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PODCAST · arts

The Shakespeare Birthday Party

In this podcast we will read and discuss all of William Shakespeare’s plays over the course of a year, starting and ending on the Bard’s birthday. Together we’ll explore the big questions the plays put on the table and the poetry that makes those questions so human. Along the way we’ll be joined by poets, scholars, playwrights, and actors who can help us celebrate the poet whose influence continues to resound loudest over the Western world. Happy birthday, Shakespeare!

  1. 29

    Two Gentlemen of Verona

    That slippery Proteus and breakfast for beasts.

  2. 28

    Titus Andronicus

    That’s some pie, y’all.

  3. 27

    King John

    In which Grace and Danny discuss grief, weak leadership, and how three lions are not necessarily better than none.

  4. 26

    Love’s Labor’s Lost

    In which Grace and Danny discuss Ken Branagh, the good of knowing the end before you’ve begun, and the education of women’s eyes.

  5. 25

    King Lear

    In which Grace and Danny discuss prodigal fathers, Lady Fortune, and total, abject misery.

  6. 24

    The Comedy of Errors

    In which Grace and Danny talk marriage, twins, and sacramental grace.

  7. 23

    Richard II

    In which Grace and Danny discuss divine right of kings, betrayal, and the crusades.

  8. 22
  9. 21

    Measure for Measure

    In which Grace and Danny discuss the Divine Comedy and Blackadder’s Russian codpiece—always terrifies the clergy, as Enid—I mean, Edmund—says!

  10. 20

    All’s Well That Ends Well

    In which Grace and Danny discuss Cole Porter, Newland Archer (The Age of Innocence) [Edith Wharton], and Jeeves and Wooster. As one does.

  11. 19

    Henry VI, 1-3!

    It’s a special triple episode following the ignominious and scholarly demise of Henry VI.

  12. 18

    Coriolanus

    In which Grace and Danny discuss the tripartite soul, Ralph Fiennes’ hair, and the loneliness of dragons.

  13. 17

    Henry V

    In which Grace and Danny discuss honor, tax evasion, strange wooing, and the dogs of war.

  14. 16

    Twelfth Night

    In which Grace and Danny discuss bears, Dwight Schrute, and the journey of the Magi.

  15. 15

    The Taming of the Shrew

    In which Grace and Danny discuss Christopher Sly, Jacob and Laban, and the resonance of names.

  16. 14

    Macbeth

    In which Grace and Danny talk marriage, prophecy, covenants, and thanes.

  17. 13

    Romeo and Juliet

    In which Grace and Danny discuss the Fall, plague, the Michael Scott story (what did Jan say?), and the founding of Rome.

  18. 12

    Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra

    Double episode! In which Grace and Danny discuss honor, John Lithgow, and the glory of Rome.

  19. 11

    The Merry Wives of Windsor

    In which Grace and Danny discuss the exotic power of the potato, the origins of Bilbo, and the lovable reprobates of literature.

  20. 10

    Henry IV, Part 2

    In which Grace and I revisit Falstaff, consider the merits of Hal, and delight in Mistress Quickly.

  21. 9

    Henry IV, Part One

    In which Grace and Danny discuss monarchs, wastrel sons, philosopher reprobates, and Baloo the Bear.

  22. 8

    A Midsummer Night’s Dream

    In which Grace and Danny discuss true love, Rene Girard, literary walkoffs (Zoolander style), and big Geoff Chaucer.

  23. 7

    Pericles

    In which Grace and Danny delve into bordellos, the world’s worst luck, piracy (two kinds), and Pixar.

  24. 6

    The Merchant of Venice

    In which Grace and I discuss justice, mercy, practical jokes, usury, and Al Pacino.

  25. 5

    Richard III

    In which Grace and I discuss the strangeness of the boar: his methods of seduction, his overweening (and overwhelming) pride, and his complete disregard for eternity.

  26. 4

    Othello

    In which predictive text tries to change Othello to or hello, a far cheerier and less informative title, and in which Grace and I marvel at the mischief of Iago.

  27. 3

    Much Ado About Nothing

    In which Grace and I discuss the dancing, war, the prodigal son, puns, and the ineptitude of Count Claudio. 

  28. 2

    The Tempest

    Wherein Grace and I discuss art, beauty, bravery, and freedom, not to mention Disney princesses, stuttering aesthetes, and fish.

  29. 1

    The Shakespeare Birthday Party: The Pregame

    Happy birthday, William Shakespeare! Today we introduce Danny and Grace and talk a little bit about Shakespeare’s importance to us and the plan for the show. Enjoy!

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

In this podcast we will read and discuss all of William Shakespeare’s plays over the course of a year, starting and ending on the Bard’s birthday. Together we’ll explore the big questions the plays put on the table and the poetry that makes those questions so human. Along the way we’ll be joined by poets, scholars, playwrights, and actors who can help us celebrate the poet whose influence continues to resound loudest over the Western world. Happy birthday, Shakespeare!

HOSTED BY

Danny and Grace Fitzpatrick

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Shakespeare Birthday Party have?

The Shakespeare Birthday Party currently has 29 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Shakespeare Birthday Party about?

In this podcast we will read and discuss all of William Shakespeare’s plays over the course of a year, starting and ending on the Bard’s birthday. Together we’ll explore the big questions the plays put on the table and the poetry that makes those questions so human. Along the way we’ll be joined by...

How often does The Shakespeare Birthday Party release new episodes?

The Shakespeare Birthday Party has 29 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Shakespeare Birthday Party?

You can listen to The Shakespeare Birthday Party on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Shakespeare Birthday Party?

The Shakespeare Birthday Party is created and hosted by Danny and Grace Fitzpatrick.
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