Prefaces to Shakespeare

FAIN: TR-50209-10

WNET (New York, NY 10019-7416)
Stephen Segaller (Project Director: January 2010 to February 2019)

Broadcast of the first six episodes of a series that will contextualize the stories of all of Shakespeare's plays along with public programs and a website.

Prefaces to Shakespeare is a public television series that will tell the complete story of the Complete Plays of William Shakespeare. One-hour episodes, presented by legendary actors and directors, will explore the text and context of each play in the canon. To launch this comprehensive series, we will initially produce six episodes, slated to air in 2012. Each will focus on a play or group of plays: Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, The Henrys, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice and The Tempest. Other components are a substantial Web site and an outreach campaign, enabling PBS stations and Shakespeare festivals in ten communities to create local programming and events. Prefaces will introduce new audiences to the what, why and how of Shakespeare's plays, while thrilling those who know Shakespeare with new scholarship and insight. In time, the initial shows will be followed by as many as 14 more episodes, allowing us to cover all 37 of Shakespeares plays.