This is part 1 of a 4-part Shakespeare in the Classroom blog series. With the help of several Shakespeare experts, APT Education Specialist Cody Carlton shares his experience as a former theatre director and classroom educator to help us understand the bard 's enduring legacy and how students can connect with the over 400 year-old literary icon.
Act 1: A One-Man Balcony Scene and a Ladder
The first time I performed Romeo and Juliet’s balcony scene solo in my classroom—perched precariously on a ladder—one of my students whispered, “Y’all… Mr. Carlton has finally lost it.”
In hindsight, maybe standing six feet in the air professing my love to an imaginary Romeo was a bit unconventional. But in my defense, Shakespeare demands a little theatrical flair.
I wasn’t just handing out old copies from Folger—I was running one-man performances, playing both Romeo and Juliet, switching between characters with dramatic style.
(Shoutout to the school admin who walked in just in time to witness me pretending to drink an imaginary vial of poison and dramatically collapsing to the floor, and then… slowly backed out of the room.)
Shakespeare wasn’t just a lesson; it was a show. And honestly? It worked.
But my love for Shakespeare didn’t stop in the classroom. In my “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille” days, I had the honor of playing Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and even the Bard himself in Something Rotten!—a musical where Shakespeare is basically the rockstar of the Renaissance, imagine Shakespeare meets Mick Jagger, complete with leather pants and eyeliner. (And no, I will not be providing photographic evidence. Some things are better left to the imagination.)
Yes, my Shakespeare unit was always the one I looked forward to, semester after semester. And now, we all have the chance to celebrate Shakespeare together in classrooms across the state because…
April 23rd is Shakespeare’s Birthday! (…And also his Death Day. A little morbid, but very on-brand for the guy.)
Every year, the world celebrates the birth of William Shakespeare—or at least, what we believe to be his birthday. Since there’s no official birth record, historians estimate that he was born on April 23, 1564, based on his baptism date.
In the most dramatic plot twist ever, April 23rd is also believed to be the day he died in 1616. So, in true Shakespearean fashion, the date marks both his entrance and exit from the world stage. (Honestly, if he had written it that way himself, we’d all roll our eyes and say it was too obvious.)
But despite the passage of time, Shakespeare refuses to take his final bow. His words still shape our language, our storytelling, and our classrooms.
Dr. Carmine Di Biase, a Shakespeare scholar and retired professor from Jacksonville State University, believes that Shakespeare’s power lies in his deep understanding of human nature:
“Shakespeare’s plays, and his poems, continue to resonate today because they transcend time and place. They humanize the underdog, even the villain, by dramatizing the psychological reasons for their actions. This is a very modern or, to be more precise, a timeless thing to do, never outdated because it is simply right.”
Shakespeare didn’t just tell stories—he explored what it means to be human.
And as long as students struggle with love, ambition, betrayal, and identity, Shakespeare will always be relevant.
That being said—if we want students to connect with Shakespeare, we have to teach him differently.
And that’s exactly why I’m writing today—to explore why we still teach Shakespeare, how we can make him accessible for students, and what experts and educators have to say about keeping the Bard alive in today’s world.
Because let’s be real—he’s not just some guy in a ruffled collar.
He’s a literary icon, a linguistic trendsetter, and the playwright who practically invented drama itself.
Act 2: To Teach or Not to Teach? That’s Not Even a Question.
"Mr. Carlton, why do we have to read this? Nobody even talks like this anymore."
"This is so confusing."
"Can’t we just watch the movie?"
Cue deep sigh from every English teacher ever.
I get it. Four-hundred-year-old plays filled with “thees” and “thous” don’t exactly scream “must-see content” for today’s students. They’re used to stories that move fast—where drama unfolds in seconds, where emotions are clear, and where nobody has to pause to translate what’s happening.
But here’s what they don’t realize.
Shakespeare literally invented the kind of entertainment they love today.
Before there was Scorsese, Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes, or Marvel, there was Shakespeare. And to be frank—he wasn’t writing for scholars. He was writing for the masses. His audience was rowdy, impatient, and very much like today’s students—demanding fast-moving entertainment, sharp humor, and high drama.
And the best part? They already know his stories.
Shakespeare’s Plays = The Original Blockbuster Hits
Think you don’t know Shakespeare? Which of these modern movies is based on a Shakespeare play?
A. The Lion King
B. 10 Things I Hate About You
C. West Side Story
D. All of the above
Spoiler alert: It’s D. You’ve been watching Shakespeare all along.
Students may not realize it, but they’ve already been watching, reading, and quoting Shakespeare for years—just under a different name.
- The Lion King? That’s Hamlet with lions.
- 10 Things I Hate About You? A modern take on Taming of the Shrew.
- West Side Story? Romeo and Juliet, but with jazz hands and high notes.
- BONUS: Game of Thrones? Macbeth meets Richard III with a budget for CGI dragons.
Emily Duncan, co-founder of The Shakespeare Project in Anniston, explains why students still connect with his plays:
“Shakespeare’s works are known for holding a mirror to the world.”
That’s what makes Shakespeare so timeless. His characters aren’t just historical figures—they’re us.
Their struggles, flaws, and triumphs are still deeply relatable.
This is part 1 of a 4-part Shakespeare in the Classroom blog series.
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