Episode Notes It's 2023, so we're going back through the highs and lows of 2022. Let's talk best and worst films, MMVP, and future resolutions! CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Concert Scream Applause Short" on audioblocks.com Support …

Episode Notes It's Christmas Time on Avant-Bard which means we "get to" watch a Christmas rom-com based on Shakespeare. Today we're tackling Much Ado about Nothing with Much Ado About Christmas! Are we filled with the Holiday Shakespirit? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://…

Episode Notes Getting our November tradition out at the last second! You know we had to cover a Titus Andronicus before the feasting month ended! So we're here this week with The Hungry. How will this Tamora-focused adaptation strike our collective fancy? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Rile…

Episode Notes We love covering new films that fit our shtick, so we're doing back-to-back Romeo and Juliet so we can cover Rosaline! What's this classic like through the eyes of the forgotten first love? Let's find out. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsit…

Episode Notes What's a Spooptober Month without a zombie love story? Any other Spooptober Month. But not this one! This one has Warm Bodies, a twee-zombie-love-tale inspired by Romeo & Juliet. Let's dig in. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music S…

We're back! It's Spooktober month, so how could we stay away? We're back with more Akira Kurosawa; this time, Throne of Blood (his take on Macbeth)! CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Creaking Door", "Hooded Crow", "Cackling Creepy Laugh…

Episode Notes Episode Notes a play we love with ACTORS WE LOVE!? Yes! King of Texas! A pretty ambitious tv movie if we do say so ourselves. A western adaptation of King Lear that we couldn't wait another week to cover. But how do we feeeeeeel? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- htt…

A kickstarted Julius Caesar? Set in the post apocalypse? It's more likely than you think! Well, I mean, there's one. It's Ambition's Debt. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Minuet", "35mm Film Projector Start" on audioblocks.com "Random…

Marquez promised it and we're covering it: Romeo and Juliet SEALED WITH A KISS. It's like Romeo and Juliet but they're seals. Just like Shakespeare.... never intended. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Minuet", "35mm Film Projector Star…

Episode Notes This month, we're focusing on something we've wanted to discuss ever since we started Avant-Bard: hit Canadian television program SLINGS AND ARROWS! In the last episode of July, we're going to discuss Season 1 Episodes 4-6 and how they relate to Hamlet and other works by William Shakespeare. Have we mentioned how much we love Kate tod…

Episode Notes This month, we're focusing on something we've wanted to discuss ever since we started Avant-Bard: hit Canadian television program SLINGS AND ARROWS! Wait... it's not a huge hit? Well, that's a mistake. Maybe after this, you'll join our campaign to make Slings and Arrows a hit Canadian television program. But for now, we're going to di…

Episode Notes On our quest to cover every play by Shakespeare, we're tackling Coriolanus today! Does this play work almost better in a modern setting? Is it gay? Yes. Yes, it's gay. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Record Stop", "Crick…

Episode Notes It's time for us to cover the oldest film on the podcast so far! All with the goal of crossing Two Gentlemen of Verona off our list! How will this silent film hold up to the bard's words? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "…

Episode Notes A new Macbeth direct adaptation? A CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ADAPTATION? WITH OSCAR NOMINATIONS?! AND DENZEL WASHINGTON?!!!!!??? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Incorrect Answer Decision", "Feedback Incorrect 25", "Wrong Inco…

Episode Notes Spring has sprung and we think we're adding a new Shakespeare play to the catalog with Winter's Tale! This is totally Shakespeare. It's an adaptation for sure. With Horse. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Trumpet Cornet F…

Episode Notes We're still on a musical kick! This week we're doing a deep dive into Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. A recent film? YOU KNOW IT! We have a LOT to say about this Romeo and Juliet adaptation. Don't you?Mambo Orchestra Link CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https:/…

Episode Notes We might have missed Valentine's Day, but we're still in the mood for love! Kind of. At least it's queer? That's right, we're talking Were the World Mine! A gay musical! Midsummer Night's Dream! But... will we like it? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileya…

