has prided itself on mounting the playwright’s classic productions with a cast that is culturally and racially diverse. The group recently hosted a one-woman play that showed how much progress has been made on that front.
Actor Mekhi Phifer took on the role in a modern reinterpretation that centers around a high school basketball team, a film titled “O” with Josh Hartnett and Julia Stiles. To that extensive list, we can now add the name of another genre-breaking actor, Debra Ann Byrd. “When the Shakespeare birthplace trust said, ‘yes’ we want you to come and be the writer in residence, now that’s the top,” said Byrd.
She now brings Shakespeare to new audiences and firmly believes that Shakespeare’s work is not meant to be read, but meant to be played.She says nothing beats a live performance by those occupying the famous characters created by Shakespeare.Byrd now creates a safe space for actors at SW Shakespeare Company, almost de-mystifying the man, the myth, and legend.
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