Wayne College Dedicates Shakespeare Festival in Remembrance of Colleague
The American Shakespeare Center returns to UA Wayne College for the 15th Annual Shakespeare Festival Nov. 1-2. As many as 1,000 fans of the Bard are expected over the course of the weekend which includes a high school performance and workshops Friday morning, two public performances Friday and Saturday evening, and a workshop in Holmes County Saturday afternoon. “That number of attendees is a far cry from the 135 that showed up the first year,” according to Dr. Jack Kristofco, former Wayne College dean.
He recounts settling into his new position in 1997 when he was approached with an idea by Barbara Geisey, director, learning resources center at the College. It had long been a wish of hers to establish Wayne College as a resource in the community for cultural events. When she learned Kristofco was an English teacher, she saw an opportunity to realize her dream and suggested the College offer professional theater on campus. Kristofco shared her vision and the Shakespeare Festival became the cornerstone of what would later become the College’s Community Connections Special Events Series, which continues today.
The first year included three performances in Boyer Gymnasium and attendees sat in the bleachers. According to Cindy Summers, former community relations manager, actors performed ‘in the paint’ of the basketball court and conditions were less than ideal. “When someone moved in the bleachers, it disturbed the whole show,” she remarked. “We tried to make it as comfortable as possible, but in the end it was still a gym, so we were thrilled to move it to the J.M. Smucker Company Room when the Student Life Building was completed.” That happened in 2009 and the new accommodations allowed for improved staging conditions and better sight lines. It was the following year that reserved seating was offered and a dinner was added to the festival lineup, fostering a true theater experience for attendees. The dinner will not be offered this year due to expenses increasing in other areas.
Because Geisey passed away recently, the festival will be dedicated to her memory. “We were saddened to learn of the loss of our friend and colleague,” Kristofco said. “She left a legacy at the College in many ways, but her greatest one will be the Shakespeare Festival. Barbara is the reason we have this wonderful opportunity in Wayne County and we are all grateful for her vision and diligence in making it happen,” he added.
The American Shakespeare Center’s 25th anniversary World is Mine Oyster Tour opens with two clever wives teaming up to outsmart and outmaneuver one of Shakespeare’s wittiest and most beloved bad boys in the Merry Wives of Windsor, Friday at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday the radiant language of love transforms into delirious ravings as Shakespeare’s characters descend into jealousy, fear, and rage in the tragedy Othello at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the cashier’s window in the Main Classroom Building 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or by phone at 330-684-8932. Tickets are also available at the door one hour prior to each performance. Prices are $15 for adults and $10 for students. The College is located at 1901 Smucker Road in Orrville.
This Wooden O is a Shakespeare staging workshop led by ASC actors and offered by the UA Wayne Holmes Campus in partnership with the Holmes County District Public Library. The workshop is at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at West Holmes High School, 10909 State Route 39 in Millersburg. Admission is free and registration is not required.
For more information on these and other events offered at UA Wayne visit wayne.uakron.edu or call 330-684-8729.