Almost Blasphemy Tour Comes to Wayne College Nov. 4-5
The University of Akron Wayne College presents the American Shakespeare Center on Tour this fall for its 13th annual Shakespeare Festival. They will perform two plays as part of their 2011-12 Almost Blasphemy Tour including A Midsummer Night's Dream Friday, Nov. 4 and The Winter's Tale Saturday, Nov. 5, both at 7:30 p.m. in the J.M. Smucker Multi-Purpose Room located in the Student Life Building.
From its home base at the Blackfriar’s Playhouse in Staunton, Va., the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theater, the touring ensemble performs using Renaissance staging conditions, offering audiences many of the visceral and communal experiences that an Elizabethan-playgoer would have enjoyed.
"We scour the country for the right 10-12 actors to perform all these roles in all of these plays," says ASC Artistic Director Jim Warren. "Not only are we looking for the right talent to do these shows in true rotating repertory, but we're also looking for personalities we think will gel into a dynamic, well-balanced ensemble on and off the stage.
As in years past, the festival includes a matinee performance on Friday for area high school students. The production is followed by three drama workshops led by the actors themselves that teach staging conditions and other elements that enhance the learning experience for students.
Dr. Debra Johanyak, who teaches Shakespeare and His World at Wayne College, has been part of the Shakespeare Festival since its inception . "The Festival provides a unique opportunity for our students and the community to enjoy live Shakespeare performed by a world-class Shakespearean troupe,” she says. “This year's program emphasizes a mystical romance theme in keeping with costuming and role exchanges reminiscent of the autumn seasonal holidays of Halloween and All Saints Day."
Back by popular demand is an Elizabethan-themed dinner on Saturday at 6 p.m., prior to the evening performance. Served in the Student Life Building, diners can enjoy a freshly prepared meal in the same building as the performance. Last year’s menu included carved steamship round of beef, whiskey-glazed chicken, and roasted root vegetables, as well as other items that were true to that time period.
Reserved seating for dinner and the performances are available in the cashier’s office at the College. Tickets for the shows are also available at the door . However, dinner tickets must be purchased by Oct. 14. Prices for adults are $10 (show only, Friday or Saturday) or $25 for dinner and a show (Saturday only) and $5 students ages 12 and up (show only Friday or Saturday) or $20 dinner and a show (Saturday only). Tickets can also be charged by phone at 330-683-8932. Parents should be aware that both performances are intended for those ages 12 and older.
For more information about the Shakespeare Festival go to http://wayne.uakron.edu/shakespeare/festival.dot or email Shakespeareinfo@uakron.edu or call 330-684-8729. For more information on the American Shakespeare Center, visit www.americanshakespearecenter.com.
This year’s Shakespeare Festival is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Ohio Arts Council, General Mills Foundation, and Land O’Lakes Foundation., and the generosity of local sponsors.