PROGRAM

Directed by Bob Colonna & Rick Adam and written by Rick Adam, Bob Colonna, and William Shakespeare, this enlightening and entertaining program explores, in a fresh new way, the World of Shakespeare. Equipped with only an electrical guitar and his arsenal of stage skills, Rick Adam brilliantly translates into modern times, Hamlet, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet and other works of the Master. Lacing with humor and personal stories, Rick shares his journey of how, at 18, he stepped off the streets and onto the Shakespearian stage. Students will get to examine ageless teen themes of young love, self-esteem, family issues, peer pressure, honesty, and discover for themselves that the "Old Bard" still rocks, raps and rules!

PERFORMANCE FOCUS

• Bringing Shakespeare to life on today's stage, with an emphasis on teen issues then and now.
• A brief overview of the life, times, and art of William Shakespeare.PERFORMANCE FOCUS

PRESENTER RESOURCES

View-Download "Shaking Up Shakespeare STUDY GUIDE" (.pdf format)
View-Download "Shaking Up Shakespeare INFO SHEET" (.pdf format)
INFOSHEETS CONTAIN PROGRAM DESCRIPTION, ARTIST BIOGRAPHY, CONTACT INFORMATION, AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS.
View-Download High Resolution PUBLICITY PHOTOS (.pdf format)

DIRECTOR'S BIO

Bob Colonna has been an actor, director, narrator, announcer and performer professionally for fifty years, beginning on the British Variety stage with his father, the beloved comedian Jerry Colonna. Most recently he has worked at 2nd Story Theater in Warren, Rhode Island as Willy Loman in "Death of A Salesman" and Vladimir in "Waiting For Godot," among other roles. He has been seen in Boston at The Huntington Theatre and Lyric Stage, in Providence at Trinity Rep, at Milwaukee Rep, the Old Globe (CA), the Bread Loaf School of English (VT) and The Theater at Monmouth (ME). He was founder and artistic director of The Rhode Island Shakespeare Theater from 1971 to 1990. He has also directed at several Rhode Island colleges as well as The Theater at Monmouth, 2nd Story Theatre, New Stage, and many other venues. His voice has been heard in over 5000 radio commercials in the New England area. Bob is currently an Adjunct Professor of Theatre at Rhode Island College. His book of children's show business stories, "Zoe's Vaudeville Act," is available at PublishAmerica.com and he is about to publish a biography of his dad. He was a recipient of the 2007 Claiborne Pell Award for Excellence In The Arts.