EUGENE, OR - Colorful and passionate vignettes from William Shakespeare's plays will fill the Blue Door Theatre at Lane Community College on Saturday, March 17, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Building 6, main campus, 4000 E. 30th Avenue, Eugene. Admission is free.
Students, faculty members, and guest artists perform scenes and monologues from many different plays, with live music interludes.
The event, offered each term, began more than 20 years ago as a collaboration between English instructor Bill Woolum and theatre arts instructor Judith Roberts, and evolved into the Term's End Shakespeare Showcase. The program includes experienced actors and faculty members, performing alongside the students.
Guest artists will include musicians Janet Naylor and Wayne Gilbertson, and actor Joe Cronin, who also assists with coaching actors. Swordplay coach is John Elliott III.
The quarterly event is produced by the Student Productions Association (SPA), who also sponsored the building of a replica of London's Globe stage, by master carpenter
Scott Williams.
Director Judith Roberts says, "It's wonderful that actors who have performed in Showcase years ago sometimes return years later, to participate again."
The program will appeal to Shakespeare-lovers and those who just want to experience the Bard's overflowing imagination. Roberts says, "The students endeavor to speak the 450-year-old language naturally. Besides that, you have enthralling stories and electrifying characters – something for everybody – highlighted by professional guest artists."
The current program includes scenes from "The Merchant of Venice," "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "The Tempest," "Much Ado About Nothing," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "Twelfth Night," "Romeo and Juliet," "Henry V," "Othello," "Julius Caesar," "The Taming of the Shrew," "Richard II," "Richard III," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "The Winter's Tale," "Titus Andronicus," "As You Like It," and "Troilus and Cressida."
Seating is open. Audience members must be 10 years or older to be admitted.
Donations are welcome to support the continuing efforts of student productions.
###
Contact: Sparky Roberts at 541-868-4545 or Student Productions at 541-463-5761