In 2009 the Guild focused most of its efforts on programs at the NATIONAL
ARTS CLUB on Gramercy Park South, but there were also events at the 65th
Street headquarters of the ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION OF NEW YORK and at the
BRITISH EMBASSY in Washington.
We launched the year in January with RUSSELL
JACKSON, a professor at the Univeristy of Birmingham who has provided
textual consultation for a number of Kenneth Branagh's stage and film productions.
In February we talked with FLORA FRASER,
who introduced her new biography of Pauline Bonaparte. In March we arranged
a special evening on Shakespeare's Sonnets, with actor CASEY
BIGGS reciting his favorite selections and pianist BURNETT
THOMPSON setting them to music. April proved to be anything but a cruel
month, because Guild attendees savored a rare opportunity to eavesdrop on
a conversation between actress ZOE CALDWELL
and her friend CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER,
a dialogue that focused on Mr. Plummer's memoir In Spite of Myself.
A few days later the Guild joined the Nation's Capital branch of the English-Speaking
Union for a BRITISH EMBASSY reception, hosted by Ambassador SIR
NIGEL SHEINWALD and LADY SHEINWALD and featuring a special tribute to
"On Language" columnist WILLIAM SAFIRE.
May brought us back to Manhattan for two programs, one with Founder and
Artistic Director BARBARA GAINES of
the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and her colleague
MARILYN HALPERIN, and a second with lexicologist PAUL
DICKSON. In June we relished a delightful evening with Founder and Artistic
Director TINA PACKER of Shakespeare and Company.
After a brief summer break, we were back at the NAC in September for another
charming dialogue with New Yorker critic
ADAM GOPNIK. October brought sociolinguist DEBORAH
TANNEN to the Club to intoduce her latest volume. In November we enjoyed
a memorable evening with Tony laureate RICHARD
EASTON. And we concluded an eventful 2009 in December with Harvard's
MARJORIE GARBER, who talked about
Shakespeare and Modern Culture.
For details about offerings that have been presented in other seasons, click
on the years that follow: 1998, 1999,
2000, 2001,
2002, 2003,
2004, 2005,
2006, 2007,
2008, 2010,
2011, 2012,
2013, 2014,
2015, 2016,
2017, 2018,
2019, and 2020.
And for information about upcoming programs, visit our Current
Events page.
