About us
The Twin Cities Shakespeare Readers had its first meeting in April 2022. We meet once a month to discuss a play by William Shakespeare, the greatest writer who ever lived.
We usually meet on the last Monday of every month, 6-8 p.m., at the Minneapolis Central Library in downtown Minneapolis, usually in Room N-202.
We also post other events that may be of interest to our members.
We would be happy to send you a pdf file that tells you more about our group and also lists upcoming performances of Shakespeare plays in Minnesota. You can contact us by email at: TCSR.MINN@gmail.com.
Upcoming events
2
Theatre In The Round Players: "Dial M for Murder" ($5)
Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USThursday, November 19, 2026, 7:30 pm.
Theatre in the Round Players (TRP)
245 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis MN 55454"Dial M for Murder"
Written by Frederick Knott, Adapted by Jeffrey HatcherJoin us for the final dress rehearsal of "Dial M for Murder". The cost is $5.00 at the door. Cash preferred. NO LATE SEATING.
Play Description:
Tony Wendice married his wife for her money; now he plans to murder her for it. Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of the classic suspense thriller is a smart, compelling update of Knott’s tale of jealousy, deception and homicide. Tony is convinced that his wife Margot has been cheating on him. Now it seems that the affair is over, but in his jealousy Tony spins a web of suspicion and deception that will tighten around them and ensnare them both in danger, recrimination and murder. A new version of the celebrated murder mystery that inspired Hitchcock’s masterpiece!There is also a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Monday, Dec. 7, 2026, 7:30 pm.
PARKING:
1. Parking is NOT free at parking meters in the evening, but it is not expensive. About $5.
2. You can also park nearby in the ramp of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 1500 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454. Remember your license plate and when you are leaving the theater there is a QR code you can scan with your smart phone and only pay $5.50. (Four hour limit at this discounted price.)There is always a small chance that a performance might be cancelled at the last minute, so call TRP that afternoon to check 612-333-3010, and also check Meetup messages for this event.
5 attendees
“The Two Noble Kinsmen” Discussion
Minneapolis Central Library, room N-202, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, mn, USMinneapolis Central Library
(Downtown Minneapolis)
300 Nicollet Mall - Room N-202
Minneapolis, MN 55401There is underground parking beneath the library, off 4th St. S., for about $5. Go in to the Library lobby and then in to the book stacks area. Take the elevator or stairs up to the 2nd floor, then go all the way to the left.
This is a discussion about the play, not a reading or showing of it.
SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY (from the Folger Library)
• The Two Noble Kinsmen, derived from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, begins as Athens defeats Thebes in war. Arcite and Palamon, Theban knights and devoted cousins, are imprisoned in Athens. From their cell, they see Emilia, the sister-in-law of Theseus, Duke of Athens. Both fall in love with her, becoming bitter rivals.
• Arcite is released but, for love of Emilia, stays in Athens at the risk of his life. The jailer’s daughter, who loves Palamon, helps him escape, but goes mad with anxiety. Her original wooer cures her by courting her while pretending to be Palamon.
• Arcite encounters Palamon and challenges him to formal combat for Emilia. Theseus discovers them before they duel. He first sentences both to death, but then establishes a contest in which each will participate with Theban comrades. The loser and his knights will die. The winner will wed Emilia.
• Arcite prays to Mars for victory; Palamon, to Venus for Emilia’s love. Both prayers are answered. Arcite wins, but dies after a riding accident. Palamon, spared from execution, marries Emilia.FAMOUS QUOTES FROM THE PLAY
• Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)
• No Sweat ShakespeareFREE VIDEOS - FULL PLAY (YOUTUBE)
• Victoria University, New Zealand (2014) (2:20)
• Shakespeare in the Park, Seattle (2015) (1:50)FREE VIDEOS - OTHER (YOUTUBE)
• Tim Nance: Shakespeare’s Two Noble Kinsmen - Discussion and SummaryARTICLES
• Wikipedia: The Two Noble Kinsmen (play)
• Wikipedia: John Fletcher (playwright)
• About Shakespeare and Fletcher’s The Two Noble Kinsmen by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine
• A Modern Perspective: The Two Noble Kinsmen by Dieter Mehl
• Further Reading: The Two Noble KinsmenGENERAL RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
• The Folger Shakespeare Library has free and paid (includes notes) downloadable texts of all of Shakespeare’s plays.
• The Folger Library: Shakespeare Documented has copies of original documents from Shakespeare’s time.
• PlayShakespeare: The Ultimate Free Shakespeare Research
• Podcast: “Approaching Shakespeare”
• Podcast: Shakespeare Unlimited - Episodes by Play
• Play On Podcasts
• SparkNotes 101: Shakespeare [Excellent synopses of all the plays.]
• Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber [Excellent analysis of all the plays.] Kindle edition only $5.99!FACEBOOK PAGES
• The Official William Shakespeare Page
• Shakespeare Study Group
• William Shakespeare: His Works and His WorldAPP
• Shakespeare AppBEST SHAKESPEARE USED BOOK SELECTIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES
• Midway Books, St. Paul
• The Book House, Minneapolis
• James & Mary Laurie Booksellers, Minneapolis
• Magers and Quinn, Minneapolis
• Half Price Books5 attendees
Past events
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