This collection of essays explores a wide range of topics demonstrating why the Shakespeare authorship question matters in the understanding and appreciation of the plays of Shakespeare. By shifting our focus away from the public theaters of London to the court of Queen Elizabeth, a new paradigm of Shakespeare's stagecraft emerges. A comparative essay on Mark Twain and Shakespeare explores why Twain felt a kindred spirit in Shakespeare that led him to challenge the traditional view of Shakespearean authorship. Detailed reviews of programs in the PBS series Shakespeare Uncovered and the TNT series Will expose the shortcomings of the traditional Shakespearean biography. Other essays include an exposé of the Essex Rising of 1601; a profile of the scholar Charlton Ogburn; and an analysis of the influence of Hamlet in films portraying modern Latin American political culture.