ABSTRACT

The One-Hour Shakespeare series is a collection of abridged versions of Shakespeare’s plays, designed specifically to accommodate both small and large casts.

This volume, The Early Comedies and Romances, includes the following plays:

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Two Gentlemen of Verona
  • The Tempest
  • The Winter’s Tale.

These accessible and versatile scripts are supported by: an introduction with emphasis on the evolution of the series and the creative process of editing; the One-Hour projects in performance, a chapter on implementing money-saving ideas and suggestions for production whether in or outside a classroom setting; specific lesson plans to incorporate these projects successfully into an academic course; and cross-gender casting suggestions. These supplementary materials make the plays valuable not only for actors, directors and professors, but for any environment, cast or purpose.

Ideal for both academics and professionals, One-Hour Shakespeare is the perfect companion to teaching and staging the most universally read and performed playwright in history.

chapter 1|2 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|11 pages

One-Hour projects in performance

Money-saving suggestions to consider with a minimal budget

chapter 5|56 pages

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

chapter 6|1 pages

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Suggested cast list and character assignments for a small cast

chapter 7|60 pages

Two Gentlemen of Verona

chapter 8|1 pages

Two Gentlemen of Verona

Suggested cast list and character assignments for a small cast

chapter 9|58 pages

The Tempest

chapter 10|1 pages

The Tempest

Suggested cast list and character assignments for a small cast

chapter 11|59 pages

The Winter’s Tale

chapter 12|2 pages

The Winter’s Tale

Suggested cast list and character assignments for a small cast