Oakland native Lange’s ‘Shakespeare Over My Shoulder’ set to premiere

Acclaimed playwright, director, actor and Oakland native Ted Lange is bringing his latest work, “Shakespeare Over My Shoulder,” to San Francisco for its May 15 world premiere.

The play, in collaboration with the African-American Shakespeare Company, explores questions about whether William Shakespeare authored the many plays long attributed to him. Lange, known to many as bartender Isaac Washington on “The Love Boat” television series from 1977 to 1987 (bit.ly/3P8SOEj), said he wants audiences to not only laugh but also leave the theater more informed.

“It’s a fun trip down the rabbit hole, and it’s done in such a way that it’s entertaining,” he said. “It’s not like sitting in a dry class learning about Shakespeare. You’re going to enjoy the ride.”

Lange’s history with Shakespeare dates back to his young adult years, when he was cast as Romeo in a production of “Romeo and Juliet,” an experience that he says stayed with him.

“Once you start getting into Shakespeare, and you’re sitting around other actors, they start telling you stuff,” Lange said.

That “stuff” included anecdotes about Laurence Olivier, Ian McKellen and John Gielgud — as well as a theory that sparked Lange’s interest.

“One guy was telling me, ‘They say Shakespeare didn’t write this.’ That was when I first heard it. So then we’d all sit around and be debating that,” he said.

In the years that followed, Lange continued appearing in Shakespeare productions, at which debates over authorship persisted. He said some peers suggested philosopher and essayist Francis Bacon was the real author of the plays “Othello,” “Macbeth” and “Hamlet” while others argued for Elizabethan writers Christopher Marlowe or Edward de Vere.

In academic settings — including as a student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and later while presenting a lecture at the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut — Lange was introduced to nonfiction books advancing those theories, further fueling his curiosity.

“I read the books, and I thought, ‘Well, what if you could take the elements of this book and the elements of that book and then the book on de Vere and blend them into a play?’ And so that’s how I came to ‘Shakespeare Over My Shoulder,’ ” Lange said.

Lange says he began writing the play during the COVID-19 pandemic, weaving aspects of that experience into the story. It takes place in London’s White Hart tavern in 1593 during a major plague outbreak that closed theaters.

“The audience gets a little history about Shakespeare and that time frame,” Lange said of his setting selection.

Other historical references in the play include the Marrano Jewish community living secretly in London (the Jewish was officially banned in England from 1290 to the 1650s), playwrights’ discreet homosexuality and the exclusion of women from the stage in 16th century England — all drawn from Lange’s research into the social and cultural context of the time.

“I got all of this information, and I put it in the play,” he said.

Humor is interspersed throughout, including moments when characters examine often-misquoted Shakespearean lines and the portrayal of Shakespeare as an actor trying to land roles — something Lange said he understands firsthand.

“I also have a whole bunch of little Easter eggs, where things slip in from other plays,” he said.

The play also carries broader cultural significance. Of the four main characters, Marlowe, Bacon and de Vere are Black, while Shakespeare is White — a deliberate choice by Lange.

“Symbolically, it’s like rock and roll. It’s like Elvis Presley, and he picked up the stuff from Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Fats Domino. It’s the Rolling Stones bringing back Muddy Waters. It’s Bonnie Raitt, when America was not hip on blues singers and she brought along all these blues singers to reintroduce them,” he said.

While writing the play was enjoyable, Lange said directing it has been equally rewarding, with actors actively shaping moments in rehearsal.

“I’m opening the jokes up for the actors so they know that, ‘Oh, well, that line’s a joke — I see. Oh, this line is about the history. Oh, this is another joke.’ And when I get us all on the same page, which is my job as a director, then they start seeing the jokes and say, ‘Hey, Ted, can I do this?’ and I say ‘Oh, yeah, good idea. Go ahead and do that.’ ”

Lange’s extensive knowledge of all things Shakespeare informs the production’s wide-ranging nods, from novellas to fencing.

“I’ve got all these little ins and outs because I’m now 78 years old and I’ve been doing Shakespeare since I was 18. So I picked up all this stuff throughout the years, and I worked it into my play,” he said.

Through witticisms, historical detail and theory, Lange aims to share his passion for Shakespeare with audiences.

“My bottom line is, I have a lot of fun with Shakespeare, and I think Shakespeare could be fun if you can find the humor in it. A lot of times, some people are so in awe of him that they make him God-like, and I don’t think that’s what he wanted,” he said.

For Lange, heading back to the Bay Area to premiere his play is special. Even more special is that a handful of his former Oakland Technical High School classmates are expected among the audience.

“The Class of 1966 — they saw the birth of my love for theater and acting and being an actor. Those who are still around are coming to see opening night,” he said, adding, “Isn’t that a treat?”

“Shakespeare Over My Shoulder” will run May 15 through June 7 in Theater 33 at 533 Sutter St. in San Francisco, with special preview performances May 12-14. Ranging from $16.88 to $48.39, tickets are available online at bit.ly/shakeshouldersf2026.

JL Odom is a freelance journalist based in San Francisco who can be reached at jlodomphd@gmail.com. When they’re not covering the Bay Area, they’re usually training for their next marathon.