A Feminist Retelling of William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra Through Music and Essay

My PhD dissertation at the University of Texas at Dallas presents a feminist reimagining of William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra through an original musical and dramatic adaptation accompanied by critical analysis. The project examines how music can reshape characterization, narrative perspective, and power within Shakespeare’s tragedy, placing Cleopatra and women’s voices more centrally within the dramatic framework. Bringing together my work as a composer, musician, and scholar, the dissertation explores the relationship between music, gender, theatrical storytelling, and adaptation while demonstrating how creative practice can function as a form of critical inquiry. The resulting work offers both a new interpretation of Antony and Cleopatra and a broader consideration of how contemporary artists can engage critically with canonical texts.