Madison Shakespeare Company will conduct two special stage readings of “Shakespeer” plays–works written by contemporaries of William Shakespeare.

Up next is Edward the Fourth, by Thomas Heywood (probably). August 17, 2017 at Arts + Literature Laboratory, 2021 Winnebago St, Madison. 7 PM start time.

This lesser-known work chronicles key events in the battlefield and bedchamber of one of England’s tallest kings, who traded reigns with Henry VI and was directly responsible for putting Richard III in line for the throne. The soap opera-worthy plot includes the love triangle between Edward, his mistress Jane Shore, and her husband Matthew, who runs off and becomes a pirate.

Free and open to the public, with contributions gratefully accepted. Performance time approximately 90 minutes.

Directed by Francisco C. Torres from an original adaptation by Sarah Z. Johnson.

The first Shakespeer reading was Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. July 20, 2017 at Arts + Literature Laboratory, 2021 Winnebago St, Madison.

Faustus is the non-Shakespeare work most commonly requested by MSC patrons and a classic tale of the ultimate ill-conceived bargain. Our performance was based on the “A” text.

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