Casting a Web for Shakespeare

Following are links to internet sources for information on and interest in Shakespeare and his works. If you would like to suggest a link for this list, e-mail [email protected].

The Bardathon (blogs.warwick.ac.uk/pkirwan)
Run by Peter Kirwan, a tutor in Shakespeare at the University of Warwick and a reviewer for several academic journals, The Bardathon covers productions with the aim of combining immediate reactions with the detail and analysis of academic review.

BardBox: Shakespeare and online video (bardbox.wordpress.com)
BardBox is a selection of some of the best and most interesting Shakespeare-related videos on YouTube, Vimeo and other video hosting sites. Curator Luke McKernan ended the project in September 2012, but the site is still up and videos accessible.

Caroll Vanwelden Sings Shakespeare Sonnets (www.carollvanwelden.com)
This Belgian singer/pianist/composer has recorded jazz interpretations of Shakespeare's sonnets (48 total on three recordings) accompanied by Mini Schulz on double bass, Thomas Siffling on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Jens Düppe on drums and percussion.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (shakespeare.mit.edu)
Leave it to the folks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to create one of the Internet's best-presented reprints of The Bard's plays and poetry, giving you the option to read each play on one page or link to individual scenes.

Folger Digital Texts (www.folgerdigitaltexts.org)
Twelve Folger Editions of Shakespeare's most widely read and taught plays are now available through this free online reseource. You can read the plays online, download PDFs, search for keywords, and navigate by act, scene, and line.

I Love Shakespeare (blog.iloveshakespeare.com)
William S., an actor living and working in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, has created this blog on "Why I Love Shakespeare," offering his thoughts and reflections on everything Shakespeare, in turn leading to some spirited discussions.

Internet Shakespeare Editions (internetshakespeare.uvic.ca)
The Shakespeare-related resources on this site include fully annotated texts of his plays and poems, multimedia materials and records of his plays in performance, and thousands of searchable pages devoted to Shakespeare's life, times, and works.

LitCharts (www.litcharts.com)
From the creators of SparkNotes comes a series of online and downloadable literature study guides, including 24 Shakespeare plays, that summarize plots, characters, and thematic matter. Teacher editions are available, too.

Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Club (www.lawsc.net/)
The former theater company is now a club dedicated to bringing Shakespeare's stories to relevance and showing people their importance with analysis and explanations. The site also offers women business and lifestyle tips.

Maryland Shakespeare (marylandshakespeare.com)
Jamie, who lives in a Washington, D.C., suburb, created this page because he needed a calender of the Shakespeare plays happening in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., and thought others might be interested and could also share any tips about plays in the area.

My Poetic Side (mypoeticside.com/poets/william-shakespeare-poems)
My Poetic Side is a center for all things poetry. Its encyclopedic listing of poets includes this linked page on William Shakespeare and information on his sonnets, long poems, and famous play excerpts, plus a cool graphic timeline and map.

National Endowment for the Arts (www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org/)
NEA's Shakespeare in American Communities is a national theater program in cooperation with Arts Midwest bringing performances and related educational activities to audiences across the country. Also a good resource site.

No Sweat Shakespeare (www.nosweatshakespeare.com)
No Sweat Shakespeare's aim is to help students of all ages understand Shakespeare's language, from translating full Shakespeare plays and short quotes and phrases in to modern English, to providing in-depth articles on Shakespeare's life and times.

Not By Shakespeare (www.notbyshakespeare.com)
This site is by the same guy who runs the Shakespeare Geek blog (below). On that blog, he posted an entry about common expressions incorrectly attributed to Shakespeare, and the response—along with a pandemic of misquoting on the internet—grew into this site.

Or What You Will (orwhatyouwill.wordpress.com)
Join this "mom of two small boys" as she reads all of Shakespeare's plays, watches films based on Shakespeare's work, and attends productions—then blogs about them. "I am not an expert… just a lover of beautiful words."

PlayShakespeare.com (www.playshakespeare.com)
Calling itself "The Ultimate Free Shakespeare Source," this site not only gives you access to the works (full versions and synopsis) but also offers reviews of productions, films, and books, provides discussion forums, and sells Shakespearecentric items.

