Hamlet to Hamilton: Exploring Verse Drama

INTERVIEW: Robert Eric Shoemaker 26.02.2025 2h 42min

EXTRA, EXTRA! EXTRA SPECIAL INTERVIEW!This time Colin and Emily sit down and talk form, drama, poetry — what it is, what it does, and *why* —with Chicago multi-hyphenate writer, translator, performer and (in our professional opinion) hidden gem, Robert Eric Shoemaker!NOTE: Recorded Nov. 2024.GUEST BIO:Robert Eric Shoemaker (he/him) is a poet, translator, and interdisciplinary artist. His book, Magical Poetics: The Magic of Language and Real-World Effect Poetry, is forthcoming from Bloomsbury. He is the author of Ca’Venezia (Partial Press, 2021), an artist’s book of hybrid writing and visual art; We Knew No Mortality (Acta Publications, 2018), poetry and memoir; and the poetry chapbook 30 Days Dry (Thought Collection Publishing 2015).CONTENT: Very brief and sensitive discussion of sexual trauma later on in discussing Eric’s ever-evolving Tiresias cycle. Approx. time stamp: 1h 30m.WEBSITE: reshoemaker.comNEW PLAY EXCHANGE: https://newplayexchange.org/users/95195/robert-shoemaker

INTERVIEW: Duncan Pflaster 01.01.2025 3h 48min

Join us for a very special conversation with NYC verse dramatist and friend, Duncan Pflaster as we trace his journey from blank verse to experimental poetry, in service of heart and humor. More interviews to come as we kick off our fifth year of exploring verse drama. NOTE: This was recorded in late 2022. CONTENT: Frank discussion of sexuality throughout. Brief mention of sexual assault and the #MeToo movement as it pertains to one of Duncan's plays (~55 minutes in). Brief discussion of suicide as it pertains to Duncan's modernization of Romeo and Juliet. WEBSITE: https://www.duncanpflaster.com/ NEW PLAY EXCHANGE: https://newplayexchange.org/users/1657/duncan-pflaster

S4 E10: From King Edward to Queen Elizabeth I 30.07.2024 1h 37min

It's our season finale, y'all!...Kinda. Today, we cover plays between Kind Edward to Queen Elizabeth I, as we wrap up the season on this feed, before finishing our season properly on the Beyond Shakespeare Company podcast. Big thanks to Rob Crighton of Beyond Shakes for guiding us through this season. We're excited to share the remainder of the season (including the introduction of blank verse, iambic pentameter, and prose!) on the Beyond Shakes Podcast feed. http://www.hamlettohamilton.com http://www.beyondshakespeare.org

S4 E9: What if Muppets?...and a Flurry of Fragments 15.07.2024 56min

Welcome to our penultimate episode of Season Four, as we continue our journey through Anglophone verse drama. Today, our H2H hosts Emily and Colin, joined by Rob Crighton of the Beyond Shakespeare Company, get a little silly and imagine muppets performing the flurry of fragments from the 1550's. Make sure you're subscribed to the Beyond Shakespeare Company Podcast feed to continue the second half of our season, as we look at the first iambic pentameter and blank verse plays, as well as the first "prose" plays in English. (Episodes on the BSC Podcast starting August 2024) http://www.hamlettohamilton.com http://www.beyondshakespeare.org

S4 E8: The Most Theatrical Play Ever Written 23.05.2024 33min

It's time for what Rob Crighton is calling the "most theatrical play ever written!" Get ready for a second look at John Heywood's play...and let us know what you think. ⁠Hamlet to Hamilton⁠ ⁠Beyond Shakespeare Company

S4 E7: Emerging Print Culture with John Rastell and John Heywood 30.04.2024 39min

We're continuing through the beginnings of print culture with John Rastell and John Heywood. Season Four we're examining the origins of Anglophone drama, in crossover with the Beyond Shakespeare Company Podcast! Hamlet to Hamilton Beyond Shakespeare Company

S4 E6: Short and Shouty Skeltonics 15.04.2024 55min

Today we're excited to bring you the Tudor master of rhyme, John Skelton and his short and shouty Skeltonics! Thanks to Rob of the Beyond Shakespeare Company for guiding us this season through the history of English verse drama! Beyond Shakespeare Company Hamlet to Hamilton Patreon

