He had always wanted to direct Shakespeare; before he died, he was scheduled to stage "Titus Andronicus" for Joseph Papp in Central Park.

He has directed Shakespeare in Los Angeles, taught at the University of Houston and, in Denver, directed the world premiere of the 10-hour epic "Tantalus."

On his website he writes that his strengths lie in "comedy, site-specific and promenade theatre, audio work, directing Shakespeare, and in creating unique theatrical experiences."

She has directed Shakespeare.

On the other hand, though Mr. Boyd was won over to Shakespeare as a student at Edinburgh University in the 1970's, he does not have extensive experience directing Shakespeare.

H. K. Ayliff was an English theatre director who directed Shakespeare in contemporary dress as early as the 1920s, as well as Yellow Sands on Broadway.

From there, Mr. Smith also got into directing Shakespeare, mostly in smaller theaters and on college campuses.

He has also directed and produced Shakespeare across the United States, in venues ranging from prisons to Broadway.

He has appeared on the stage and in film, and is known for both acting in and directing Shakespeare.

Even in England, where actors are much more accustomed to performing the great plays, he'll extend his usual five-week rehearsal period by a month if he's directing Shakespeare.