INWOOD — All the world's a stage, at least at the Inwood Public Library.
Shakespeare Saturdays is returning to Manhattan's northernmost library in February, bringing with it another season of free seated Shakespeare readings and musical performances. And after burning through all of Shakespeare's plays last year, this year the group is opening with two of the Bard's poems; "The Lover's Complaint" and "The Phoenix and the Turtle."
The opening performances will be held on Feb. 8 in the library's basement, and although they may lack the large budget of an off-Broadway performance, program executive director Donna Kendall Stearns says the readings are no less entertaining.
"It's such a great time," said Kendall Stearns. "This is great literature being read by passionate actors who really love doing this kind of thing."
Kendall Stearns and her husband Jason started Shakespeare Saturdays 10 years ago as a way to help Jason scratch a directing bug. Since then the readings have drawn several top directors, including New York City Shakespeare vet James Alexander Bond.
The group has run through 39 of Shakespeare's plays, so this season Kendall Stearns is switching things up. There will also be a Shakespeare cinema festival some time in May.
For more information on the free performances visit the Shakespeare Saturdays website.
