BOOK LIST:

William Shakespeare: Inspired

Updated: December 10, 2020

Over the centuries William Shakespeare's works have inspired ballets, motion pictures, musicals and operas. The following is a selection of these works available the LAPL collection.

Selected titles from LAPL's collection, in connection with an exhibit that was at the Central Library, Getty Gallery, November 2016 to February 2017, from the Folger Library:  America's Shakespeare - The Bard Goes West.


Book cover for 10 things I hate about you Touchstone Pictures presents a Mad Chance/Jaret Entertainment production ; produced by Andrew Lazar ; written by Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith ; directed by Gil Junger
10 things I hate about you Touchstone Pictures presents a Mad Chance/Jaret Entertainment production ; produced by Andrew Lazar ; written by Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith ; directed by Gil Junger
Call Number: DVD Ed.a

A modern version of The taming of the shrew set in a high school.


Book cover for The boys from Syracuse a musical comedy sensation
The boys from Syracuse a musical comedy sensation
Rodgers, Richard, 1902-1979.
Call Number: CD Musicals

Musical based on The comedy of errors.


Book cover for The dresser
The dresser
Call Number: DVD

During World War II, a faithful dresser prepares an aging, cantankerous actor for a performance of King Lear.


Book cover for Falstaff lyric comedy in three acts
Falstaff lyric comedy in three acts
Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 V48Fa-1

Based on a character in The merry wives of Windsor.


Book cover for Falstaff produced by BBC Television in association with NVC ARTS ; producer, Ronald Eyre ; directed for video by Brian Large ; music, Giuseppe Verdi.
Falstaff produced by BBC Television in association with NVC ARTS ; producer, Ronald Eyre ; directed for video by Brian Large ; music, Giuseppe Verdi.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 V48Fa

Based on a character in The merry wives of Windsor.


Book cover for Giuseppe Verdi's Macbeth opera by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after William Shakespeare ; producer, Luca Ronconi ; [a co-production of RM Arts/ZDF and La Sept].
Giuseppe Verdi's Macbeth opera by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after William Shakespeare ; producer, Luca Ronconi ; [a co-production of RM Arts/ZDF and La Sept].
Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 V48Ma-1

Book cover for Goliyon ki raasleela Ram-Leela Eros International & Bhansali Productions present ; directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali ; produced by Kishore Lulla and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Goliyon ki raasleela Ram-Leela Eros International & Bhansali Productions present ; directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali ; produced by Kishore Lulla and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Call Number: DVD Hi

Inspired by Romeo and Juliet.


Book cover for Hamlet opera in five acts
Hamlet opera in five acts
Thomas, Ambroise, 1811-1896.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 T454Ha

Book cover for Julius Caesar by George Frederic Handel ; libretto, Nicola Haym ; [produced by] The English National Opera ; produced by John Copely ; directed for television by John Michael Phillips ; produced by RM
Julius Caesar by George Frederic Handel ; libretto, Nicola Haym ; [produced by] The English National Opera ; produced by John Copely ; directed for television by John Michael Phillips ; produced by RM
Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 H236Gi-1

Book cover for King of Texas a Hallmark Entertainment production ; produced by Art Levinson ; directed by Uli Edel ; screenplay by Stephen Harrigan.
King of Texas a Hallmark Entertainment production ; produced by Art Levinson ; directed by Uli Edel ; screenplay by Stephen Harrigan.
Call Number: DVD

King Lear set in 19th century Texas.


Book cover for Kiss me Kate Metro Goldwyn Mayer ; screenplay by Dorothy Kingsley ; produced by Jack Cummings ; directed by George Sidney.
Kiss me Kate Metro Goldwyn Mayer ; screenplay by Dorothy Kingsley ; produced by Jack Cummings ; directed by George Sidney.
Call Number: DVD

References The taming of the shrew.


Book cover for The Lion King 1 1/2 Walt Disney Animation Australia ; Walt Disney Television Animation ; producer, George A. Mendoza ; writer, Tom Rogers ; director, Bradley Raymond.
The Lion King 1 1/2 Walt Disney Animation Australia ; Walt Disney Television Animation ; producer, George A. Mendoza ; writer, Tom Rogers ; director, Bradley Raymond.
Call Number: DVD x Ed.a

References Hamlet.


Book cover for The Lion King original Broadway cast recording.
The Lion King original Broadway cast recording.
Call Number: CD Musicals

References Hamlet.


Macbeth Kultur ; written and staged by Vladimir Vasiliev ; directed by Nelli Shevcheno.
Call Number: VID 793.32 M118Ma

Book cover for Macbeth opera by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after William Shakespeare ; producer, Luca Ronconi ; [a co-production of RM Arts/ZDF and La Sept].
Macbeth opera by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after William Shakespeare ; producer, Luca Ronconi ; [a co-production of RM Arts/ZDF and La Sept].
Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 V48-1 2001

Book cover for Much ado about nothing directed by Joss Whedon ; written by Joss Whedon, William Shakespeare ; produced by Joss Whedon, Daniel S. Kaminsky.
Much ado about nothing directed by Joss Whedon ; written by Joss Whedon, William Shakespeare ; produced by Joss Whedon, Daniel S. Kaminsky.
Call Number: DVD Ed.a

The setting is modern-day, but the play is the original.


