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05/16/2024 12:00 AM

Breaking Tradition: Elm Shakespeare Presents “Women of Will”


Elm Shakespeare Company will present Tina Packer’s Women of Will, running from Thursday, May 16 to Sunday, May 19, at Southern Connecticut State University’s Lyman Center Theatre Lab, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven. This is the second event in their “Building a Brave New Theatre” series. For performance times and ticket information visit www.elmshakespeare.org.

Women of Will takes audiences on a journey through the stories of Shakespeare's legendary ladies and the author’s changing conception of the female character’s he created. Producing Artistic Director Rebecca Goodheart, in her New Haven acting debut, will be featured in the performance.

Developed originally through Guggenheim and Bunting Fellowships, the script delves deep into the hearts and minds of Shakespeare's heroines, offering a fresh perspective on the relevance of these plays to our world and illuminating the author’s journey of enlightenment through the evolution of his understanding (and so of his writing) of women.

Goodheart will be joined on stage by master actor Nigel Gore. There will be a Sunday, May 19 post-show reception after the 2 p.m. closing performance, where theater-goers can meet the cast and engage in a discussion about the work. Content Warning: Women of Will offers a deep dive into the complexities of Shakespeare's female characters, exploring themes of love, loss, freedom, control, violence, and power. The show includes scenes and discussions of sexual violence which may be disturbing or triggering for some audience members. Viewer discretion is advised. For those attending the show, support and resources will be available at the venue for anyone who might find the content distressing.

Elm Shakespeare Producing Artistic Director Rebecca Goodheart, in her New Haven acting debut, will be featured Women of Will. Photo courtesy of Elm Shakespeare