Tag Archives: Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre

On Twelfth Night – a look ahead to 2020 Arkansas Shakespeare Theater’s lineup

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Today is Twelfth Night. Since it is also the title of one of Shakespeare’s most-produced plays, it seems a good chance to preview the 2020 Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre season.

While they HAVE produced Twelfth Night, it is not part of the 2020 season.

The lineup DOES include: As You Like It, Into the Woods (based on the writings of my relatives the Brothers Grimm), as well as The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).

Performances will take place on the UCA campus, both in Reynolds Performance Hall and outdoors on the lawn of McAlister Hall.

As she prepares for her ninth year as producing artistic director of AST, Rebekah Scallet said she wanted an exciting repertory season that would capture audiences’ imaginations and challenge them to think about their lives. She chose the three shows in the 2020 season based around the theme “Sweet are the uses of adversity,” a line from “As You Like It.”

Actors, directors, designers and crew members will arrive in Conway in early May 2020 to begin the process of creating the three shows in AST’s 14th season.

“We’ll open the season with ‘The Complete Works’ outdoors on the beautiful lawn of McAlister Hall. Our outdoor venue draws huge crowds, and our audiences look forward to the show and the entire experience of Shakespeare under the stars. We hope that theatre-goers in Arkansas and around the region will recognize AST for its dedication to the cultural and artistic growth that is currently underway in our state,” said Marotte.

Performance dates will be announced in coming weeks.

Mary Ruth Marotte is the Executive Director and Rebekah Scallet is the Producing Artistic Director.

A trio of offerings mark 2020 Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre season

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Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre (AST) has announced its 2020 season of professional theatre.

“The 2020 season will feature Shakespeare’s delightful comedy ‘As You Like It,’ the beautiful and intriguing musical ‘Into the Woods’ and the hilarious mashup ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged),’” said Mary Ruth Marotte, AST’s executive director.

Performances will take place on the UCA campus, both in Reynolds Performance Hall and outdoors on the lawn of McAlister Hall.

As she prepares for her ninth year as producing artistic director of AST, Rebekah Scallet said she wanted an exciting repertory season that would capture audiences’ imaginations and challenge them to think about their lives. She chose the three shows in the 2020 season based around the theme “Sweet are the uses of adversity,” a line from “As You Like It.”

Actors, directors, designers and crew members will arrive in Conway in early May 2020 to begin the process of creating the three shows in AST’s 14th season.

“We’ll open the season with ‘The Complete Works’ outdoors on the beautiful lawn of McAlister Hall. Our outdoor venue draws huge crowds, and our audiences look forward to the show and the entire experience of Shakespeare under the stars. We hope that theatre-goers in Arkansas and around the region will recognize AST for its dedication to the cultural and artistic growth that is currently underway in our state,” said Marotte.

The remaining two productions will be performed in UCA’s Reynolds Performance Hall.

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre is the state’s only professional Shakespeare company and is proud to make its home on the UCA campus. Each summer, AST offers full productions of Shakespeare’s works, as well as other plays and musicals that help fulfill AST’s mission to entertain, engage and enrich the community. For more information, visit arkshakes.com or call (501) 852-0702.

Shakespeare 101 Workshop planned by Education at the Rep

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Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people sitting, living room, shoes and indoorIn the immortal words of Cole Porter:

If you can’t be a ham and do Hamlet

They will not give a damn or a damlet

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s Education at The Rep program is offering a chance to “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” in a Shakespeare 101 Workshop on Monday, September 9.

The Bard of Avon would doubtlessly be mortified to know that he is often viewed with disdain because most persons exposure to him was in stiflingly dull English classes. There is so much more than just reciting in a sing-song voice “Two house-holds both a-like in dig-ni-teeee…”  (Go back and look at the photo above.  The people are smiling while discussing Shakespeare.)

Learn the basics of The Bard from Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre‘s Artistic Director, Rebekah Scallet. This workshop introduces foundational skills including iambic pentameter and scansion, poetry and prose, and rhetorical devices. Explore Shakespeare’s vocabulary and learn to use the clues found in his punctuation and text to help reveal meaning and intention. A perfect first introduction to working with Shakespeare and heightened text.

Recommended for those who plan to take the Shakespeare Scene Study course without previous experience: https://www.therep.org/education/fall-classes/shakespeare-scene-study-adult/.

SHAKESPEARE 101 WORKSHOP
Monday, September 9, from 7 – 9 p.m.
Tuition: $15
Age: Adult
Instructor: Rebekah Scallet

2019 Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre season “were done quickly” as the final performance today

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The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre wraps up 2019 by invoking the spirits in presenting THE SCOTTISH PLAY. As the Culture Vulture does not utter nor write the name of that play, one will just have to look at the logo on this entry to see its name.

