
“As Shakespeare said, ‘parting is such sweet sorrow,’” said Doug Curtis, president & CEO of AT&T Performing Arts Center. “Crossing the finish line of presenting everything Shakespeare ever wrote is such an accomplishment for everyone involved. Yet the Complete Works series has been such a fun success that we’re sad to see it end.”
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare utilizes a staged reading format with simple props, lighting, and costumes to keep the focus on the poetry and brilliance of the text, encouraging participation by a wide range of Dallas’ theatrical artists and audiences alike.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare readings of Sonnets is FREE to the general public. To RSVP, please go online at www.attpac.org or call the Center’s Box Office at 214-880-0202.
William Sutton became passionate about Shakespeare, after deciding to memorize his 154 Sonnets. Mark Rylance allowed him to perform on the piazza of the Globe theatre in 1999. Two and three years later, he did sonnet marathons on the archaeological site of the Rose Theatre, Bankside, London.
William attended the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford upon Avon, when Peter Holland (now Notre Dame) was the director, alongside alumni, Paul Edmondson (now Shakespeare Birthplace Trust) and Paul Prescott (now Warwick University).
William authored an original spelling and punctuation Sonnet book. His website is a digital representation of his Sonnet book: http://www.iloveshakespeare.com
The best-selling Shakespeare Pro App of Ron Severdia features Will’s recordings of the sonnets.
William is a founding actor/member of the Passion in Practice ensemble, the brainchild of Ben Crystal. The Passion in Practice ensemble is based in London and performed annually from 2013-2015 at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, thanks to Patrick Spottiswoode and the Globe Education Department.
Will is fluent in using Shakespeare’s accent, aka Original Pronunciation. William trained his OP under the tutelage of David Crystal OBE. The exploration of OP took form in readings of contemporaries (Will played Philip Henslowe for the librarians and scholars of Dulwich College) and complete OP productions of Pericles (Lysimachus), Macbeth (Banquo), and Henry V (Pistol).
Will has been dubbed an Early Modern internet for his knowledge of Early Modern Theatre and Shakespeare’s biography. His fascination continues with a Facebook group linking daily on EM and Shakespearean topics. Will develops his interests for Schools and education using Shakespeare Karaoke.
William’s professional Acting experience extends from stage to screen to classroom to boardroom. His IMDB profile tells part of the TV & Film story: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0840425
Will honed his sense of humor as a bilingual MC in stand-up for 20 years: in Amsterdam. Now that’s funny.
William sings in 5 languages and studies Niccolo Vaccai daily.