Book cover for Otello by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto, Arrigo Boito (after the play by William Shakespeare) ; directed for the stage by Elijah Moshinsky ; directed for television by Brian Large ; a co-production betwee
Otello by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto, Arrigo Boito (after the play by William Shakespeare) ; directed for the stage by Elijah Moshinsky ; directed for television by Brian Large ; a co-production betwee
Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 V48Ot-2

Book cover for Otello dramma lirico in quattro atti
Otello dramma lirico in quattro atti
Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 V48Ot

Book cover for Otello music by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by Arrigo Boito ; a production of Unitel Film- und Fernsehproduktionsgesellschaft mbH & Co.
Otello music by Giuseppe Verdi ; libretto by Arrigo Boito ; a production of Unitel Film- und Fernsehproduktionsgesellschaft mbH & Co.
Verdi, Giuseppe, 1813-1901.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 V48Ot-1

Book cover for Ran screenplay by Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Masato Ide ; produced by Serge Silbermann and Masato Hara ; directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Ran screenplay by Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Masato Ide ; produced by Serge Silbermann and Masato Hara ; directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Call Number: DVD J R1855

Akira Kurosawa's interpretation of King Lear, set in 16th century Japan.


Book cover for Romeo et Juliette Charles Gounod ; a film by Barbara Willis Sweete.
Romeo et Juliette Charles Gounod ; a film by Barbara Willis Sweete.
Gounod, Charles, 1818-1893.
Call Number: DVD 782.5 G711Ro

Book cover for Romeo and Juliet Kultur DVD ; Warner Music Vision ; NVC Arts ; music, Sergei Prokofiev ; choreography, Kenneth MacMillan.
Romeo and Juliet Kultur DVD ; Warner Music Vision ; NVC Arts ; music, Sergei Prokofiev ; choreography, Kenneth MacMillan.
Call Number: DVD 793.32 R763Ro-1

Book cover for Romeo and Juliet [produced and directed by Paul Czinner].
Romeo and Juliet [produced and directed by Paul Czinner].
Call Number: DVD 793.32 R763Ro

Book cover for Shakespeare in love Miramax Films/Universal Pictures/the Bedford Falls Company ; produced by David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Marc Norman ; written by Marc Norman and To
Shakespeare in love Miramax Films/Universal Pictures/the Bedford Falls Company ; produced by David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Marc Norman ; written by Marc Norman and To
Call Number: DVD

A comedy about William Shakespeare who is suffering from writer's block  A love affair with a beautiful woman inspires him once again to write.


Book cover for Shakespeare retold 2 Entertain ; BBC ; produced in association with Horsebridge Productions Limited ; BBC Drama & Northern Ireland.
Shakespeare retold 2 Entertain ; BBC ; produced in association with Horsebridge Productions Limited ; BBC Drama & Northern Ireland.
Call Number: DVD

References Macbeth, Taming of the shrew, Midsummer night's dream, Much ado about nothing


Book cover for Shakespeare Wallah Merchant Ivory Productions ; produced by Ismail Merchant ; story & screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala ; directed by James Ivory.
Shakespeare Wallah Merchant Ivory Productions ; produced by Ismail Merchant ; story & screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala ; directed by James Ivory.
Call Number: DVD

An early James Ivory film, with Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's screenplay of The Shakespeare wallah: the autobiography of Geoffrey KendallIt is Kendall's story of how he and his daughter, Felicity Kendall, and a troupe of actors traveled around India performing Shakespeare's plays.


Book cover for She's the man Dreamworks Pictures and Lakeshore Entertainment present a Donners' Company production ; produced by Lauren Shuler Donner and Ewan Leslie ; story by Ewan Leslie ; screenplay by Ewan Lesli
She's the man Dreamworks Pictures and Lakeshore Entertainment present a Donners' Company production ; produced by Lauren Shuler Donner and Ewan Leslie ; story by Ewan Leslie ; screenplay by Ewan Lesli
Call Number: DVD

Inspired by The twelfth night.


Book cover for Stage beauty Qwerty Films, Artisan Entertainment presents a Tribeca production in association with N1 European Film Produktions GmbH & Co. KG, BBC Films and Artisan Entertainment, a Richard Eyre film
Stage beauty Qwerty Films, Artisan Entertainment presents a Tribeca production in association with N1 European Film Produktions GmbH & Co. KG, BBC Films and Artisan Entertainment, a Richard Eyre film
Call Number: DVD

In 17th century England women were not permitted to act on the stage, but one woman dares to perform as Desdemona in Othello.


Book cover for Throne of blood = Kumonosujo
Throne of blood = Kumonosujo
Call Number: DVD J Ed.a

References Macbeth.


Book cover for West side story United Artists ; directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins ; screenplay by Ernest Lehman ; a Robert Wise production ; music by Leonard Bernstein ; lyrics by Stephen Sondheim ; present
West side story United Artists ; directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins ; screenplay by Ernest Lehman ; a Robert Wise production ; music by Leonard Bernstein ; lyrics by Stephen Sondheim ; present
Call Number: DVD

Inspired by Romeo and Juliet.


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