Photo by Molly Arias
Article by Cadence Robideaux
NEWBERG, Ore.— George Fox University’s (GFU) fall theatre production “Shakespeare in Love” began rehearsals Sept. 20, bringing 26 cast members and dozens of student production workers together to prepare for nine performances airing between Nov. 5 and 15.
Directed by Ben Tissell, the romantic comedy follows William Shakespeare as he struggles to write “Romeo and Juliet,” falling in love with a young aristocratic woman who disguises herself as a man to perform in his play.
GFU’s production took creative liberty to add intrigue by presenting the story as a play within a play. When audiences enter Wood-Mar Auditorium, they will be treated as if they are entering an early modern English theatre.
The actors will enter as a company of players and begin the performance by literally handing out roles to one another. “We’re setting a show about theatre in a theatre with a bunch of actors who are playing actors,” Tissell said.
“Shakespeare in Love,” first debuted as a feature film in 1998, written by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman. The movie, and now play, is itself centered around the theatre; to Tissell, it is a “love letter to the theatre [and] a celebration of all that theatre is.”
The production involves more than just the 26 actors onstage. Production Manager Kacy Hughson said approximately 35 to 45 people, including members of Theatremakers, are expected to work on the production. At least six cast members are also working in production areas such as the scene shop and painting.
While the play itself is full of Shakespearean easter eggs, the production is designed to be accessible to all, even students who may not be familiar with Shakespeare. Much of the dialogue will follow normal speech patterns rather than iambic pentameter.
“I think this production is going to lend itself to being really theatre-entry friendly,” Hughson said.
As rehearsals continue, the cast will first focus on staging the show and learning where characters move and interact. Designers will join later rehearsals as production moves into technical rehearsals, when lighting, sound, costumes and other technical elements are all combined.
For Hughson, the production also provides an opportunity to reconnect with the purpose of theatre itself. “I think this show in particular really embraces theatre as a concept and why we do what we do is for the joy of it–theatre for theatre’s sake,” said Hughson.
The production team hopes the show will give students and other audience members an opportunity to experience live theatre as a collaborative art form. “Theatre is a space where we come together, literally, as human beings,” Tissell said. “We tell the story together.”
Students who are not acting can also participate through Theatremakers, a student group open to everyone, meeting Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in Wood-Mar Auditorium. The group provides opportunities to work behind the scenes while accommodating different levels of time commitment.
Students can also volunteer as ushers for individual performances, operate a spotlight or lightboard or join the backstage run crew. Those interested in technical positions can contact Bryan Boyd, GFU’s professor of theatre and theatre program director.
“Shakespeare in Love” will be performed from Nov. 5 to 15 at Wood-Mar Auditorium. Tickets are for sale on GFU’s Current Season and Tickets Website, at $20 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $12 for students and children.
