Rediscovering Shakespeare with Jack Parkhurst

Rediscovering Shakespeare through the examination of antique books and paper. Theater educator, and professional director Jack Parkhurst and his wife Joan, an actress and professor, have been collecting antique books related to Shakespeare for the past twenty years. They love to share the legacy of Shakespeare and the printers of the time with others.

Visit the greatest writer of all time through an examination of antique books and paper, some going back over 400 years. You might make a connection with Shakespeare that you never experienced before! When I was first introduced to Shakespeare in high school, I couldn't stand studying the bard's works! Eventually I would not only come to enjoy Shakespeare, but to relish the history and significance of his writing. What changed all that?  Where did Shakespeare get his ideas for his stories?  Do we use any of Shakespeare's phrases today in our everyday lives?  What is the story behind the printing of Shakespeare's plays?  How has 400 year old paper not just disintegrated? Did Shakespeare really have a hand in creating the KING JAMES Bible of 1611, and can I really hold a page from that first Bible? You will have the opportunity to look at some of the original texts from the 1600's, ask questions, and discuss what makes Shakespeare and his paper so fascinating!

To Register for the ZOOM link click here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMod-GgqTMjHNbhBtXYU7gmMZUEHwwhPJjg

About Jack:

Jack Parkhurst has been a theatre practitioner for over 50 years. He began as an educator in Clarinda, Iowa in the 1970’s, and then moved on to build a successful high school program in Ralston, Nebraska. Eventually he moved into the university system, spending over thirty years specializing in directing and theatre education for teachers. He has always had a profound interest in Shakespeare. Throughout his long career he has directed over 20 plays written by William Shakespeare, and many musical theatre pieces based off Shakespeare’s works. In order to prepare for these projects, he would consult facsimiles of the original texts from the first, second, third, and fourth folios. This research sparked an interest in the original printing of these documents, which subsequently led to cultivating a collection of folio pages (leaves). He and his wife Joan, an actress and teacher, have been collecting antique books related to Shakespeare for the past twenty years. They love to share the legacy of Shakespeare and the printers of the time with others.