Though he is now largely known only to scholars of Renaissance drama, Shakespeare’s contemporary Thomas Heywood was one of the most prolific dramatists of the period, claiming to have a hand in over 200 plays (Shakespeare himself is credited with a “mere” three dozen or so). Heywood’s city comedy The Wise Woman of Hoxton (c. 1604) is one of his most delightful examinations of the raucous social geography of life in London in the first decade of the 1600’s. It features many elements recognizable from the drama of the period: an ensemble cast of scene-stealing comedic characters of all ages and genders, a clever cross-dressing heroine, and energetic dramaturgy that ensures a happy ending. Fans of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Taming of the Shrew and Two Gentleman of Verona will find much to enjoy in this comedy! The play stars Ms. Golden Delicious as the eponymous Wise Woman "who bears the name of the drama" along with a wide selection of the OSU community including faculty, staff, students and recent alumni.
The show runs December 3-4-5, 2026 at 7:30pm at the Columbus Performing Arts Center (549 Franklin Avenue). Tickets can be purchased through the Theatre box office (free of ticket surcharges) or online at Ticketmaster. Tickets cost $5 (students) or $12/general admission; English and Theatre majors get in free at the door.
To accompany the production, on Friday, December 4, 3:30-5pm in 150 Thompson Library, the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies is hosting an academic mini-symposium on the play featuring papers by Jean Howard (Columbia), Elizabeth Tavares (U Alabama) and our own Chris Highley.