The Shakespeare and Dance Project (shakespeareandance.com)
A site dedicated to performers and producers grappling with questions about Shakespeare and dance and to readers and audience members who would like to think more deeply about the role of dance in the plays. Features essays and videos of dances in and of Shakespeare's plays.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (www.shakespeare.org.uk)
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is the independent charity that cares for the world's greatest Shakespeare heritage sites, and promotes the enjoyment and understanding of Shakespeare's works, life and times all over the world.

The Shakespeare Forum (theshakespeareforum.org)
The Shakespeare Forum is a community of actors, directors, and lovers of Shakespeare dedicated to helping each other thrive while breaking the habits of isolationism which so often prevail in New York City's artistic community

Shakespeare Geek (blog.shakespearegeek.com)
A blog by a self-avowed geek "dedicated to proving that Shakespeare makes life better." He's been doing this for eight years and has a wealth of wisdom and insights, and some cool resources, too, especially his Shakespeare wedding quotes.

Shakespeare in American Communities (www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.org/)
This National Endowment for the Arts initiative is a national theater program in cooperation with Arts Midwest bringing performances and related educational activities to audiences across the country. Also a good resource site.

Shakespeare Online (www.shakespeare-online.com)
Amanda Mabillard launched Shakespeare Online in 1999 to provide free, original, and accurate information on Shakespeare to students, teachers, and Shakespeare enthusiasts. A great search engine lets you pinpoint words and phrases in the entire canon.

Shakespeare Magazine (www.shakespearemagazine.com)
A slick, on-line magazine focusing on Shakespeare productions and other activities around the world. The site also serves as a clearing house for interesting Shakespeare-related news and trivia.

The Shakespeare Standard (theshakespearestandard.com)
With a goal of improving communications and sharing ideas among the disparate communities of Shakespeareans, this site provides news and reviews plus commentary from a variety of submitters, and a forum for anybody who wants to participate.

Shakespeare Theatre Association (www.stahome.org)
A forum for the artistic, managerial, and educational leadership of theaters primarily presenting Shakespeare's works to discuss issues and methods of work, share resources and information, and advocate for Shakespearean productions and training.

Shakespeare's Buildings (shakespeares-buildings.co.uk)
This site by The Stage, developers of living and commercial properties themed to the remains of Shakespeare's Curtain Theatre, features lovely photographs of buildings associated in some way with William Shakespeare, not just in England but in Verona and Virginia, too.

Shaksper: The Global Electronic Shakespeare Conference (shaksper.net)
Now in its 24th year of serving the academic community, this website is an edited and moderated international email distribution list for discussion among Shakespearean scholars, researchers, instructors, students, and anyone sharing their academic interests and concerns.

Shake Sphere: A Guide to the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (www.shakespearestudyguide.com)
Retired school teacher and journalist Michael J. Cummings has written and compiled an impressive collection of play summaries, study guides, glosseries, lists, and essays on all things Shakespeare. A comprehensive resource for fans, students, and journalists.

SuperSummary: Shakespeare Guide (www.supersummary.com/shakespeare-guide/)
SuperSummary is an online resource providing study guides, all created in-house, for a wide range of fiction and non-fiction titles, intended for students, teachers, and recreatioal readers. This page is an overview of Shakespeare's life and works, with a links to other resources.

William Shakespeare's Complete Sonnets (www.web-l.com/shakespeare/poetry/sonnets/)
Actor David August, who loves sharing Shakespeare's verses as much as speaking them, offers a quick index to every Shakespeare sonnet, linked by number and first line. You can also sign up for his Sonnet of the Day, which he delivers via e-mail, Twitter, Facebook and feed.

Yello Head Shakespeare Company (meetyello.blogspot.com)
A blog by artist Jean Noel Vandaele focusing on Shakespeare, from the complete Theatre of Shakespeare in 120 drawings to the series of 40 Portraits of Shakespeare with his Yello medallion. It's about a unique experience between theater and visual art, Shakespeare and Yello Head.

If you want to include a Shakespearean web site not listed here, e-mail [email protected]