2013 Toronto Conference Agenda
Thursday, 17 October
12-1 Registration
1-1:15 Welcome. Opening of Conference.
1:15-2 Paper: Priscilla Costello. (Ontario).
“Astrology, ‘Shakespeare’ and de Vere.” A professional astrologer compares the astrological charts of de Vere and ‘Shakespeare.’
2-2:45 Ron Halstead. (Michigan)
“Death of a Dictator: The Dangerous Timeliness of Julius Caesar and the Authorship Question.” De Vere’s interest in rebellion.
2:45-3:30 Walter H. Hurst (North Carolina)
“What’s Your Authority for that Statement: An Approach to Examining External Evidence in Early Modern Authorship.” How to evaluate the strength of historical evidence.
3:30- 3:50 Coffee break
3:50 to 4:35 Robert Detobel/Henno Wember (Germany)
“The Outcast State: Oxford’s Passion for the Theatre.” Was it his love of the theatre that led to Oxford’s “outcast state?”
4:35-6 Video: The Naked Shakespeare
A new video on the authorship question from Germany.
Friday, 18 October
8:30-9:15 W. Ron Hess (Georgia) with additional material by Alan Tarica
“Did Oxford Use A Sercretary Hand As Well As His Italic Hand?”Could Oxford have perpetrated a documentary hoax on Shakspere?
9:15-10 Heward Wilkinson (UK)
“Coleridge and the Implications of Authorial Self-Awareness in Shakespeare.” There is no sign that the Stratford man embodied the consciousness of “Shakespeare” while there is substantial testimony that Oxford did.
10-10:45 Michael Egan (New Mexico)
“The Shakespeare Grain Dealer Uproar.” The documented facts about Shakspere’s financial arrangements, when compared with the plays, show clearly that we are dealing with two distinct individuals, the man from Stratford and the man who wrote the plays.
10:45 –11:05 Coffee Break
11:05-11:50 Tom Regnier (Florida)
“Could Ben Jonson Think Like A Lawyer? Taking a Closer Look at Clarkson and Warren.” A revaluation of the 1942 study on property law in Elizabethan drama which disparages Shakespeare’s legal knowledge.
11:50-12:50 Gerit Quealey (New York)
“Studying Authorship: Why It Matters for Actors; The Road To Revelation. How authorship research can inform and illuminate A Text.” A working actor demonstrates her points with student actors.
Lunch on own
3 p.m. Bus leaves for the Stratford Festival
(Tom Regnier paper on “The Law and Merchant” on bus)
5 p.m. Arrive at Stratford. Meeting with Antoni Cimolino (Director of Merchant) followed by “on own’ dinner
8 p.m. Merchant of Venice on Festival Stage
10:30 p.m. Bus returns to Toronto (arrives about 12:30 a.m.)
Saturday, 19 October
8:30-9:30 Annual Meeting of the Shakespeare Oxford Society
9:30-10:15 Cheryl Eagan-Donovan (Massachusetts)
“The Reason for the Alias: Oxford’s Bisexuality and the Elizabethan Theatre.” A look at the sexual behavior of both actors and audiences of the period suggests that Oxford’s sexuality may have been a prime reason for the pseudonym.
10:15 to 11 Hank Whittemore. (New York)
“The Unbroken Line: Oxford, Acting Companies and the Phenomenon of Shakespeare.” A look at de Vere as guiding force behind the three most important acting companies of Elizabeth’s reign.
11 to 11:15 The Missing Debate: A Comment. Don Rubin (Ontario) and Keir Cutler (Quebec)
11:15 to 12 Roger Stritmatter (Maryland) and Lynne Kositsky (Ontario)
“And, therefore, as a Stranger, Give it Welcome.” The Tempest, The Oxfordians, and the Critics in a Dialogue.
Two major scholars put the Tempest dating debate to rest through their new book.
12 to 12:15 The Tempest Book launch/signing (Roger and Lynne)
12:15 to 1:45 Lunch (buffet with Keynote)
Mark Anderson (Massachusetts)
“Shakespeare, Newton and Einstein: Listening to the Obsession of Genius.” The author of the major de Vere biography, Shakespeare By Another Name looks at the nature of genius and obsession.
2 to 2:45 Shelly Maycock (Virginia)
“Essex, Oxford and the Concept of Popularity in Late Elizabethan Discourse.” How the notion of popularity can be recast from an Oxfordian perspective.”
2:45 to 3:30 Keir Cutler (Quebec)
“From Crackpot to Mainstream: The Evolution of the Authorship Question.” Are the doubts about the man from Stratford becoming mainstream? An actor suggests that the answer is “yes.”
3:30 to 4:20 Sky Gilbert (Ontario)
“Was Shakespeare A Euphuist?” The connections between Shakespeare and Lyly, between Endymion and
Twelfth Night done with student actors.
4:20 to 4:40 Coffee break
4:40 to 6:35 Canadian Premiere Screening: Last Will and Testament.
Introduction of this full-length film by the directors – Lisa and Laura Wilson.
Sunday, 20 October
8:30 to 9:30 Annual Meeting of the Shakespeare Fellowship
9:30-10:20 Ramon Jimenez (California)
“Shakespeare’s Two Lear Plays: How the Playwright Transformed His First Romance into his Last Tragedy.” From King Leir to King Lear.
10:20 to 11:20 Michael Morse. (Tennessee)
“What the Thunder Said and Tom O’Bedlam’s Song.” Views of Lear.
11:20 -12:20 Earl Showerman. (Oregon)
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Shakespeare’s Aristophanic Comedy.” Was Shakespeare acquainted with Athenian drama? The former President of the SF explores the territory.
12:20 to 2 p.m. Closing Banquet with Keynote. Awards and Final words.
John Shahan (California).
“Shakespeare Authorship Coalition Strategy Through 2016 – What You Can Do To Help.” The head of SAC and one of the editors of the volume Shakespeare Beyond Doubt: Exposing An Industry in Denial discusses plans for the coming 30 months.