Episode Notes Keeping our promise to cover plays we haven't before, we're watching Kenneth Branagh's film version of As You Like It. Will we enjoy his setting or call him out for Orientalism? I'm sure you can guess. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.co…

Episode Notes We're starting this year with some sweet nostalgia! These two theatre nerds grew up with the Boy Genius Jimmy Neutron and NEEDED to cover his school play MACBETH... IN SPACE! CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Cricket Chirp…

Episode Notes CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Cheering 3", "Gasp 3", "Magic Turning Spells Casting", "Super Short Drum Roll with Cymbal Crash at End", "Scared Male No Scream" on audioblocks.com "Winner Bell Game Show" on Freesound.org…

Episode Notes In our second annual episode of What the Dickens!, a sub-podcast of Avant-Bard, we're discussing Scrooged as a cynical adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Small Youn…

Episode Notes It's the holiday season! What Shakespeare play could fit Christmas spirits better than... Romeo and Juliet? But feuding Christmas Tree farms? Okay then! CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Gasp 3", "Aww cute reaction", "Chee…

Episode Notes This Thanksgiving week, we thought we'd bring Shakespeare's most thematic play for the season: Titus Andronicus. So few adaptations exist of this gory work; is Julie Taymor's TITUS enough to satisfy? Or will we be full up?CW: discussions of sexual assault, violence, and racism CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the…

Episode Notes Soaring through space and time, Megan and Marquez have found themselves in the future of the past! Can the magic of Morbius hold up to Prospero's books? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Spaceship Sonar Scanning Search", "…

Episode Notes Once upon a time, a Shakespearean horror anthology was offered to the Lifetime Network The only thing more frightening than their pilot of Midsummer Night's Dream? Trying to connect its plot to the original. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixs…

Episode Notes Tech tried to keep us away from this treasure of a film, but we're back with our thoughts on Shakespeare in Love. Are we charmed? Are we in LOVE? Are we a lady, Mr. Kent?! CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Crowd Double Cla…

Episode Notes PBS couldn't help but bring Arthur into the world of Shakespeare! In this episode we discuss two different sections "Never, Never, Never" and "MacFrensky". How well can a children's show tackle these difficult shows? Let's find out. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- …

Episode Notes Hamlet adaptations sure like to show us the story through another character's eyes. Today we're stepping into the shoes of Ophelia. With a few major changes to the plot of Hamlet, will we like this interpretation? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Support the show on Patreon Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen5…

Episode Notes Today, we return to New Queer Cinema with our discussion of Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho which takes inspiration from William Shakespeare's Henry IV Pt 1, Henry IV Pt 2, and Henry V. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Cartoon Fash Movement Swoo…

Episode Notes This week we're seeing double! Two sets of double! We're talking Big Business as Come of Errors! Can icons Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin ever go wrong? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Strong Massive Men Laughter", "Boccherini Minuet Classical", "35m…

This week we return to India for another adaptation! This time, director Srijit Mukherji takes on both Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra with his film Zulfiqar. Can these two plays fit into a 2 hour and 18 minute film? Only one way to find out!CW: The episode mentions narrative instances of gun violence, suicide, and rape CAST: Megan Scharlau …

Episode Notes Macbeth. The dreaded Scottish Play. In.... fast food restaurants? With Christopher Walken? You have to see it to believe how amazing this Macbeth adaptation truly is. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Crowd boos 2", "Concert Scream Applause Short", "…

Episode Notes This week we step up into the world of K-pop and rival underground dance clubs with Make Your Move starring Kwon BoA and Derek Hough. Will this film dance its way into our hearts as a top Romeo & Juliet adaptation, or will we send it back to the streets? CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Theme music by Riley Allen- https:…

Episode Notes It's time to boldly go where no Avant-Bard episode has gone before: the world of Star Trek! Specifically, we're discussing Star Trek The Original Series Season 3 Episode 13: Elaan of Troyius. Lists claim this episode is inspired by The Taming of the Shrew, but will we agree? Listen now to find out! CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew Jam…

Episode Notes Today we view the movie version of a well known stage adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead! Will the film hold up as an adaptation of the original work, or even the stage version of itself? Only one way to find out! Questions! No, wait. Listening to the episode. Reference Links:https://www.…

