Sharpen Your Shakespeare
Please note: sight reading Shakespeare has been Postponed.
Sight Reading Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s plays contain over 800,000 words. Our immersive 4 day program will teach you how to handle all of them.
““Melody has such a smart, contemporary interpretation of these plays that is still so true to the text. Anyone who wants to learn and understand Shakespeare needs to experience her approach.””
About The Program
Sight Reading Shakespeare is an immersive 4 session program in which attendees will learn how to take ownership of both text and character, regardless of which play they pick up. The program is designed for performers at all levels—from beginners to long-time professionals who want to conquer their fear of Shakespeare or strengthen their skills and audition repertoire.
Session 1: It’s all in the text!
A review of what participants know about basic text analysis methods (i.e. iambic pentameter, scansion, irregular verse) and learning how to “Sight-Read Shakespeare” by working with First Folio and other techniques in select monologues. april 13, 2024.
Session 2: The matter of the heart
Take charge of the text and use your own understanding of human behavior and history to unleash multiple layers of meaning in these plays and create 3-dimensional characters on stage. Don’t just rely on the “experts”! April 20, 2024
Session 3: What’s in a word?
Participants are paired in scenes to dig deeply into the text and discover multiple possibilities for interpretation and performance. Each scene is analyzed using historical context and First Folio clues. April 27, 2024.
Session 4: Putting it all together
After time to rehearse, participants present their scenes and share their performance choices with the group, based on techniques and tips covered in the workshop. May 4, 2024.
Register now as seating is limited!
For Mailed checks pay to:
new perspectives theatre company
456 West 37th Street, New York, New York 10018
Program runs from April 13, 20, 27, and May 4th from 10AM-1PM. Participants must attend all four sessions.
*If needed by NPTC only, May 11 will be a make-up date.
After March 30, our discount ends and $500 is due total for all sessions—don’t sign up too late to miss this discount! Registration ends and payment must be made by April. Contact newper37@gmail.com with questions and for more information.
Learn more about Melody Brooks here.
“There are a lot of Shakespeare teachers who know the mechanics but it is rare to find one who is so well read in the historical context of Shakespeare's plays. Melody teaches like the words are a piece of music--she helps you to quickly understand and apply nuts and bolts techniques to turn seemingly complex language into universal human truth. It is her personal passion and extensive knowledge of the history surrounding the work that makes her special as a teacher. As an actor I not only get the mechanics that make the work accessible and fun, but I get the heart and soul of the characters through her deep understanding of the relationships and politics surrounding the world.”
—OBIE-winner Stephanie Berry
“As a musical actress for many years, whenever I have been asked what I wanted to tackle next my reply: "I want to do the classics and namely Shakespeare". Well, when I got the opportunity to audition for my first Shakespeare role I was told Melody Brooks was the person to go to for coaching. In a very short amount of time Melody gave me not only the basic rules and regulations about the text I was to audition with, but she gave me the history of the play itself and my character's role in the storyline. She also laid out how the language can be approached to give my character many layers and give me the ability to maneuver depending on the director’s choices. And yes I did get the job!! More than anything the information she gave me enabled me to feel confident and comfortable.”
—Actor/Singer Tina Fabrique
"A part of Melody lives in the 16th century, or a part of her 16th century self lives today. Either way, her knowledge of Shakespeare is deep and her opinions clear. I learned a lot from her."
— Actor Ken Leung