35 Famous Speeches in 35 Famous Places
Throughout 2017, SF Shakes presented a series of free, short, site-specific performances called “35 Famous Speeches in 35 Famous Places” celebrating the Festival’s 35-year history in San Francisco. Professional actors and students presented free public performances of the Bard’s most famous speeches, surrounded by iconic San Francisco landmarks.
The series was inspired by our popular “Free Shakespeare in the Parklet” performances of 2012, in which Festival actors presented flash mob-style scenes for crowds in parklets across the City. "35 Famous Speeches" gave audiences a chance to engage in shorter Shakespeare experiences, ideal for children, hearing words that they recognize in a setting that they love.
#1 - Hamlet - O that this too too solid flesh would melt...
Saturday, February 11, 11:00 am. Boardwalk at Crissy Field East Beach (with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge). Directed by Stephen Muterspaugh and James Freebury, performed by Davern Wright.
#2 - A Midsummer Night's Dream - These are the forgeries of jealousy...
Sunday, February 12, 1:00 pm. Outside the Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park. Directed by Sharon Huff, performed by Sarah Shoshana David* and Julia Rechter.
#3 - Romeo and Juliet - But soft, what light through yonder window breaks...
Tuesday, February 14, 12:30 pm, Valentine's Day. Yerba Buena Gardens. Directed by Rebecca J. Ennals, performed by Carl Holvick, Lauren Spencer*, and Gwen Loeb*.
35 Famous Speeches Kick-off Event featuring #4 - Sir Thomas More - Grant them removed...
Thursday, February 16, 6 pm. Presidio Officers’ Club. Directed by Rebecca J. Ennals, Steve Muterspaugh, Will Shattuc, and James Freebury. Featuring performances by Davern Wright (Hamlet), Carl Holvick (Romeo), and Radhika Rao (Lady Macbeth), and a group performance of "Grant them removed..." from Sir Thomas More.
#5 - Titus Andronicus - And make two pasties of your shameful heads...
Tuesday, March 14, 3:14 pm, Pi Day. Mission Pie. Directed by Rebecca J. Ennals, fight choreography by Ryan Tasker, performed by Gabriel Ross, Doyle Ott, Kristin Hall, Perry Aliado, and Alison Whismore, with special assistance from John Sulak and James Freebury.
#6 - Julius Caesar - Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears...
Wednesday, March 15, 12:30 pm, the Ides of March. City Hall Rotunda. Directed by Sharon Huff, performed by Nathaniel Andalis, Kieran Beccia, and Alicia Stamps, with special assistance from Peter Logan.
#7 - Hamlet - O what a rogue and peasant slave am I...
Saturday, March 25, 1 pm. Union Square. Directed by James Freebury and Radhika Rao, performed by Nathaniel Andalis, Perry Aliado, Sharon Huff*, and Ryan Tasker*.
#8 - Hamlet - To be or not to be...
Sunday, April 23, 12:30 pm, Shakespeare's birthday. Grace Cathedral labyrinth. Directed by Sharon Huff, performed by Shoresh Alaudini, Perry Aliado, Susan McGarry, Rainier Pearl-Styles, John Sulak, and Eleanor Farrell.
#9 and #10 - Twelfth Night - If music be the food of love... and Make me a willow cabin at your gate...
Monday, May 1, 12 pm, May Day. Claes Oldenburg's "Cupid's Span" statue at Folsom and Embarcadero, with a view of the Bay Bridge. Performed by the cast of Shakespeare on Tour's Twelfth Night , under the direction of Carl Holvick.
#11 - Richard III - Now is the winter of our discontent...
Thursday, May 4, 12:30 pm, May the Fourth be with you. Yoda statue in the Presidio. Directed by Sharon Huff, performed by David Everett Moore*.
#12 - Macbeth - Out, damned spot! Out, I say!
Sunday, May 7, 1 pm. Asian Art Museum. Directed by Will Shattuc, performed by Radhika Rao, J Jha, and Anne Yumi Kobori in English and Hindi.
#13 - Hamlet - Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue...
Saturday, May 20, 2 pm. Playland at 43rd Ave, 1360 43rd Ave between Irving and Judah. Directed by Rebecca J. Ennals, performed by Will Shattuc. Featuring a Playshop for kids to join in the fun!
#14 - Henry V - We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...
Sunday, May 28, 9:25 am. Legion of Honor Museum. Directed by James Freebury, performed by James Freebury and Joe Lerma.
#15 - Midsummer - Though she be but little, she is fierce...
Tuesday, June 20, 6:00 pm. Golden Gate Park's Bunny Meadow. Directed by Rebecca Ennals, performed by Phil Lowery, J Jha, Carl Holvick, Kristin Hall, Livia Gomes Demarchi, and Maryssa Wanlass*. Sponsored by Heidi and Jorge Ochoa.
Speeches #16-21: The Tempest by the Sea
Friday, August 25, 6:30pm. Various locations around the Sutro Baths. Directed by Sharon Huff, Jamie Freebury, and Will Shattuc. Featuring Julian Lopez-Morillas* (Prospero), Anne Yumi Kobori (Ariel), John R. Lewis* (Caliban).
FAMOUS SPEECH #16 – “Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises...” - Caliban; FAMOUS SPEECH #17 – “This island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother...” - Caliban; FAMOUS SPEECH #18 – “All the infections that the sun sucks up...” – Caliban; FAMOUS SPEECH #19– “All hail, grave master, grave sir, hail!...” - Ariel; FAMOUS SPEECH #20– “Ye elves of hills, brooks, standing lakes and groves..." -Prospero; FAMOUS SPEECH #21–“We are such stuff as dreams are made on...” – Prospero
Speeches #22-26: Macbeth Under Haunted Trees
Monday, October 30, 8:00pm. Mary Ellen Pleasanton Memorial. Featuring Sharon Huff*, Anne Yumi Kobori, David Everret Moore*, Gwen Loeb*, and Phil Lowery.
FAMOUS SPEECH #22:“Double double, toil and trouble...” – Witch; FAMOUS SPEECH #23:“Glamis thou art...” – Lady Macbeth; FAMOUS SPEECH #24: “Come ye spirits...” – Lady Macbeth; FAMOUS SPEECH #25:“Is this a dagger...” – Macbeth; FAMOUS SPEECH #26: “There’s comfort yet – they are assailable..." - Macbeth
Speeches #27-30: Much Ado at the Bandshell
Friday, November 10, 5:00pm. Golden Gate Park Bandshell. Directed by Will Shattuc. Featuring Amelia Adams and Sean Garahan.
Famous scenes plus: FAMOUS SPEECH #27 – “I do much wonder” - Benedick; FAMOUS SPEECH #28– “This can be no trick” - Benedick;
FAMOUS SPEECH #29 – “What fire is in mine ears?” – Beatrice; FAMOUS SPEECH #30 – “Man is a Giddy Thing” – Beatrice
Speeches #31-35: As You Like It
Sunday, December 17, 2:00pm. EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park. Directed by Rebecca Ennals. Featuring Amy Lizardo*, Maryssa Wanlass*, David Everrett Moore*, Michael Barret Austin*, Phil Lowery, Kristin Hall, and Will Shattuc.
*member, Actors' Equity Association
Graphic design by Will Shattuc and Kristin Hall.