ATLANTA - Oglethorpe University’s accelerated evening degree program, University College, is partnering with Georgia Shakespeare this summer to bring Shakespeare to the classroom and to the stage. Renowned literary critic and scholar, Dr. Bart Palmer will teach “Shakespeare’s Plays” covering Hamlet and Twelfth Night, also being performed during Georgia Shakespeare’s summer season.

From May 15 through July 5, the class will meet in Lupton Auditorium on the Oglethorpe campus, 6:00-8:15 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays. The class will include guest appearances by the play’s directors, “field trips” to Georgia Shakespeare rehearsals and a special emphasis on production and performance.

After studying the Bard’s literary classics, University College students will be able to see them performed on stage by Atlanta’s finest ensemble of professional artists. Georgia Shakespeare’s summer schedule includes Hamlet (June 7-July 22) and Twelfth Night (June 22-July 21) in the Conant Performing Arts Center on the Oglethorpe University campus.

“Oglethorpe is honored to have Dr. Palmer as a visiting professor this year. He has several earned doctorates from Yale and NYU and Harper’s is featuring him in an upcoming book review,” said associate provost for University College, Annie Hunt Burris.

Dr. Palmer “will teach Shakespeare as a poet, a writer of complex ideas and as a playwright.” He promises a “cooperative, stress-free, respectful and intellectually stimulating class in an inspirational environment for a relatively inexpensive price,” and says his classes “operate by the lecture/discussion model, with class time devoted often to providing information not available in the text.”

One price includes tuition for the seven-week class plus a ticket to the Georgia Shakespeare’s summer performances. To register for the class call 404.364.8383 or visit www.oglethorpe.edu (keyword: UC).