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The Infinite Variety of Shakespeare's Women

Actress Ellen Barry takes her audience on a memorable journey as she performs and discusses a wide range of the Bard's female characters.

In Shakespeare’s plays, women are far outnumbered by men, yet they are among his most compelling characters. Actress Ellen Barry takes her audience on a memorable journey as she performs and discusses a wide range of the Bard’s female characters, from ingénues to leading ladies to character women and finally crones. Along the way, she shares memories of her own experiences as the woebegone Helena in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," the saint-like Hermione in "The Winter’s Tale," and the comic schemer Maria in "Twelfth Night," among others.

Ellen Barry has played more than 100 classic and contemporary roles in New York and at regional theatres across the country.

Ellen and her late husband, Paul Barry, founded the NJ Shakespeare Festival (now Shakespeare Theatre of NJ). During their 27-year tenures as Producing and Artistic Directors, respectively, all 38 of Shakespeare’s plays were offered (many of them more than once), as well as works by an impressive variety of other authors from Sophocles to Shepard. 

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