Sonnet Marathon Featuring TSP Members!

In honor of April 23, 2020 - Shakespeare's death day (also attributed to his birthday), members of The Seeing Place participated in a Sonnet Marathon online. The event was conceived and hosted by TSP Alumnus, Lila Smith (Two Rooms, Othello.). Each artist was asked to choose one non-profit arts organization to support. As it was required that no organization could be supported twice, TSP asked Executive Artistic Director, Erin Cronican, to read in honor of The Seeing Place and then Producing Artistic Director Brandon Walker and Ensemble Member William Ketter chose other organizations near and dear to their hearts.

We initially planned to share the videos of our ensemble reading these sonnets. But because many actors in the event (including Erin and Brandon) are union actors, there was a rule that stated that the video had to be removed from the internet within four days. So, instead, we've opted to list the sonnets that were read by the actors, along with links to the organizations that they were supporting:


Brandon Walker, Sonnet #27

Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,
The dear repose for limbs with travel tired;
But then begins a journey in my head
To work my mind, when body's work's expired:
For then my thoughts--from far where I abide--
Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,
And keep my drooping eyelids open wide,
Looking on darkness which the blind do see:
Save that my soul's imaginary sight
Presents thy shadow to my sightless view,
Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,
Makes black night beauteous, and her old face new.
Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind,
For thee, and for myself, no quiet find.

To make a donation in honor of New Fortune Theater Company, visit www.newfortunetheatre.com


Erin Cronican: Sonnet #71

No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Than you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world with vilest worms to dwell:
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it, for I love you so,
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot,
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
O! if, I say, you look upon this verse,
When I perhaps compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse;
But let your love even with my life decay;
Lest the wise world should look into your moan,
And mock you with me after I am gone.

To make a donation in honor of The Seeing Place, visit www.TheSeeingPlace.org


William Ketter, Sonnet #93

So shall I live, supposing thou art true,
Like a deceived husband; so love's face
May still seem love to me, though altered new;
Thy looks with me, thy heart in other place:
For there can live no hatred in thine eye,
Therefore in that I cannot know thy change.
In many's looks, the false heart's history
Is writ in moods, and frowns, and wrinkles strange.
But heaven in thy creation did decree
That in thy face sweet love should ever dwell;
Whate'er thy thoughts, or thy heart's workings be,
Thy looks should nothing thence, but sweetness tell.
How like Eve's apple doth thy beauty grow,
If thy sweet virtue answer not thy show!

To make a donation in honor of EPIC Players, visit www.epicplayersnyc.org


To learn more about the event, visit: www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedinshakespeare-sonnet-marathon-2020-lila-smith/