Leading theatre architects and scholars are meeting Aug. 22 and 23 in Lenox, Massachusetts at Shakespeare and Company to discuss "the feasibility of building a replica of the Rose Theater, where Shakespeare first performed." Shakespeare and Company artistic director Tina Packer leads the open sessions with an assist by British theatre designer Iain Mackintosh (Globe Theater, London's Cottesloe, Tricycle) and Globe Theater director of education, Patrick Spottiswoode.

Attending the conference are archeologist Julian Bowsher (who excavated the Rose Theater in London), Jon Greenfield of Parameta Architects in London, director of Globe research and University of Reading professor of English Andrew Gurr, University of Maryland theatre department head Franklin J. Hildy, George Marsh of Payette and Associates Architecture, architect and builder Jack Sobon of The Timber Framers Guild of North America, McCurdy and Company Architects president Peter McCurdy, as well as Shakespeare and Company managing director Christopher Sink, director of training Dennis Krausnick, general manager Stephen Ball and director of education programs Mary Hartman.

-- By Murdoch McBride