February 12, 2010 Greetings! I’m writing to invite you to be part of a unique and exciting event this coming summer -- “The Bardwalk”! On July 28, 2010, from 6:00 to 8:30pm, the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, in collaboration with the City of Ocean City, NJ, is bringing the works of William Shakespeare to the Ocean City Boardwalk. As many as fifty of the Bard’s best-known scenes will be presented as Staged Readings on and around Ocean City’s Boardwalk and beaches in a novel, fun and informal way. What we need are groups of people—perhaps headed by you or someone you know—who would like to perform these scenes and bring the Bard’s works to life for an evening. Each group will perform a scene or part of a scene of about ten to fifteen minutes in length. The performing groups can be English classes, theater companies, drama clubs, book clubs, or general lovers of Shakespeare—from people completely new to Shakespeare to professional actors. We encourage each group to present their scene in a style and dress that they deem suitable. Each group will perform their scene three times at their specified location, with five minute intervals between performances. Imagine sandy tourists encountering a desperate, lovestruck Juliet, or a frantic Lady Macbeth running about trying to wash her hands. The long line of people in front of an arcade might be diverted by Hamlet contemplating life and death, or a beachfront brawl between the Capulets and Montagues might steal some people away from their beach reading. These are just samples of the ideas we would like to realize with The Bardwalk! Please join us in bringing Shakespeare to Ocean City on a beautiful summer evening. An information flyer is enclosed. For more information, please contact Professor David Roessel of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey at david.roessel@stockton.edu or 609-652-4474, or Meghan Smith-Ressler at meghan.smith-ressler@stockton.edu, or visit our website at http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=69&pageID=342.  We’re sure that participation in this event will not only be great fun, but will also provide a memorable evening for the thousands of tourists enjoying Ocean City! Sincerely, David Roessel Associate Professor of Classics

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS!

EVENT: Coordinated by The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and the City of Ocean City, NJ, we bring Shakespeare to life on the Ocean City Boardwalk! Fifty scenes from the Bard’s tragedies, comedies, and histories will be performed by local groups who share a love of Shakespeare. TIME AND PLACE: July 28, 2010, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm taking place on the Ocean City Boardwalk, with the Grand Finale at the Ocean City Music Pier at 8:15pm. GETTING STARTED:

• Your group leader should contact Professor David Roessel of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey at david.roessel@stockton.edu or 609-652-4474, or Meghan Smith-Ressler at meghan.smith-ressler@stockton.edu to sign up for a particular scene.

• Group size can vary from one to several—in certain cases an entire classroom could participate.

• Groups might be made up from English classes, theater companies, drama clubs, book clubs, or general lovers of Shakespeare—and group members’ experience can range from people completely new to Shakespeare to professional actors.

• Sign-up for participation is requested by April 24, 2010. The event is limited to the first fifty groups that sign up.

UPDATES: Updates will be available at our website: http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=69&pageID=342  COSTS: There is no charge for participating in the event. Groups will be responsible for covering their costumes, props, and transportation costs. The Bardwalk is organized by the Stockton Text Center, with cooperation of Rob Gregg, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, Mark Soifer and the Public Relations Department of the City of Ocean City, and Jack Devine of the Ocean City Arts Center.