Name: Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender
Start: 2024-12-05T19:30:00-05:00
End: 2024-12-05T21:00:00-05:00
Location: DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender
Created and performed by Lisa Wolpe
Directed by Laurie Woolery
A fearless, uplifting, and deeply personal one-person show
Co-sponsored with the Gender Studies Program and Notre Dame Film, Television and Theatre
Internationally renowned actor and Shakespeare scholar Lisa Wolpe has arguably played more of the Bard’s male roles than any woman in history. From gender explorations to intergenerational trauma to the unforgettable story of her life, Lisa triumphantly illustrates that Shakespeare’s insight into the human condition is as relevant as ever.
This lyrical, fearless, and deeply personal one-person show is a quest for gender equality and women’s rights. Wolpe weaves Shakespeare’s monologues with stories of her family’s traumatic past. The play talks about Holocaust experiences, suicide, alcohol addiction, and sexual and physical abuse while eloquently using Shakespeare’s text to heal and create. The play may be best suited for prepared students able to handle the adult nature of the play.
Note: The performance will conclude with a 15-minute Closing Ceremony: Conversation with Community, where audience members are invited to ask playwright/performer Lisa Wolpe about the play and engage in conversation about its themes.
(Approximate running time: 60 minutes, plus a 15-minute Closing Ceremony.)
“Weaving monologues from her favorite male Shakespeare roles with reflections on her family history, Wolpe explores her fascination with upending gender conventions as a way to reclaim power in the face of a traumatic past.” —The New Yorker