Shakespeare is in the House

Our third theatrical production of the season opens on Thursday, February 2 at 8 pm and we invite you to join us for what promises to be a wonderful production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Other performances will follow on
Friday, February 3 at 10 am and and 8 pm; Saturday, February 4 at 8 pm; Sunday, February 5 at 2 pm; Thursday, February 9 at 6 pm (Thursday Arts-After-Work); Friday, February 10 at 10 am and 8 pm; Saturday, February 11, at 8 pm; and Sunday, February 12 at 2 pm. Director Lynnae Lehfeldt promises "a fast-paced romp. It is full of romance, comedy and drama. There will be singing and dancing and it will be truly beautiful in every way. And, the running time will be under two hours."
Performances are in Varner Studio Theatre and tickets are $14 general, $8 students and 10 am matinee; pay what you wish ($1 minimum)  for Thursday Arts-After-Work. Complete ticket information is available at oakland.edu/tickets.

Shakespeare is a challenge for any actor, as Professor Lehfeldt is aware. “First the student actors need to fully understand what they are saying,” she says. “It is easy to fall into the trap of playing a general feeling without understanding the specifics of what a character is saying. Secondly, the actors need to realize that they can't bring Shakespeare's language down to them; they need to rise to his language." There is no mumbling or dropping the end of sentences.”

OU's Theatre students have successfully risen to the challenge of Shakespeare's timeless and peerless language on several previous occasions. Perhaps you remember some of these productions from earlier seasons.

Photo, above: Lauren Knox and Jake Wood as Beatrice and Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. Photo by Gillian Ellis.

	A Midsummer Night's Dream 2006 Lydia Willis and Blair Mellow
	Romeo and Juliet 2001 Amanda Materne and Joey Bybee
	Othello 1997 John Michael Norman (left) and Esau Pritchett
	Twelfth Night 1995 Stacey Cole and Esau Pritchett
	Romeo and Juliet 1990 Left to right: Al Verscheure, Angela Maclean, Corey Skaggs, Unknown
	Richard III Early 1970s Unknown actor, photo labeled "Academy of Dramatic Art Oakland University"