S4 E5: The Beginning of the Tudor Play Period and the Introduction of Rhyme Royal 19.03.2024 40min

We're back with the Beyond Shakespeare Podcast to (finally!) look at early Tudor drama. Specifically, we're looking at Rhyme Royal, which you can learn more about here! Hamlet to Hamilton Beyond Shakespeare Company

S4 E4: The End of the Medieval Play Era 06.03.2024 44min

What was the importance of manuscripts, and the impact of the printing press on late Medieval drama? This episode introduces our first named playwright, John Lydgate, and his 1465 play, "Mankind." Rob Crighton of the Beyond Shakespeare Company continues this tour through the History of English Verse Drama, along with your hosts Emily C. A. Snyder and Colin Kovarik. ⁠⁠⁠Hamlet to Hamilton: Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Beyond Shakespeare Company: Website

SPECIAL: "The Harrowing of Hell" presented by the Beyond Shakespeare Company 21.02.2024 53min

And now for something completely different: H2H is partnering with the Beyond Shakespeare Company, and this time we're pleased to present the BSC's full audio cast production of "The Harrowing of Hell" - one of the very first Anglophone verse dramas, from around 1250 CE. We'll be back soon with the beginning of the Tudor period as we continue to explore the history of English drama. In the meantime, you can listen to our exploratory session with this text and other Medieval dramas in S4 E1: the Earliest English Verse Drama: http://www.hamlettohamilton.com/s4e1.html Beyond Shakespeare: https://beyondshakespeare.org/

S4 E3: Interludes and Debate Plays 30.01.2024 37min

As we draw near the end of the Middle Ages, we take a look at interlude and debate plays. Rob Crighton of the Beyond Shakespeare Company continues this tour through the History of English Verse Drama, along with your hosts Emily C. A. Snyder and Colin Kovarik. ⁠⁠Hamlet to Hamilton: Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Beyond Shakespeare Company: Website

S4 E2: Morality Plays 16.01.2024 47min

It's time to look at morality plays. What are they? How wacky can they get? Rob Crighton of the Beyond Shakespeare Company continues this tour through the History of English Verse Drama, along with your hosts Emily C. A. Snyder and Colin Kovarik. ⁠Hamlet to Hamilton: Website⁠ ⁠Beyond Shakespeare Company: Website

S4 E1: The Earliest English Verse Drama 01.01.2024 1h 10min

Welcome to the long-awaited Season 4 of "Hamlet to Hamilton!" This season, we're joined by Robert Crighton of the Beyond Shakespeare Company. Rob will be our guide through the earliest English verse drama, as hosts Emily C. A. Snyder and Colin Kovarik try out scenes from morality plays and mystery cycles and see just how we got from some highly stylized rhyming drama to the blank verse we know and love today. Hamlet to Hamilton: Website Beyond Shakespeare Company: Website

INTERVIEW: Monica Cross Discusses Tips for Writing with Neurodivergency 02.07.2023 1h 17min

Playwright Monica Cross is back, chatting about some of the tricks and tips she uses as a neurodivergent person when sitting down to write (and rewrite) her verse drama. CONTENT WARNING: Monica and Emily do (gently) discuss the script formatting and Monica's direction of Sarah Kane's play, 4:48 Psychosis, a brilliant contemporary verse play which does deal with mental trauma and suicidality. These are mentioned only insofar as they relate to the play. Make sure to check out Monica's previous interview: S3 E13: Monica Cross Discusses Line Endings! Monica Cross Online: https://monicaatcross.wixsite.com/theroaringgirl Monica Cross Twitter: https://twitter.com/theroaringgirl Monica Cross on New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/1040/monica-cross Website: hamlettohamilton.com Patreon: patreon.com/hamlettohamilton

INTERVIEW: Kyle J. McCloskey 23.04.2023 2h 59min

For Shakespeare's Birthday, we're kicking off a mini-season of interviews before we dive into Season Four. Let us introduce you to Kyle J. McCloskey (He/They), a two-time recipient of the Paula Vogel Prize from the Kennedy Center, here to chat with us about Paula Vogel's concepts of plasticity, as well as how soliloquies can be powerful political tools. Official Website: https://www.kylejmccloskey.com/ New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/576/kyle-j-mccloskey Paul Vogel Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLqM2xXYbzU

