SUNY Oswego marks William Shakespeare’s birthday with hot pepper performance event

Steven Mazzoccone, director of SUNY Oswego’s spring musical, recites a monologue after eating a spicy pepper.

Oswego, N.Y. – Shakespeare’s 462nd birthday on April 23 was celebrated at SUNY Oswego in a memorable and unconventional way.

Inside Penfield Library, students and faculty gathered for “Hot Pepper Shakespeare,” an event that challenged participants to recite a Shakespearean monologue or sonnet immediately after eating a hot pepper. With peppers ranging in intensity, the task proved both entertaining and difficult, drawing a crowd of familiar faces.

“So happy with how this event went,” SUNY Oswego librarian Allison Madar said. “It seems like a lot of people had fun, and it was a great way to celebrate Shakespeare with kind of a modern twist.”

Members of the cast from SUNY Oswego’s All Shook Up also took part, including director and theatre professor Steve Mazzoccone. The jukebox musical, featuring the music of Elvis Presley, is inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

“[The event] was really fun overall,” one theatre student said. “I was like, wow, everyone’s doing this so well and being brave and taking the hottest pepper, and I have a really low heat tolerance.”

All Shook Up closes this weekend, with performances on Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available through the SUNY Oswego Box Office