We’ve all been there: mindlessly scrolling through your channels on a Sunday afternoon, desperately trying to find something to watch that isn’t the news, some obscure sport, or a show set during the coronavirus pandemic, but ultimately failing in our endeavors. While there have been many moving and insightful television shows produced in the last year, sometimes we just want to watch something totally different, something a bit theatrical even…
Enter: BlkFrsTV, ASC’s innovative streaming platform that lets you view our acclaimed productions from the comfort of your own home! Current offerings include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, Twelfth Night, and, if you’re still feeling festive, A Christmas Carol! Want to learn a bit more before purchasing? We understand, which is why we asked some of our amazing artists and staff to tell us about their favorite production on BlkFrsTV. Keep reading to hear what they had to say, and to learn how to stream some BlkFrsTV title(s) today!
Zoe Speas, Actor-Manager: Othello
“By far, my favorite BlkFrsTV performance is ASC’s production of Othello. I love the lushness of the costumes and the lighting design, which incorporated slow fades and dozens of lit candles. And of course, I’m still haunted by Jessika D. William’s portrayal of Othello’s fit in the second half of the show as Iago (played by John Harrell) watches, transfixed and filled with glee. Such beautiful storytelling of such a horrific moment.”
Lia Wallace, College Prep Programs Manager: A Midsummer Night’s Dream 
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the play that ignited my love for Shakespeare when I was a kid and still delights me today. It’s a perfectly-structured romp that has everything: fairies, magic, love, laughter, drama, intrigue, and a mischievously happy ending. ASC’s BlkFrsTV production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will take you from laughter to tears to tears of laughter, all in the space of 90 minutes.”
Brandon Carter, Actor-Manager: A Christmas Carol
“My favorite BlkFrsTV offering is A Christmas Carol because it is purely an ensemble-driven effort. Digging deep in the imagination of 8+ artists and finding the right balance/implementation to tell such a beloved story, is such a special experience for us and hopefully our audience.”
Sarah Enloe, Director of Education: Twelfth Night
“For my money, the show to watch on BlkFrsTV is Twelfth Night. I love the intrigue of discovering who will be the heroine and the male ingenue with a coin swap. I also love Olivia (played by Constance Swain), and Malvolio (played by Michael Manocchio) is divine. There is no other Duke to fall for than Orsino (Brandon Carter for the win!). And then, there is Fabian (played by Matthew Radford Davies). The whole show is so fun! Also, writer Stephen Booth (Of Precious Nonsense and many other accolades) claimed it as his favorite. Good enough for me!”
At this point, you might be thinking, “All four shows sound amazing! How can I pick just one?” Well to you, dear reader, we say: don’t! In the words of our beloved Associate Artistic Producer Jay McClure, “They are all wonderful and you should see them all!” But don’t just take our word for it — ASC’s BlkFrsTV productions have been celebrated by the Wall Street Journal for their ability to “effortlessly convey the joyous experience of watching Shakespeare performed in Blackfriars Playhouse.” So, let us bring the magic of our Playhouse to your house and enjoy Othello, A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night today!
Ready to binge our BlkFrsTV productions? You can select a single BlkFrsTV performance to enjoy, or purchase a multi-title package, right here. And when you’re done, be sure to tell us what you think on social media: @shakespearectr on Twitter or @americanshakespearecenter on Instagram.
BY KATHRYN BAKER, MARKETING INTERN