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The 30-Minute Shakespeare
The 30-Minute Shakespeare Anthology: 18 Student Scenes with Monologues
Drawing on his eighteen years of experience as a teaching artist for Folger Shakespeare Library, Nick Newlin offers eighteen scenes to get young actors on their feet performing Shakespeare with confidence, understanding, and fun!
Each scene averages five minutes in length, containing two to six characters, and features a monologue that young performers can use in performance, audition, or competition. Every scene has been "road tested" by one of Newlin's student groups at the Folger's annual Secondary School Shakespeare Festival, and includes dynamic stage directions and incisive performance notes to help teachers and students bring Shakespeare's plays to life.
The 30-Minute Shakespeare Anthology includes one scene and monologue from eighteen of Shakespeare's greatest plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, and The Taming of the Shrew.
Additionally, the anthology contains a scene and monologue from Henry IV Part I, King Lear, As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Love's Labor's Lost.
Also featured is an essay by editor Nick Newlin on how to produce a Shakespeare play with novice actors, and notes about the original production of this abridgment at the Folger Shakespeare Library's annual Student Shakespeare Festival. Each scene and monologue has accompanying notes and performance suggestions.
Each scene averages five minutes in length, containing two to six characters, and features a monologue that young performers can use in performance, audition, or competition. Every scene has been "road tested" by one of Newlin's student groups at the Folger's annual Secondary School Shakespeare Festival, and includes dynamic stage directions and incisive performance notes to help teachers and students bring Shakespeare's plays to life.
The 30-Minute Shakespeare Anthology includes one scene and monologue from eighteen of Shakespeare's greatest plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, and The Taming of the Shrew.
Additionally, the anthology contains a scene and monologue from Henry IV Part I, King Lear, As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Love's Labor's Lost.
Also featured is an essay by editor Nick Newlin on how to produce a Shakespeare play with novice actors, and notes about the original production of this abridgment at the Folger Shakespeare Library's annual Student Shakespeare Festival. Each scene and monologue has accompanying notes and performance suggestions.
316 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2015
About the author
William Shakespeare
17.8k books48.7k followersWilliam Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 25, 2020
These student scenes with monologues are particularly good and could be used not only in English or drama, but also in speech and language classes! 2 birds with one stone - Education and working on language skills!
The 30 minute Shakespeare series is pure brilliance. Each book takes language that is difficult for high school students and focuses the language on the meat of the story, keeping the Shakespeare alive. Not only that, but he differentiates for different learning levels. As a high school teacher, I can tell you that this differentiation is so important. Each book in this series makes Shakespeare more accessible to regular people, especially for students. I wish every middle and high school English and drama teacher in the country would consider The 30 Minute Shakespeare series for their classroom and/or stage. They're that good
The 30 minute Shakespeare series is pure brilliance. Each book takes language that is difficult for high school students and focuses the language on the meat of the story, keeping the Shakespeare alive. Not only that, but he differentiates for different learning levels. As a high school teacher, I can tell you that this differentiation is so important. Each book in this series makes Shakespeare more accessible to regular people, especially for students. I wish every middle and high school English and drama teacher in the country would consider The 30 Minute Shakespeare series for their classroom and/or stage. They're that good
June 25, 2020
These student scenes with monologues are particularly good and could be used not only in English or drama, but also in speech and language classes! 2 birds with one stone - Education and working on language skills!
The 30 minute Shakespeare series is pure brilliance. Each book takes language that is difficult for high school students and focuses the language on the meat of the story, keeping the Shakespeare alive. Not only that, but he differentiates for different learning levels. As a high school teacher, I can tell you that this differentiation is so important. Each book in this series makes Shakespeare more accessible to regular people, especially for students. I wish every middle and high school English and drama teacher in the country would consider The 30 Minute Shakespeare series for their classroom and/or stage. They're that good.
The 30 minute Shakespeare series is pure brilliance. Each book takes language that is difficult for high school students and focuses the language on the meat of the story, keeping the Shakespeare alive. Not only that, but he differentiates for different learning levels. As a high school teacher, I can tell you that this differentiation is so important. Each book in this series makes Shakespeare more accessible to regular people, especially for students. I wish every middle and high school English and drama teacher in the country would consider The 30 Minute Shakespeare series for their classroom and/or stage. They're that good.
June 25, 2020
I have used Nick Newlin’s 30-Minute Shakespeare series both onstage and in the classroom with children as well as adults. I have also used this particular volume to introduce more than one Shakespeare play to an introductory theater class as a way of experiencing the language and learning more about the conventions of the writing. This volume is also an outstanding source for students who need one-minute classical audition pieces (and the 30-minute corresponding plays allow students to fully prep so they can focus on their performance). Newlin’s series is hands-on, delightful, respectful and, most of all, approachable. Highly recommend!
June 26, 2020
Anyone who's taught Shakespeare knows that there is nothing like getting kids performing the scenes to truly draw them into the plays. Shakespeare is prohibitively difficult for many students, no matter how you approach it, but even with the students most lost in the weeds, acting out a scene engenders greater comprehension and enjoyment of the piece. These scenes are a lifeline. I love that there are so many great ones to choose from so that you can tailor the experience to your classes and show students what a spectrum of plays there is to choose from. Outstanding work by Mr. Newlin. An invaluable tool.
June 25, 2020
What a delight. I used the book series in classes with not only students whose skills in English class varied, but also with some students who did not speak much English. They made for nice, brief, up-on-your-feet experiences for the students. In the future, I will try breaking students into small groups working with, perhaps, three plays. My students would have a ball--a nice shift from my grammar lessons!
