MILWAUKEE –

(PRWEB) September 12, 2014 — Although William Shakespeare’s plays were written four centuries ago, they still resonate today, seen on stage, television and live theater. When a retired English literature teacher (who just happens to have been a Jesuit priest) decided to read Shakespeare’s work with the help of a group of senior citizens, the results were amazing. He chronicles his five-year experience with Shakespeare, Just for Fun! Seniors Sharing Shakespeare in this new book released by Dog Ear Publishing.

“Shakespeare with Hearing Aids: Some Old-Timers Revisit the Bard” features the literary adventures of more than 50 retirees in two different locations who read more than 15 of the Bard’s plays, tackling the dynamics of plot, characters, language and playwriting technique. Although the participants brought walkers, hearing and vision impairments, and foreign accents to the readings, the playwright’s deft hand with language and intriguing stories allowed group members to come together, enjoying friendship and a brief chance to act among peers.

Author Nick Weber helped the seniors interpret such classic works as “Hamlet,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Richard III” and “Othello.” Perhaps the most poignant reaction took place for “King Lear” and his dementia, which mirrors their own experience with Alzheimer’s and other memory issues, easily identifying with the king’s fears of loneliness and isolation. The book is geared toward bringing understanding of the writer’s work to people who didn’t pay attention in high school or college, those who have dabbled in his work, thespians and those who see Shakespeare on the stage, movies or PBS. Even as it succeeds on that level, Weber’s caring narrative of the stories and personalities of the senior actors ends up in a starring role all its own.

Liam Callanan, author of “The Cloud Atlas,” writes glowingly of Weber’s latest publication, calling it “a spry book that is daring in every good way, particularly in its extraordinary celebration of close reading, which in these pages means two beautifully complementary things: smart textual analysis informed by a born performer’s eye (and ear); and smart performers, who grow close to Weber, each other and Shakespeare while reading the plays. I dare you not to be moved.”

Nick Weber, born in Yuba City, Calif., taught English literature and theater arts before becoming ordained as a Jesuit priest. He founded the Royal Lichtenstein Circus in 1971 presenting poetic morality tales and circus acts for more than 20 years. Weber developed a one-man performance piece that rekindled his interested in the playwright, “Shakespeare, Just for Fun!” He began reading Shakespeare’s works with retirees in Milwaukee after retiring once more from teaching theater arts and English literature. He also wrote the memoir “The Circus that Ran Away with a Jesuit Priest.”

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For additional information, please visit http://www.weberwords.com

Shakespeare with Hearing Aids: Some Old-Timers Revisit the Bard

Nick Weber

Dog Ear Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4575-3036-4        204 pages        $ 17.00 US paperback

ISBN: 978-1-4575-3218-4                    $ 9.99 e-book

Available at Ingram, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and fine bookstores everywhere.

About Dog Ear Publishing, LLC

Dog Ear Publishing offers completely customized self-publishing services for independent authors. We provide cost-effective, fast, and highly profitable services to publish and distribute independently published books. Our book publishing and distribution services reach worldwide. Dog Ear authors retain all rights and complete creative control throughout the entire self-publishing process. Self-publishing services are available globally at http://www.dogearpublishing.net

and from our offices in Indianapolis.

Dog Ear Publishing – self-publishing that actually makes sense.






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