Shakespeare Inspired Verse Plays
With the introduction of the Shakespeare's New Contemporaries program from the American Shakespeare Center (ASC), Emily has turned her attention to writing companion plays to Shakespeare's own canon. Her submissions, including A Comedy of Heirors and Cupid and Psyche have been semi-finalists with the ASC, while her Merry Widows of Windsor received development at the Sheen Center.
For Valentine's Day, in February 2020, her Juliet and Romeo will receive a developmental production at the historic Kraine Theatre as part of Turn to Flesh Productions' residency with the prestigious Frigid Festival in New York City.
For Valentine's Day, in February 2020, her Juliet and Romeo will receive a developmental production at the historic Kraine Theatre as part of Turn to Flesh Productions' residency with the prestigious Frigid Festival in New York City.
All's Well That Ends.
At the East Arden Shakespeare Festival, the former Artistic Director, Winslow Grossman, has been removed for gross behavior towards women, and the new Interim AD, Morrigan Price, has her hands full trying to keep the company afloat. When her mentee and actress convinces Morrigan to give her the starring role, which leads to more people quitting, and the hiring of Grossman's nephew as part of the quickly sinking cast, Morrigan must ask whether this is a problem that anyone can solve.
At the East Arden Shakespeare Festival, the former Artistic Director, Winslow Grossman, has been removed for gross behavior towards women, and the new Interim AD, Morrigan Price, has her hands full trying to keep the company afloat. When her mentee and actress convinces Morrigan to give her the starring role, which leads to more people quitting, and the hiring of Grossman's nephew as part of the quickly sinking cast, Morrigan must ask whether this is a problem that anyone can solve.
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Juliet and Romeo
Snyder and Shakespeare collide in this augmented text of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. In this hyper-violent Verona, where Tybalt and a female Benvolio were former lovers, Mercutio's affair with Romeo is well-known, and Juliet has no nurse to defend her, the stakes are higher as secrets come out, cousin betrays cousin, and a society steeped in blood leaves lovers no way out but one. Turn to Flesh Productions Staged Reading Shakespeare's Birthday, March 2019 The Shakespeare Forum, NYC The Frigid Festival Residency Turn to Flesh Productions Developmental Production February 2020 The Kraine Theatre, NYC |
Romeo (Ari Dalbert) steals an awkward public kiss at the party from Juliet (Emily C. A. Snyder) while Benvolio (Emily Rahm Whitman) looks on. Photo courtesy of Lisa LaGrande.
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The Merry Widows of Windsor
Shakespeare's Merry Wives have become Snyder's Merry Widows in this hilarious sequel with a feminist edge. Alice Ford and Margaret Page find themselves newly autonomous - but while Alice embraces all the possibilities the world has to offer, Margaret continues to mourn the loss of her husband. When news comes that the bastard son of Henry V might be in the town, Alice is told it is her duty to seduce the young man to keep him, and his wealth, in the town. Except, it seems her husband, Francis Ford, isn't quite as dead as everyone thought he was! With an added touch of Hamlet, Shakespearean cross-dressing, and a very confused Dogberry and Verges (who took a left turn at Illyria), The Merry Widows of Windsor is sure to delight audiences of all ages. Turn to Flesh Productions Staged Reading - February 2018 The Sheen Center, NYC The Shakespeare Forum Festival Selected Scenes - June 2018 The Shakespeare Forum, NYC The Sheen Center Playwright Festival Full Staged Reading - June 2018 The Sheen Center, NYC |
Anne Page Fenton (Starr Kirkland) tries to fend off a would-be wooer, Master Kevin Lithe (Joseph Salvatore Knipper) in the Shakespeare Forum Festival presentation of selected scenes from The Merry Widows of Windsor.
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From Naomi Baker: "First I read, Comedy of Heirors and loved it. I presented it to my artistic team as problematic because of the issue of "twins." One of the team suggested I take a look at this play, The Merry Widows of Windsor. What can I say? So smart. So fun. So appealing.
One of the things that has always bothered me about directing Shakespeare is the inequity of gender roles. This play takes care of that issue, and gives us so much more. I can't wait to tell my friends about this playwright!"
One of the things that has always bothered me about directing Shakespeare is the inequity of gender roles. This play takes care of that issue, and gives us so much more. I can't wait to tell my friends about this playwright!"
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A Comedy of Heirors
With twice the women, twice the twins, and Malvolio running after everyone, A Comedy of Heirors is the feminist answer to Shakespeare's farcical romp through Ephesus. Happening concurrently with the events of A Comedy of Errors, this play tracks Malvolio's quest to bring to justice a Glorielle of Syracuse, lately arrived in Ephesus, who is accused of posing as her mistress, the Lady Dromia. However, at the same time Glorielle of Ephesus, servant to her own Lady Dromia, dreams of fortunes and titles beyond her lowly station. When she's mistaken for her sister by Malvolio, the Constables Dogberry and Verges, her sister's lover - Jacques de Boys, fresh from Arden - and even the Duke, things seem to be looking up for Glorielle of Ephesus. Provided she can keep all the attention on her. Turn to Flesh Productions Staged Reading - July 2017 The Shakespeare Forum, NYC The American Shakespeare Center Shakespeare's New Contemporaries Semi-Finalist, Round 1 |
Glorielle of Syracuse (Abby Wilde) silences her lover, Jacques de Boys (Fahim Hamid) in A Comedy of Heirors. Photo courtesy of Duncan Pflaster.
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Top 15 NYC Shows of 2017
From Zelda Knapp, A Work Unfinishing: "While this may have only been a reading and not a fully staged production, it was so freaking polished, bursting with talent, and utterly hilarious - I was crying from laughter at one point. Playwright Emily C. A. Snyder presented a sister play to Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, one with two pairs of unbeknownst sister twins running around parallel to the shenanigans of Shakespeare's comedy, and pursued by a disgraced Malvolio who's now turned detective after his last spate with twins. This was a delightful romp that absolutely deserves a fully staged rendering (please keep Abby Wilde and Erin Keskeny in the cast)."
