In honor of the Bard, Chelsea Plaza came alive (with prose)

You may not have known it has a name, but Chelsea Plaza — that recently-added walkway between Chelsea Tavern and UDairy Creamery — became a fully-functioning community space this week. The 4th Annual Shakespeare Day organized by DelShakes celebrated the 455th birthday of The Bard by presenting volunteer-read excerpts from all 38 of his plays in about 40 minutes.

Readers included a mix of local business people, State workers, community activists, clergy, educators, entrepreneurs, actors, artists, beer brewers, ice cream-makers and members of the media (including this reporter — I read a line from “Henry IV, Part 1”).

The walkway, which was under construction for most of the last year, connects Market Street with Shipley Street, the Residences of Mid-Town Park and the parking garage. The Buccini/Pollin Group-owned block has some new construction coming this summer (including a rumored beer garden).

Here are some of the Shakespeare Day highlights: