“Inspired by these sessions, I resumed a practice that I had neglected for a while: reading stories aloud to my wife.”
— Class Participant
Shakespeare for Parkinson’s combines the Bard’s poetry and scenes from his plays with movements designed to activate all the muscles of the body, strengthen the voice and speech, stimulate the imagination and improve memory – all of which carry over to the activities of daily living.
“The leaders are very positive and encouraging. The material is real. The words beg you to articulate and embrace them.”
— Class Participant
Explore Shakespeare
Make Friends With Your Body
Have Fun
Movement
Every class includes a progression of exercises that activate and warm up the entire body, supporting participants' agility, coordination, and physical expression.
Voice
Each class uses exercises that improve vocal power, range, resonance, and breath capacity. Voice work is combined speech exercises that activate all the vowel and consonant sounds through fun drills, tongue twisters, and Shakespeare's poetry.
Expression
Class culminates with an integration of voice, speech, expressive movement, and acting exercises to explore a sonnet, a scene, or a soliloquy from one of Shakespeare’s plays.
"…An atmosphere of safety, and class members really opened up and shared. It was so special and so rare. You could touch the closeness. We are not merely individuals in a Zoom square, but friendships are forming."
— Class Participant
“It makes me so happy. It's fun, and I surprise myself at how well I am doing at something I thought I had no talent for.”
— Class Participant
Shakespeare for Parkinson’s is supported by a Community Grant from The Parkinson’s Foundation.
Thanks to their support, this program is free for all patients and caregivers.
Upcoming Class Sessions
Ongoing Enrollment
Sessions are THURSDAYS on ZOOM
Class: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Shakespeare for Parkinson’s combines the Bard’s poetry and scenes from his plays with movements designed to activate all the muscles of the body, strengthen the voice and speech, stimulate the imagination and improve memory – all of which carry over to the activities of daily living.
Shakespeare Cafe: 3:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Theatre Troupe: 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Participants will rehearse Shakespeare's texts for performance using the same techniques as theater professionals.
Fall 2024 Calendar:
October 10, 17, 24, 31
November 7, 14, 21
December 5, 12, 19
Class is Always Free
Sign Up Here
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