About the Play:

As She Likes It is a full-length comedic drama edited and compiled by Karen Ruch. This is an original theatre piece containing short plays written by regional playwrights Lori M. Myers, Sean Adams, Marjorie Bicknell, David Nice, Sue Lange, Barbara Trainin Blank, and Sandra Fenichel Asher about the women of Shakespeare's works, who often have small or underdeveloped roles to play. Now, in As She Likes It, these women are given full voice to say things they didn't have the opportunity to in the Bard's world or do things that the “pipsqueak boys” who played them never did.

As She Likes It is an anthology of short plays that features women from Shakespeare's canon. The characters step outside of the male-dominated context of their original works, sometimes into another time and place. These familiar women from classic stories may have had muted voices in Shakespeare's plays, but here they take center stage to discuss the choices they have made and navigate the power structures that have controlled their lives. These plays offer great roles for women, opportunities for thoughtful scene study, educational exploration and a larger conversation about how these women's stories resonate in our current era.

As She Likes It premiered in 2016 at Gamut Theatre in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ideal for any high school or community theatre group looking for something amusing and "different." Running time is about 90 minutes.

Cast: 4 to 18 female, 1 to 2 any gender

About the Playwright:

Karen Ruch is an American director, actor and stage manager. She has worked in regional theatre since 1995. In addition to working on Free Shakespeare in the Park in Harrisburg, Pensylvannia, for more than 20 years, she is dedicated to producing original works and creating more opportunities for women on stage.