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The Operatic Showstopper: ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’

This lecture considers ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from Carousel (1945)...

The LGBT+ Showstopper: ‘I Am What I Am’

Composed by Jerry Herman of Hello, Dolly! fame, ‘I Am...

Unwrapping Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas"

This festive lecture explores the unusual roots of the song...

The Sondheim Showstopper: ‘Send in the Clowns’

'Send in the Clowns’ was probably the most commercially successful...

Early Protestant Missions to the Americas

Protestant settlers in the Americas believed it was their duty to convert indigenous peoples to the true Gospel. Yet the task proved unexpectedly difficult. The effort revealed and challenged deep European assumptions about culture and the nature of Christianity itself. From Massachusetts to Chile, Protestant would-be missionaries took roads that were paved mostly, but not entirely, with good intentions. This lecture will show where they led.

Offensive Shakespeare

From The Merchant of Venice to The Taming of the Shrew, it’s easy to see how Shakespeare’s plays can cause offence to contemporary audiences. Is it harder to teach Shakespeare today than in the past? Have ideas about what is offensive in Shakespeare changed over time?