My name is Ellen Adair, and I am an actor, currently working with the American Shakespeare Center, based in Staunton, Virginia. As part of their touring troupe, I will be performing in productions of ‘The Taming of the Shrew,’ ‘The Merchant of Venice,’ and ‘Henry V,’ around the United States and in Staunton.
That being said, I must take this time to give the obligatory disclaimer and state that anything I happen to write here, if indeed I do write anything, is not confirmed, signed, or ratified by the American Shakespeare Center. Should I say anything stupid, it is my own fault; should I by accident say anything intelligent, it’s probably something they taught me.
I was previously residing and acting in Boston, Massachusetts. In general, I would be content to spend the rest of my life doing Shakespeare, Shaw, and Stoppard. For more about me, please visit my professional website at ellenadair.com.
Ms Adair, my first encounter with the Shakespeare company (Blackfriars-?-) in Staunton was last month. I accompanied my class (as a chaperone) from Fredericksburg to see Romeo and Juliet. We were invited to join The Nurse, Romeo, Benvolio, and the ASL interpreter and field questions to the actors after the show–most enjoyable.
The day was most satisfying. The production, with its vibrant and stimulating pace, interpretation, and playfulness was a joy to experience. I’m glad to witness theater in Virginia being played with controlled abandon.
I hope you are having a fulfilling Shakespeare year with your company–touring. . . . I, on the other hand, live in a community with a bent that is somewhat less artistic than yours (theatrically speaking). It’s different here than my three season in the National Shakespeare Festival and one season of Shakespeare in NYC. My “bent” now is writing, directing . . . acting needs must be an avocation for me now.
Thanks for the contact . . . and your light side.
Here’s hoping I can see one of your tour shows if it comes around.
Stephen Brown
Thank you so much, Stephen! I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed Romeo and Juliet; it’s (in my humble opinion) the finest production of the play I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been in it elsewhere three different times. I’m sure the talkback with Alli, Greg and Chris was also excellent—I, too, am a talkback junkie.
What kinds of things are you writing, and, additionally, what kinds of things are you directing? I wish you the best of luck with both! Personally, when I’m not acting, I get depressed.
If you’d like to come see our shows in Staunton, we’ll be in the Blackfriars from March 28 through roughly June 17. We may be closer to home, too, before then, if you’d like to take a look at the touring schedule I have posted on this site. Thanks again!
Oh my gosh!!!
I’m very impressed with the Shakespeare play (The Merchant of Venice) that you and the rest of the gang had acted at my school today, Tyler Consolidated High School!
You guys did such a great job, even though we didn’t get to watch the whole show because we had an early dismissal due to the weather being all rainy.. Dang, Dang DANG! But hey, at least you guys are doing the play again tomorrow!! Which I’m looking forward to! =] And hopefully there won’t be any bad weather this time.. haha.
I’d have to say that you guys have been the best, and probably will ever be, performers that have ever come to our school to do a play.
Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Johnathon Hunter
Senior at Tyler Consolidated High School
Hey Johnathon!
This is just about the best post on my blog of all time, and it definately made my day. That you should have liked (what you saw of) the play is more important than any theatre critic or Shakespeare buff. And we hadn’t even gotten to the good part yet! The cancellation was truly a tragedy of epic proportions. Someday I will chronicle it here. [cue theme music]
Thanks for your kind words–I hope you’ll have more opportunities to enjoy seeing Shakespeare in the future!
Dear Ellen,
My friend and professor Scott Newstock at Rhodes College sent me your site and your very kind performance comments. Thank you. More to say on that: but for a less-open forum.
I’m launching Tennessee Shakespeare Company in Memphis, which we are promoting as the mid-south’s only professional, classical theatre. We go into first rehearsals for “As You Like It” in two weeks.
Does your tour take you through here?
Love your site.
Break legs, my humble thanks,
dan
Dear Dan:
You do realize that this is like the demi-god or Patron Saint of this blog coming down to earth to comment on my ‘About Me’ page. It is even more amazing, I dare say, than the kind gentleman who fixed Chris’s bass making a comment on this blog.
If I had internet connection in my life right now (I do not, a fact which I continually lament), you would have made my day a long time ago. But now you have made my day today, instead.
Thank you.
i’m the patron saint of toilet cleaning and chair stacking — if anything.
you are more than kind.
come through memphis in october and see us!
thank you,
dan