UNHINGED RANT: "Cupid and Psyche" All Grown Up and Alive - MBU Feb 2023 Virginia Premiere Production 08.03.2023 20min

Sometimes art really does come Velveteen Rabbit-alive.  In February 2023, Mary Baldwin University gave the Virginia Premiere of Emily C. A. Snyder's Cupid and Psyche.  Here's Emily's reflection on what it was like to let her artistic baby go, and what it's like to see art grow up and become alive.   Please Note: What follows is said with all love and respect to anyone who has ever born, lost, or gestated a child in their body.  Metaphors are imperfect.  Experiences grope for words.  Thank you for understanding.

S3 E16: Using Poetic Imagery and Techniques in Verse Drama 19.02.2023 1h 56min

We're at our Season 3 finale!  Looking at how to use poetic imagery and poetic techniques to enhance your verse drama...or to ruin it.  (Bless you T. S. Eliot, for showing us what not to do.)  We're looking at how Shakespeare succeeds (Antony and Cleopatra) and fails (Romeo and Juliet) at using poetic imagery, as well as how T. S. Eliot uses poetic techniques well in his poetry (Four Quartets)...aaaaand not so well in his plays (The Cocktail Party).  PLUS!  You get to hear Emily laugh for a full minute, before attempting her version of a very posh British accent for good old Eliot's work. Up next, we're going to be offering you various interviews from contemporary verse dramatists, before we jump into Season 4, which will look at the evolution of the history of Anglophone verse drama from the Medieval Ages through to the closing of the theatres in the 1640's.  That's in conjunction with the brilliant Beyond Shakespeare Company podcast, so check them out while you're waiting for S4 to drop! Website: http://www.hamlettohamilton.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/hamlettohamilton

UNHINGED RANT: T. S. Eliot's "The Cocktail Party" and "Four Quartets" 01.02.2023 15min

It's a new year and a new Unhinged Rant!  We're returning to T. S. Eliot, looking at his poetry in The Cocktail Party vs. Four Quartets.  The cool thing is Eliot always sounds like Eliot.  The cooler thing is that Ralph Fiennes performed Four Quartets (a poetry cycle) on the English stage in 2021.  The weird thing is that Fiennes' works...and The Cocktail Party doesn't.  What's going on with poetry on-stage anyway? UNHINGED RANTS are Patreon-only monthly exclusives.  We're unlocking this one for you, dear listeners.  Like what you hear?  Come join us over on patreon.com/hamlettohamilton! (Listen on Patreon)

S3 E15: Discovering Character through Line Breaks - Part 3 19.01.2023 2h 37min

We close out our exploration of creating character through line breaks by looking at Sir Gawain from The Table Round and The Siege Perilous by our own Emily C. A. Snyder.  We're breaking down how a character can go from complete end-stopped thoughts, to open-ended insecurity, as well as how caesura and broken lines can define a character's arc.  Strap in as we look at one character...and then tell us how you're using line endings, caesura and schwumpf in your own work! PLEASE NOTE: Sir Gawain suffers sexual coersion and two of his speeches touch briefly on his feelings as he puzzles out what he experienced.  These are flagged during the episode, so that the listener can skip if they prefer. Read the texts: http://www.hamlettohamilton.com/s3e15.html Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hamlettohamilton

S3 E14: Discovering Character through Line Breaks - Part 2 07.12.2022 1h 3min

Let's look at some hyper contemporary verse to see how line endings are used in some Broadway and Off-Broadway plays.  We're delving into Lucas Hnath's A Doll House, Pt. 2 and Jeremy O. Harris' Slave Play to see how enjambment and end stopped lines work when we're not in iambic pentameter.   (Note: Fear not! Although Slave Play contains difficult material, there is no content warning for this episode as the portion quoted is a neutral and not charged speech.  Phew!) Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/hamlettohamilton Website: http://www.hamlettohamilton.com