Shrew! -- Shakespeare Reimagined Premieres

Shakespeare on a podcast! Next Chapter Podcasts and Play On have been making that glorious event happen for several years. I love it because of their flawless execution, and also because it makes Shakespeare and his genius more approachable to people.

Next Chapter Podcasts and Play On have announced the release of SHREW!, a groundbreaking new audio drama series, premiering on March 10. A sharp and inventive reimagining of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, SHREW! brings the classic comedy into the 21st century with wit, energy, and a fresh perspective.

Written by Amy Freed, SHREW! responds to Shakespeare’s controversial original, offering a modern twist that speaks to contemporary audiences. Featuring an outstanding ensemble of accomplished stage and screen actors, the series is enriched by original music composition and sound design by Lindsay Jones and is directed by the acclaimed Art Manke.

Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew follows a fiery lady called Katherina, whose defiance of societal expectations makes her an outcast in her own time. When brazen Petruchio arrives, their battle of wits sparks a whirlwind of comedic and thought-provoking confrontations, challenging ideas about gender roles and power dynamics.

Those power dynamics depicted in "The Taming of the Shrew" transcend the personal realm to reflect broader societal norms pertaining to gender and authority. Petruchio's assertion of dominance over Katherine epitomizes the ways in which patriarchal society endeavors to mold and domesticate women's identities

Freed’s adaptation reimagines this iconic story with a modern sensibility, offering a fresh take on the classic battle of the sexes. Just as Shakespeare wrote for the Everyman of his time—bringing his works to a broad audience regardless of class or education—this podcast brings his storytelling into a format that is accessible to the modern listener, making the Bard’s brilliance available to all.

The full cast of SHREW! Includes:

SUSANNAH ROGERS as KATHERINE MINOLA and THE WOMAN WRITER

ALLEN GILMORE as PETRUCHIO

ANNIE ABRAMS as BIANCA MINOLA

MARTIN KILDARE as BAPTISTA MINOLA

BRETT RYBACK as LUCENTIO

KYLE T. HESTER as TRANIO

MIKE McSHANE as GREMIO

J. PAUL BOEHMER as HORTENSIO and THE MERCHANT

DANNY SCHEIE as GRUMIO

KASEY MAHAFFY as BIONDELLO and DORCAS

STEPHEN CAFFREY as VINCENTIO, THE PRIEST, AND A SERVANT

TESSA AUBERJONOIS as THE WIDOW and MISTRESS SLAPBOTTOM

Next Chapter Podcasts (NCP) is the parent company of Play On Podcasts, the flagship enterprise of NCP’s Scripted division, bringing epic audio adventures to listeners in the form of podcast re-creations of Shakespeare’s legendary plays. Play On Podcasts reached three-million downloads less than three years after its debut on April 9th, 2021.

Commented Michael Goodfriend, Head of Scripted Podcasts, Next Chapter Podcasts, “The Play On Podcasts have proven to be enriching beyond words for listeners all over the world. Amy Freed’s satirical take on Shakespeare’s classic is, as they say in improv, a perfect ‘yes and’. Yes, Shakespeare wrote “The Taming of the Shrew,” and we’ve used it as a springboard to a fulfilling companion piece that also stands on its own as a great example of contemporary storytelling."

Through immersive soundscapes and dynamic performances, SHREW! captures the humor, rhythm, and heart of Shakespeare’s text while re-examining its themes through a modern lens.

This audio adaptation continues Next Chapter Podcasts’ and Play On’s mission to make Shakespeare’s works more approachable and engaging for today’s listeners.

SHREW! is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and all major podcast platforms starting today, March 10.

Next Chapter Podcasts is one of those smaller, boutique podcast networks that inject quality into the podcasting space. At Ear Worthy, we do hope they would consider more existing independent podcasts to join their network.