The New American Shakespeare Tavern

We went to the Tavern for "Complete Works of Shakespeare" last week and had a superb evening - great food, excellent professional show, and a lot of laughs and interaction with the audience. I recommend getting there at least 45 min before the show to settle in and grab some food and one of the fine English beers they have on sale.

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Every production is first rate. The setting is so intimate, and the actors are all super. Food is great too.

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We went to see The Mystery of Irma Vep. I loved this show!! The actors were just fantastic. They were amazing with the quick changes and perfect comedic timing. The pianist was very impressive. We had a large birthday party at the Shakespeare Tavern, and everyone in our party had a ball. The Tavern is an awesome place to have dinner and bring friends or guests. Everthing we experienced was top notch.

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We went to see The Mystery of Irma Vep. I loved this show!! The actors were just fantastic. They were amazing with the quick changes and perfect comedic timing. The pianist was very impressive. We had a large birthday party at the Shakespeare Tavern, and everyone in our party had a ball. The Tavern is an awesome place to have dinner and bring friends or guests. Everthing we experienced was top notch.

The Tavern is as far removed from pompous theater as possible. The friendly, relaxed pub atmosphere along with professionally expert acting and directing allow the great works that the company presents to get through to everyone. The audience ranges from blue collar to ivory tower, with every age and ethnic group happily represented. One caveat: Shakespeare was often bawdy and the Tavern doesn't gloss over that! Oh, and prices of tickets and food are ridiculously reasonable, starting at $12 for seats on Thursday evenings.

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Support Atlanta arts-- try the Shakespeare Tavern! On our first visit to see Romeo and Juliet, less experienced actors did overact to the point of distraction. But, they are learning from the Company's experienced actors who are_ true professionals_. Costumes and lighting were perfect; the food was edible. Be warned that in the balcony there's no place to set your self-served plate of food except on your lap. The lower ledge, however, will accommodate drinks. Next time we’ll get seats downstairs to enjoy dinner and a closer view. We're bringing friends to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales next month. Join us?

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From time to time, we all need a good laugh, opportunity to cry, and have the thoughts of our own mind become personified to explain the situations we encounter as we make it through our days. No where else can you do this, but at The New American Shakespeare Tavern (NAST), located in Midtown Atlanta, GA. From traditional Elizabethan plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries to modern works (Cabaret, for example), NAST produces the best plays, each demonstrating its application in our current context! Simply put: if you choose some other means to spend your money in these trying time, you've simply wasted it!

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Jeff Watkins’ new adaptation of Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus is currently playing at the Shakespeare Tavern, and anyone interested in psychological drama, classic theater, or just really good acting needs to get there to see it. Maurice Ralston as Faustus and Laura Cole as Mephistopheles were both extraordinary. Their attention to period detail and characterization were incredible, but their virtuoso performances were even better.
In this version Watkins’ has removed some of the parts of the drama as it has come down in written form to bring it closer to what he perceives as the original intent. The result is to focus on the psychology of Maurice Ralston’s character who will not seek redemption. Is it pride, fear, or demonic power that stops him? Ralston never tells us, but keeps us guessing as he runs the gamut of Faust’s emotions. As for Laura Cole – if she did nothing other than her portrayal of the seven deadly sins, it would be enough for a whole play, but she did much, much more that. Her, or Mephistopheles’ manipulation of Faust was truly terrifying as she turned him inside out and made him work against his own best interest. It was great theater.

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A group of friends and I decided to take a friend here for her recent birthday since she had been wanting to go. It was the worst acting I have ever experienced. I've seen better acting/props/jobs done in high schools across the country. We didn't order any food, but after the quality of the production was well announced we decided against it. Toward the end it was hard not to laugh at how over-the-top these all too amateur actors were.

What a fun place to go. I am not what you would call a Shakespeare fan but I really have a great time everytime I go. Try it - You will like it.

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