June 25, 2020
This entire series is a wonderful resource. The clever way in which the meaningful themes and quotes are distilled allows my younger students to explore the themes and provocative use of language and vocabulary. They are able understand and to see parallels in their own lives with both the complexity and simplicity of the human experience. I think Shakespeare would be pleased to see his work made accessible to so many! Highly Recommended.
Read
July 27, 2020I am a professional actor and lover of Shakespeare. I recently discovered these 30-min versions and am enthralled! How cool that these books make Shakespeare's work accessible to so many more people that might otherwise be intimidated by the original. And obviously, anyone yearning for more can then go and deepen their understanding by reading the play in its original form. I can only see an upside to this series as it paves the way for more Shakespeare fans.
June 25, 2020
As our world sadly gets more and more fast paced, time less and less available, even for students, this volume pulls much of the Bard's most beautiful language and dynamic plot-lines so students can find the joy in this matchless writer.
June 25, 2020
this was the perfect tool for my classroom management ! It saved me hours of work getting the best scripts into the student's hands ! Thanks to the author for making my life easier!
June 30, 2020
Shakespeare is still relevant today for many reasons. His plays and poems teach society how to not only love, dream and hate all at the same time, but the messages are timeless. Shakespeare's work is still relevant today and students can compare themselves to the characters as they deal with life, love, death, revenge, grief, jealousy, murder, magic and mystery. Nick Newlin is able to make the Bard's flowery language accessible by breaking down the plays into small chunks that deliver the message but make it fun for both the students and audience to appreciate Shakespeare's keen & lively insights into humanity. The whole series is a wonderful tool for teachers, students & drama performance groups!
June 25, 2020
I have used Nick Newlin’s 30-Minute Shakespeare series both onstage and in the classroom with children as well as adults. I have also used this particular volume to introduce more than one Shakespeare play to an introductory theater class as a way of experiencing the language and learning more about the conventions of the writing. This volume is also an outstanding source for students who need one-minute classical audition pieces (and the 30-minute corresponding plays allow students to fully prep so they can focus on their performance). Newlin’s series is hands-on, delightful, respectful and, most of all, approachable. Highly recommend!
June 25, 2020
This great anthology is on all three of my Bookshelves/tags:
read it -- loved it,
currently reading it -- and checking out some good picks for Shakespeare monologues, and
to-read -- and re-read, again and again.
Not only is this wonderful volume a go-to resource for scenes and monologues, but also the clever breakdown of the classic scenes makes the delightful world of Shakespeare accessible and welcoming to any novice. Let us be clear: sometimes the gorgeous language can hard for students to grasp, and Nick Newlin -- by doing such an admirable, not to mention amiable, job, introducing readers of all levels to the Bard of Avon -- makes him our dear and beloved friend.
Excellent resource, and one to which to return repeatedly!
read it -- loved it,
currently reading it -- and checking out some good picks for Shakespeare monologues, and
to-read -- and re-read, again and again.
Not only is this wonderful volume a go-to resource for scenes and monologues, but also the clever breakdown of the classic scenes makes the delightful world of Shakespeare accessible and welcoming to any novice. Let us be clear: sometimes the gorgeous language can hard for students to grasp, and Nick Newlin -- by doing such an admirable, not to mention amiable, job, introducing readers of all levels to the Bard of Avon -- makes him our dear and beloved friend.
Excellent resource, and one to which to return repeatedly!
June 25, 2020
What a delight. I used the book series in classes with not only students whose skills in English class varied, but also with some students who did not speak much English. They made for nice, brief, up-on-your-feet experiences for the students. In the future, I will try breaking students into small groups working with, perhaps, three plays. My students would have a ball--a nice shift from my grammar lessons!
June 25, 2020
This entire series is a wonderful resource. The clever way in which the meaningful themes and quotes are distilled allows my younger students to explore the themes and provocative use of language and vocabulary. They are able understand and to see parallels in their own lives with both the complexity and simplicity of the human experience. I think Shakespeare would be pleased to see his work made accessible to so many! Highly Recommended.
June 27, 2020
I was fortunate enough to pick up a promotional copy of a few books from this anthology a few years ago as an easy self-educational tool, my knowledge of Shakespeare having faded since elementary school. I have to say I thoroughly enjoy these abridged versions and appreciate Newlin's scholarly, informed, insightful and modest reduction of the original work to a user-friendly version that sticks to the most essential and memorable parts.
June 25, 2020
What an excellent way for people to access Shakespeare! Acting really builds one's sense of self confidence. These are a great lead in for beginner actors and even nonnative speakers.
February 16, 2019
Should read, 'drawing on his narcissism and inability to understand Shakespeare...'
INSULTINGLY BAD. A slap in the face to anyone who loves Shakespeare, loves teaching, or loves their students. I wish I had ordered a single copy of each of these before ordering sets for the classroom, and feel a tiny bit guilty for throwing them all in the trash. (Guilty about the waste of paper, more than anything.) Rips out the beauty and poetry of Shakespeare's language, leaving a shell of garbage.
Because of his connection to the Folger, I will no longer trust or support them in any way. These cuts of Shakespeare are absolute trash. Shame on me for not using my own cuts of the plays.
INSULTINGLY BAD. A slap in the face to anyone who loves Shakespeare, loves teaching, or loves their students. I wish I had ordered a single copy of each of these before ordering sets for the classroom, and feel a tiny bit guilty for throwing them all in the trash. (Guilty about the waste of paper, more than anything.) Rips out the beauty and poetry of Shakespeare's language, leaving a shell of garbage.
Because of his connection to the Folger, I will no longer trust or support them in any way. These cuts of Shakespeare are absolute trash. Shame on me for not using my own cuts of the plays.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews