Themes: Adapted Classics, Low Level Classics, William Shakespeare, Fiction, Tween, Teen, Young Adult, Hi-Lo, Hi-Lo Books, Hi-Lo Solutions, High-Low Books, Hi-Low Books, ELL, EL, ESL, Struggling Learner, Struggling Reader, Special Education, SPED, Newcomers, Reading, Learning, Education, Educational, Educational Books. Timeless Shakespeare-designed for the struggling reader and adapted to retain the integrity of the original play. These classic plays...

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Elizabethan theater with William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". This bewitching comedy whisks you away into a whirlwind of love, fantasy, and magic. Follow the complicated loves of four young lovers lost in a mysterious forest, where mischievous fairies play tricks on them. Amidst misunderstandings, confusions, and magical spells, this summer night promises twists as amusing as they are surprising. Meanwhile,...

William Shakespeare's "King Lear" stands as a towering masterpiece, a tragic tale of power, betrayal, and the human condition. This timeless play delves into the complexities of familial relationships and the consequences of unchecked ambition. At its core, "King Lear" tells the story of an aging monarch who, in a moment of misguided judgment, divides his kingdom among his three daughters based on their flattery. The consequences of this rash decision...

Planning a school or amateur Shakespeare production? The best way to experience the plays is to perform them, but getting started can be a challenge: The complete plays are too long and complex, while scene selections or simplified language are too limited. "The 30-Minute Shakespeare" is a new series of abridgements that tell the "story" of each play from start to finish while keeping the beauty of Shakespeare's language intact. Specific stage directions...

30-Minute Shakespeare plays three action-packed scenes from this tale of King Navarre and his three lords, who have vowed to retire from women for three years. Naturally, the Princess of France and her three ladies arrive, and comedic courtship ensues. The cutting includes the ridiculous dance of the lords disguised as Russians, the hysterical "Pageant of the Nine Worthies," and a dramatic, bittersweet ending that leaves the King and the three lords...

Othello: The 30-Minute Shakespeare is a gripping seven-scene interpretation of this Shakespearean masterpiece. There is a dramatic build as each successive event draws Othello closer to jealous rage. Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio. He plants Desdemona's handkerchief in Cassio's chamber, orchestrating Othello's undoing. The plot concludes with Othello outrageously smothering Desdemona, discovering the truth...

An abridgement for performance by young people and amateur adults, "road tested" at the Folger Shakespeare Library's Student Shakespeare Festival. Six key scenes are presented with narrative bridges and interpretive stage directions, bringing Shakespeare from page to stage. Also included are an essay on performing Shakespeare, performance notes for AS YOU LIKE IT, and a directory of additional resources.

"A master at engaging students in the process of performing a Shakespeare scene."-Janet Field-Pickering, head of education, Folger Shakespeare Library The Merchant of Venice: The 30-Minute Shakespeare features eight scenes from this gripping classic: Shylock loans Antonio money, with the forfeit being a pound of Antonio's flesh. Comedic mayhem ensues as two foreign princes attempt to win Portia's hand. The climax is the courtroom scene where Portia,...

Drawing on his eighteen years of experience as a teaching artist for Folger Shakespeare Library, Nick Newlin offers eighteen scenes to get young actors on their feet performing Shakespeare with confidence, understanding, and fun! Each scene averages five minutes in length, containing two to six characters, and features a monologue that young performers can use in performance, audition, or competition. Every scene has been "road tested" by one of Newlin's...

Richard III: The 30-Minute Shakespeare This edition of Richard III features seven scenes, opening with the Duke of Gloucester's villainous "Winter of our discontent" speech and followed by his audacious wooing of Lady Anne. Queen Margaret's chilling curses, Richard's string of murders, and the haunting chants of his victims' ghosts are stage drama at its best. The climax is a gripping battle in which the Earl of Richmond slays Richard and becomes...