Episode Notes Giving William Shakespeare a break, we're stepping into our Alias of the Kitty Kat Club where we discuss the works of Christopher Marlowe! Today we're discussing Derek Jarman's adaptation of Edward II. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music'SFX: "OHH", "Drips S…

Episode Notes Continuing our delve into high-school set adaptations, we take this week to discuss O. Can a tragedy fit the high-school setting, or will we find ourselves missing the comedies?Content warning: This film, and therefore this episode, contains discussions of sexual assault, gun violence, and harmful language. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Ma…

We're diving in to our first taste of Bollywood with this week's episode on Angoor! Join us for laughs, confusion, and laughs caused by confusion as we analyze this adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Horse W…

Episode Notes It's time to discuss Disney Animation's The Lion King! Many claim this film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, so our hosts are set to decide once and for all if this claim is true! No matter what, they're going to end up with some songs stuck in their heads. CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew James Marquez Theme music by…

Episode Notes It's time to settle down and enter a realm we've never entered before: The Twilight Zone. Two episodes stand out in particular: Act Break from The New Twilight Zone and The Bard from the original series. As two Shakespeare scholars, will we like his portrayal? Only one way to find out!Follow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Facebook, and Instag…

This week we're discussing Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing as an adaptation of, you guessed it, William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Big director+ big actors= big success? You'll have to listen to find out!Vulture Interview: HereFollow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Support the show, access bloopers, and suggest episo…

Episode Notes Returning to the source of all film inspiration: Romeo and Juliet. But MAKE IT GAY! That's right, we're talking Alan Brown's film Private Romeo. Would William Shakespeare approve? Let's discuss. Follow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Support the show, access bloopers, and suggest episode topics on Patreon! CAST: Megan …

Episode Notes It's the end of 2020 and Avant-Bard is wrapping up the year with a special episode! Today we will be taking time to pitch each other our dream Shakespeare adaptations all before we rank the movies we watched this year for the podcast! Follow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Support the show, access bloopers, and suggest…

Episode Notes Christmas is in trouble and Avant-Bard is on the case, turning into their holiday persona: What the Dickens! A podcast that discusses adaptations of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. For their first adventure, they're tackling The Muppet Christmas Carol! Follow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Support the show, acces…

Episode Notes Today we discuss a BBC show that Megan grew up on: The Black Adder, starring Rowan Atkinson and Brian Blessed. This pseudo-historical sitcom, somewhat based on William Shakespeare's Henriad and Richard III, follows Edmund Blackadder as he works his way up the ladder in Medieval England. Follow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Facebook, and Inst…

Today we discuss one of the big ones! One we've been asked many times to cover! 2006's She's the Man, starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum. This teen rom-com, somewhat based on Twelfth Night, follows Viola as she disguises her way onto a boys soccer team! Follow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Support the show, access bloopers, …

We don't have a new episode for you this week, but we couldn't leave you with nothing! So here are bloopers for our last episode, Theater of Blood! If you want more bonus content like this for every episode, you can find it at patreon.com/avantbardpod. Thank you! Support Avant-Bard by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/avant-b…

We've reached the peak of October! It's time to focus on the Deaths of Shakespeare! That's why today we are discussing Douglas Hickox's 1973 Theater of Blood , starring Vincent Price and Diana Rigg. A brilliant Shakespearean actor takes his vengeance on the critics who wronged him, and we couldn't be any happier! Follow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Faceb…

It's the first upload of October! You know what that means: time for some scares! That's why today we are discussing Justin Kurzel's 2015 adaptation of _Macbeth _by William Shakespeare, starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. Follow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Support the show, access bloopers, and suggest episode topi…

Today, we discuss Derek Jarman's film The Tempest as an adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Follow Avant-Bard on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Support the show, access bloopers, and suggest episode topics on Patreon! CAST: Megan Scharlau and Matthew Marquez Theme music by Riley Allen- https://rileyallen59.wixsite.com/music SFX: "Re…