The final performance of THE SCOTTISH PLAY is at 2pm today at Reynolds Hall on the UCA campus.

Brave warrior the Thane of Cawdor emerges victorious from battle to be greeted by three witches who hail him as the future king of Scotland. What follows is a dizzying descent into political machinations, murder, and madness.  It also contains what may be the Culture Vulture’s favorite exchange of dialogue in Shakespeare’s canon.

Lady M: To bed. To bed. To bed. (She exits)

Doctor: Will she go now to bed?

The cast includes Paige Reynolds, Chad Bradford, Emily Wold, Benjamin Reed, Keith Illidge, Chris Fitzges, Rebecca Brudner, Nick Narcisi, Justin Jones, Ben Grimes, Kevin Alan Brown, Mikala Hicks, Zachary Blair, Jack Hradecky, Regean Allen, Stephanie Craven, and Saxon Whitehead.

The production is directed by Rebekah Scallet, the Producing Artistic Director of Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre.

Mary Ruth Marotte is the Executive Director.

Learn about “The Scottish Curse” today at 5pm as part of Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre enrichment series

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Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, closeupMackers. The Thane of Cawdor. Lady M.

There are many euphemisms used (including by the author of this blog) to avoid saying the name of the character or the given name of The Scottish Play.

What has caused theater companies to close, untimely accidental deaths, and burns to Charlton Heston?

Could it be simply saying the word “Macbeth” while in a theater? Why is this famous play is so cursed? And why do so many actors fear the title?

Actor Nick Narcisi explores both the play and the history books for answers. WEDNESDAY, JULY 3rd, McAlister Hall’s Mirror Room. The lecture starts at 5pm.

It is part of the ongoing series of events sponsored by the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre in conjunction with their season.

Narcisi is a Chicago-based actor who is appearing as Banquo in The Scottish Play as well as Nathan Detroit in GUYS & DOLLS this summer.

Final week for 2019 season of Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre

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This week is the final week of Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre’s 2019 season. And they are encouraging patrons to “Double Down!”

Double trouble – The Comedy of Errors continues to delight audiences outside on the lawn at UCA in front of McAlister Hall. This fast-paced and funny show follows the misadventures of two sets of twins let loose in the same seaport town, and is the perfect way to enjoy a summer night with the family.  Only two performances left — Saturday June 29th and Thursday July 4th! Bring a picnic, your favorite lawn chair, and enjoy this Pay-What-You-Can performance!

Double your fun!  – Two sets of lovelorn couples navigate the ups and downs of 1930s Broadway in the classic musical Guys and Dolls. Audiences are raving about this unique and imaginative production, calling it “absolutely wonderful,” and “amazing.” Full of belly laughs, unforgettable songs, and romance, Guys and Dolls plays through July 6th. Get your tickets now!

Double, double, toil and trouble!  – Get your tickets now for Shakespeare’s Scottish tragedy, a tale of passion, murder, and madness.  This chilling and thrilling production is set in the 11th century, when the historical Thane of Cawdor ruled the lands of Scotland, and Viking raids were a common occurrence. It runs through July 7th — don’t miss it!

Double dueling households – Get your tickets now for AST’s Family Shakespeare production of Romeo and Juliet. This one-hour adaptation features music, dancing, and romance in its unique telling of the tragic tale. You can catch it on the road across Arkansas, or at home in Reynolds Performance Hall!

Sensory-Friendly Performance – AST is proud to offer a special sensory-friendly performance of Romeo and Juliet on Tuesday, July 2 at 2 pm. It is designed to provide an experience of our family Shakespeare production that’s inviting to all individuals with sensory processing deficits, including (but not limited to) those on the autism disorder spectrum and their families. We welcome our audiences to relax and be who they are. Get your tickets to this unique performance here.

 

“It’s Good to be King: Staging and Status in Shakespeare” is topic of Chad Bradford talk for Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre

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How does Shakespeare seek to convey status onstage?

Join AST Artistic Collective member Chad Bradford in an interactive talk about stage directions and status in the Elizabethan era.

Originally from Little Rock, Chad is a director, actor, and composer based out of New York City. Chad is a member of Actor’s Equity Association and has had the privilege to work all across the country.

Chad is currently the Associate Artistic Director for Shake on the Lake Shakespeare in Western New York.  During his time there he has directed RICHARD III, TWELFTH NIGHT, A MISDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE SANTALAND DIARIES, and ROMEO AND JULIET.

The discussion will take place in McAlister Hall’s Mirror Room, UCA. The program starts at 5pm.