Perennially one of the most-produced playwrights in America, Lauren Gunderson returns to discuss A Room in the Castle, her new play based on the women of Hamlet now having its world premiere at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Folger Theatre in Washington DC. Lauren talks about the evolution of her play and reveals how it became more focused on Gertrude, rather than Ophelia; an excellent reason why artists should lunch with other artists; how there is always another story going on; how young people in love are dumb; what her next play will focus on; the definitive answer to the question of Gertrude’s complicity in King Hamlet’s murder; and how the women of Denmark survive in a world (much like ours) where “patriarchy’s gonna patriarchy.” (Length 24:13) (PICTURED, above: Sabrina Lynne Sawyer and Oneika Phillips in the world-premiere of “A Room in the Castle” based on the women of “Hamlet,” by Lauren M. Gunderson, directed by Kaja Dunn, co-produced with Folger Theatre playing January 24-February 9, 2025 at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Photo by Mikki Schaffner. Below, Lauren Gunderson and Austin Tichenor, San Francisco, 2025. Selfie by Austin Tichenor.)
5 Comments
Madelyn · January 26, 2011 at 8:12 pm
I have an Amtrak story for you. My first ever train ride was delayed a couple hours, due to the engine needing to be changed in Chicago (I got on in Kansas City). This wouldn’t be so bad, except that I was supposed to get on at 10:50pm. Since it was late, I started my 2-day train ride at 1:30am. There were a lot of people laying on the floor of the waiting room.
austin · January 19, 2011 at 11:16 am
We have restored iTunes functionality! Check it here (with a cool new black background too): http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reduced-shakespeare-company/id207994337
admin · January 18, 2011 at 11:47 pm
Turn on, plug in and pod out! The Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast is back on iTunes! Glitch resolved. 3 new episodes to please yur ear!
austin · January 18, 2011 at 1:32 pm
There’s definitely SOME reason, we just don’t know what it is yet. We’ve submitted a tech support request to iTunes and will post & Tweet & Facebook about it when it gets resolved. Thanks!
Greg · January 18, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Any reason why the last two podcasts aren’t appearing in iTunes?