The Shakespeareance – by Austin Tichenor

Who is this guy, anyway?

Meet Austin Tichenor

Actor. Author. Podcaster.

As Scrooge in the 2022 Goodman production of “A Christmas Carol,” directed by Jessica Thebus. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Austin Tichenor has been creating Shakespeareances for over 30 years. He’s the co-Artistic Director of the Reduced Shakespeare Company; the producer and host of the Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast, the world’s oldest and longest-running weekly theatre podcast; the co-author of Pop-Up Shakespeare (2017; illustrated by Jennie Maizels), Reduced Shakespeare: The Complete Guide for the Attention-Impaired (abridged) (2005), and ten stage comedies that include William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) and Hamlet’s Big Adventure! (a prequel), (all co-written with Reed Martin).

Austin writes monthly essays about the intersection of Shakespeare and popular culture for the Folger Shakespeare Library; co-created and co-starred in the BBC World Service comedy series The Reduced Shakespeare Radio Show (1993); and co-created and co-hosted the web series Drawing on Shakespeare with artist Gary Andrews. He’s directed Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, The Tempest for American Stage Festival, Much Ado About Nothing at Pacific University, Troilus and Cressida at Northern Illinois University, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Starling Shakespeare Company.

As Beethoven in the 2023 In The Realm of Senses production of “Beethoven & the Killer Bees.”

Austin has acted and directed off-Broadway, in the West End, and on stages around the world including the Kennedy Center; the Folger Shakespeare Theater; Cincinnati Shakespeare Company; the Tony-winning theaters Lookingglass in Chicago and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; and London’s Gielgud, Criterion, and Arts Theatres. He’s played Claudius in Hamlet; the Duke and Prince of Aragon in The Merchant of Venice for Chicago’s Back Room Shakespeare Project; Cardinal Pandulph in King John, Duke Senior in As You Like It, and Pandarus in Troilus and Cressida for The Show Must Go Online; Shakespeare’s star actor Richard Burbage in the midwest premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s The Book of Will at Chicago’s Northlight Theatre; Ebenezer Scrooge in the Goodman Theatre’s annual production of A Christmas Carol; and Hamlet, Macbeth, Titus Andronicus, Marc Antony, and others in the film of RSC’s signature work, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).

Austin’s over three dozen film and television credits include recurring roles on 24, Alias, Ally McBeal, Everwood, Felicity, Mister Sterling, and The Practice; and guest star appearances on The West Wing, E.R., The X-Files, NYPD Blue, Chicago Med, Gilmore Girls, Nip/Tuck, Nash Bridges, Chicago Hope, and CSI: Miami. His voice can be heard in the animated film Balto, and he co-wrote and co-starred in The Ring Reduced, which reduced Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle down to 22 minutes for UK’s Channel 4.

As Richard Burbage in “The Book of Will,” Northlight Theatre, 2017. Directed by Jessica Thebus. Photo by Liz Lauren.

Eleven of Austin’s plays – including adaptations of Frankenstein (influenced by The Tempest) and Dancing on the Ceiling (from Kafka’s “Metamorphosis”) – are published by Broadway Play Publishing. Austin has also been a featured guest speaker for the Center for Civic Mediation, the National Council of Jewish Women, and Phillips Exeter Academy.

Austin continues to create conversations about Shakespeare and popular culture on The Shakespeareance YouTube channel.

Messina High football jerseys spell out Shakespeare’s birthday in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at Pacific University, 2017, directed by Austin Tichenor. Photo by Rebecca Allen.

Drawing by Gary Andrews — Title card drawn by co-host Gary Andrews. 2020.

What are you looking for?

Choose Your Shakespeareance

PRIVATE COACHING | CUSTOM SONNETS | FREELANCE EDITING | PERSONALIZED GREETINGS

Private Coaching

Got a big audition coming up? An important speech? Or do you just want to speak the Shakespearean speech, trippingly on the tongue?

I offer private monologue coaching for actors at every level of expertise.

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Custom Sonnets

Have an upcoming special occasion? Celebrate with a sonnet!

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Freelance Editing

Are you writing a play or novel, or another big writing project? I offer manuscript review and developmental edits for writers at every level of expertise.

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Personalized Greetings

Want me to send a greeting to a loved one? Just tell me who!

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Nice Words From Talented Folks

Testimonials

Christopher MooreNew York Times bestselling comic novelist

"My go-to person"

“Austin is a consummate talent in all aspects of theater, from writing, editing, directing, and performance. His sense of comic timing is impeccable on the page and on the stage. He’s my go-to person for advice on all matters Shakespeare.”

(selected works)
FOOL
THE SERPENT OF VENICE
SHAKESPEARE FOR SQUIRRELS
LAMB: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BIFF, CHRIST’S CHILDHOOD PAL

Nicole GallandNew York Times bestselling author

"A gifted, natural storyteller"

“Austin is a gifted, natural storyteller, which means he doesn’t just tell great tales on his own, he helps others improve theirs too. I could not have written my last novel (Master of the Revels) without Austin’s insights and suggestions – he got the sensibility of my work, understood how I needed to get from A to B and helped me get there – a guiding hand without stepping on my toes. And he made me laugh throughout – a priceless addition to any editorial process.”

(selected works)
I, IAGO
MASTER OF THE REVELS
THE RISE & FALL OF D.O.D.O. (w/ Neal Stephenson)

Ellen MargolisPlaywright; Chair, Dept. of Theatre & Dance, Pacific University

"A master class...balancing pathos with pratfalls"

“Austin directed a superb production of MUCH ADO, where every rehearsal was a master class in Shakespeare’s techniques, comic timing, and balancing pathos with pratfalls. In class, he challenged all his students with innovative assignments while helping each one find their artistic voice.”

Peter HollandChair, International Shakespeare Association

"The guide of all guides to the Shakespearean multiverse..."

“We need a good guide when we enter the strange spaces of Shakespeare-land. Someone knowledgeable, of course, but also generous, kind, thoughtful, provocative, responsive, caring, respectful – oh, and being very funny would be a help too. So it’s plain that the coach of all coaches, the adviser of all advisers, the guide of all guides to the mysterious Shakespearean multiverse must be Austin Tichenor! No-one is as Shakespeareanced as he is!”

Louis BayardBestselling novelist; now playwright!

"He definitely lifted my work"

“I was a first-time playwright, and Austin read my maiden effort with such sympathy, such insight and such constructive candor that I felt as if a whole semester’s worth of playwriting classes had been condensed into a few email exchanges. He definitely lifted my work to the next level, and I know he could do the same with any other aspiring playwright.”

(selected works)
COURTING MR. LINCOLN
MR. TIMOTHY
THE PALE BLUE EYE
ROOSEVELT’S BEAST

Elise DixonActor; Beatrice in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

"Working with him is FUN!"

“Austin has the uncanny ability to get to the heart of a text and helps you, the actor, do the same. My short time working with him equipped me with tools to better understand myself, my work, and Shakespeare, and I’ve used what I learned with him in every project since. Also, he’s delightful! Working with him is FUN!”

(selected roles)
Beatrice, MUCH ADO
Pheobe/Adam, AS YOU LIKE IT
Helena, MIDSUMMER
Anne Page, MERRY WIVES

Hannah KennedyDirector of Communications, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre

"A rare platform for nuanced conversations"

“Thank YOU for offering the opportunity to dig into these substantive topics. [The Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast is] a rare platform for nuanced conversations, and we’re grateful for the chance to share our beautiful work with a wider audience.”