While it may be true that different interpretations of Shakespeare's words elicit varied responses, Shakespeare's popularity in Renaissance England was due in large part to his ability to appeal to a socially and educationally diverse audience. Shakespeare knew what it took to fill the seats. To encourage appreciation of Shakespeare's universal appeal, the author invites students to "take a virtual seat" in one of three locations--the pit, the gallery, or the balcony--as they view a film adaptation of one of Shakespeare's plays. The author leaves the choice of seats up to the students, and surprisingly, their choices mirror the typical audience at one of Shakespeare's original stagings. In a recent class of 33 students viewing Roman Polanski's "Macbeth," the majority, 23, plopped in the pit; 6 sat in the gallery, and 4 opted for the balcony seats. While the author has considered assigning seats, students' freedom to choose generally makes for a stronger commitment to their point of view and more authentic discussion at the end of the viewing.