One-Hour Shakespeare

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 Comedies, includes the following plays: - As You Like It - Love's Labour's Lost - Much Ado About Nothing - Twelfth Night 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.

Julie Fain Lawrence-Edsell is a Professor, Intimacy Professional, actress and director. She is the Program Head of BFA Acting and the Director of Intimacy and Consent-Based Practices at Sands College of Performing Arts, Pace University, New York, USA. Some of her credits include: The Last, Concussion (Sundance 2013), Madam Secretary, Law & Order: SVU & CI, Kidnapped, Six Degrees, Third Watch, All My Children and over a dozen Shakespearean productions.

Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. One-Hour projects in performance: money-saving suggestions to consider with a minimal budget 3. Lesson plan and editing exercise 4. Cross-gender casting suggestions 5. As You Like It 6. As You Like It: suggested cast list and character assignments for a small cast 7. Love's Labour's Lost 8. Love's Labour's Lost: suggested cast list and character assignments for a small cast 9. Much Ado About Nothing 10. Much Ado About Nothing: suggested cast list and character assignments for a small cast 11. Twelfth Night 12. Twelfth Night: suggested cast list and character assignments for a small cast