Heller to present ideas on Shakespeare at HU Faculty Lecture

HUNTINGTON, Ind.- Dr. Jack Heller, assistant professor of English at Huntington University, will present his research on Shakespeare and the religious commitments Shakespeare made during his lifetime at 7 p.m. March 24 in Zurcher Auditorium as part of the Forester Lecture Series faculty lecture.

Heller received his Ph.D. in English from Louisiana State University in August 1997. His primary research interests include Renaissance drama, Shakespeare, other 16th and 17th century literature, religious studies and black literature. Another part of Heller's involvement with Shakespeare is his ongoing association with Shakespeare Behind Bars, a prison program in Kentucky and Michigan guiding inmates through the performance of one play per year. This involvement includes an annual trip with students to the Kentucky prison.

"Recent best-selling publications on William Shakespeare's life theorize that his private religious commitment was to the Roman Catholic faith," Heller said. "These theories are based on biographical work on Shakespeare's Catholic family history and speculations about his youthful activities. I propose to address the question of Shakespeare's religious commitments from a different direction."

Each semester, Huntington University presents the Forester Lecture Series. The lectures are designed to bring interesting persons and topics to the attention of students and the regional community. All lectures are held in the Zurcher Auditorium of the Merillat Centre for the Arts at Huntington University. The lectures are open to the public free of charge.

The Forester Lecture Series is coordinated by Dr. Jeff Webb, associate professor of history. For further information, contact Webb at (260) 359-4243.