Dan Falk, award-winning author of The Science of Shakespeare: A New Look at the Playwright's Universe, joins Dr. Eric Dorfman, President of the Linda Hall Library, for a lively conversation on the connections between the famous playwright and the beginnings of the Scientific Revolution—and how, together, they changed the world forever. William Shakespeare lived at a remarkable […]
What if the wild isn’t something you travel to—but something you can turn back on where you live? In this talk, I’ll share stories from cities around the world where people are using simple tools—like citizen science apps, listening experiences, and even “talking trees”—to reconnect with nature in everyday life. The heart of the talk […]
Saturday, April 11, 2026 • Dinner: 5:30 PM • Performance: 7:30 PM Bach Aria Soloists is thrilled to collaborate with the excellent Kansas City Actors Theatre in this world premiere performance of “Our Favorite Things,” a singular evening of BAS’ most treasured music spanning from Renaissance to Contemporary, juxtaposed with scenes from Kansas City Actors […]
Adelaide Alsop Robineau, (1865-1929) is considered one of America’s preeminent studio potters. She began her ceramics career as a china painter, painting designs on porcelain blanks produced by other craftsmen. After moving to Syracuse with her husband in 1901, Robineau started experimenting with making her own porcelain forms. She quickly became a master of the […]
What does national defense engineering have to do with helping an injured sea turtle swim? More than you might think. When Tortellini, a sea turtle at the Kansas City Zoo, developed a buoyancy disorder known as “Bubble Butt,” she lost the ability to dive and swim normally. The condition, caused by trapped air under the […]
The English-Speaking Union welcomes its members to NYC for the 2026 ESU Annual Conference on April 24th-25th,2026. The conference, under the theme “United by Language, Inspired by Liberty.” The conference program will include the ESU 2026 Annual General Meeting, social events such as receptions …
The ESU National Shakespeare Competition returns to New York City for an unforgettable weekend of fun, education, and performance. From Saturday, April 25 to Monday, April 27, students, parents, teachers, and ESU members will gather for three exciting days in the Big Apple. Competition Weekend features a full lineup of activities, including a New York […]
If you love trivia contests, this event is for you! The International Relations Council is hosting WORLDQUEST 2026 again this year and all ESU members and Friends of ESU are invited to attend. Teams of eight representing area businesses, universities, nonprofit organizations, community groups, ambitious students, and globetrotters put their global knowledge to the test. […]
Most people think professional baseball players have unlimited resources and perfect nutrition. The reality is far more nuanced. From coaching a minor league athlete transitioning into the big leagues, to navigating food superstitions before a game, to answering constant questions about protein — this job isn’t just about meal plans. Sports Dietetics is about performance […]
The National World War I Museum is collaborating with Alliance Française de Kansas City with a special film screening of the 2004 award-winning film A Very Long Engagement. This is the final film from a French Film Festival hosted by Alliance Française de Kansas City. All ESU members and Friends of ESU are invited to […]
ESU National Board Member Mary Coleman Way in Conversation with Tamara Meneghini on Elizabeth I: in Her Own Words A critically acclaimed one-woman play, by Carole Levin, in collaboration with Tamara Meneghini and Sabin Epstein, that combines Elizabeth I’s own letters and speeches, the poetry of Shakespeare, and music of the period to reveal a complex woman […]
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 • 5:00 PM ETSponsored by the ESU Hawaii and Seattle Branches Did you know that Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth (President Lincoln’s assassin), performed Shakespeare plays in the Kingdom of Hawaii in the 1850s? And he wasn’t alone. The Hawaiian Kingdom hosted many actors who came to the fabled islands to […]
