Bill Daniel first joined Unrehearsed as Chiron in Titus Andronicus and has regularly been playing clowns since.

Q: How were you first introduced to Unrehearsed Shakespeare?
BILL: I had heard about Unrehearsed while working at Navy Pier with Zack Meyer. He had explained the concept behind the shows and I was immediately excited and wanted very badly to be a part of it, but did not know how to go about that.

Q: How does Unrehearsed differ from other acting experiences for you?
BILL: One of the biggest differentiations about this technique is the amount of listening that is required to do it well. Having only the last three words as a cue forces the other players to stay on their toes and keep their ears open. It’s, unfortunately, exposed the lack of listening in other shows I see and do. It shows how easy it is to slip into a comfortable and nuanceless performance if you don’t pay attention.

Q: What (if anything) is your biggest challenge so far with this technique?
BILL: Staying active! It is the most daunting and physically exhausting kind of performance I have ever had to do, and the biggest problem I face is staying true to the text and remaining active. I used to be worried about not knowing my lines, and since that isn’t a hurdle anymore, the biggest challenge is suiting the action to the word, and the word to the action.

Q: One of the defining attributes of Unrehearsed is its lack of a Fourth Wall. How do you feel about this? How does it affect your work and/or prep?
BILL: Speaking directly to the audience is one of my favorite things about Shakespeare. In previous jobs, I’ve had to perform directly for an audience, and relied on their interest and their reactions to inform my performance. So now that I can marry Shakespearean language to audience interaction, I’m basically in hog heaven. Love it. Need it. Gotta have it.

Q: What excites you about As You Like It?
BILL: The most exciting thing about As You Like It is the concept, I suppose. A group of nobles, exiled into a forest, scatter and have constant chance encounters with one another. Literally anybody could meet anybody. The amount of confusion and mischief that needs to be righted by the end makes for compelling theatre. I enjoy it.

Q: Favorite Shakespeare Character? And/or: Favorite role to date
BILL: My absolute favorite Shakespearean character is Hamlet. Hands down. It’s a role that requires equal parts comedy and melancholy. And it’s also a huge challenge. It’s like eating an apple in one bite. It can be done, but only an idiot chooses to do it.

Come make a connection with Bill April 19 AND 26!