CLC Theatre presents Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Feb. 26-28 and March 3-5
The College of Lake County Theatre Department will present "The Tempest" Feb. 26-28 and March 3-5 in the Studio Theatre at the CLC Grayslake Campus. The production is part of a world-wide commemoration of the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death and a local exhibit of a Shakespeare First Folio.
In 2015, when the Lake County Discovery Museum was applying to host "First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare," a national touring exhibition, museum staff members approached CLC about partnering with them on the exhibit and presenting a series of educational activities and a fully realized production. The exhibit is sponsored by the Folger Shakespeare Library and the America Library Association, and its only Illinois stop is at the Lake County Forest Preserves' Wauconda museum.
In conjunction with the exhibit, Director Craig Rich and English Professor Jenny Lee will lead a workshop for high school teachers, and members of the CLC cast will present a free preview at the museum at 1 p.m. on Feb. 13. For information on the exhibit and a list of events supporting the exhibit, visit http://www.LCFPD.org/shakespeare.
Craig Rich, who is directing "The Tempest," said that without the First Folio, the play may never have survived. "I chose 'The Tempest' because we would not even have access to it if the First Folio hadn't been published. Eighteen of Shakespeare's plays had not been published before then, and 'The Tempest' is the first play that appears in the First Folio book. There are only 233 known copies of the First Folio in existence of the estimated 750 originally printed in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare had died," Rich said.
In "The Tempest," a magician named Prospero is marooned on a distant island with his daughter, perfecting his magic and plotting his revenge against those who robbed him of a dukedom. When he learns that a ship bearing his old enemies is sailing nearby, he raises a torrential storm with the help of a spirit, Ariel.
In the CLC production, Prospero has been cast as a woman, Prospera. And a few other roles traditionally played by male actors have been re-cast as women. "The majority of characters in Shakespeare's plays are male, less than 20 percent are female," stated Rich. "I wanted to create more opportunities for our female students and community members. Ultimately, I cast the best actor for the role, regardless of their gender."
Shakespeare's last great masterpiece, "The Tempest" is an enchanted tale filled with romance, humor and adventure. "It's packed full of the things that audiences most love about Shakespeare- colorful and complex characters, supernatural creatures, plots of revenge, slap-stick comedy, singing, dancing and love," he said. "As an added plus, some of our cast members are adapting music from that era and are creating original pieces for the play. We have some very talented actors, singers and musicians in our cast, and we are using every bit of their talent in the show."
The play explores issues such as the abuse of power, the cycle of violence and misunderstandings between people from various cultures, according to Rich. "400 years later and these plays still speak to us. They feel so relevant. And that is why Shakespeare is the most produced playwright in the world," he said.
'The Tempest' Cast
Prospera: Susan Love (Grayslake); Miranda: Christiane Laskowski (Lake Zurich); Ariel: Cody Summers (Lindenhurst); Caliban: Amar Nagra (Wauconda); Stephano: Kyle David Perry (Round Lake); Trinculo: Jennifer Nelson (Lindenhurst); Ferdinand: Alexander Gray (Zion); Alonso: Avi Kritzman (Buffalo Grove); Antonia: Emily Schneider (Lindenhurst); Sebastian: Jeff Brain (Antioch); Gonzala: Riccarda Eickenberg (Long Grove); Adrian: Benjamin Compton (Winthrop Harbor); Francisco: Max Ramage (Zion); Master: Robert Williams (Waukegan); Boatswain: Amanda Barth (Trevor, WI); Mariners: Benjamin Compton (Winthrop Harbor), Cody Patterson (Fox Lake). Spirits, Musicians: Amanda Barth, Jenna Eve Kleinofen (Grayslake), Olivia Love-Hatlestad (Grayslake), Bianca Shofner (Gurnee).
Production dates and times are: Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, March 3, 4, 5 at 7:30 p.m.; and a high school matinee on March 4 at 10 a.m., all in the Studio Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St.
Tickets are $12 for the general public and $10 for CLC students and staff/teen/seniors 65+ (prices include a $2 JLC facility fee). Performances on Feb. 26 and March 3 qualify for buy one, get one free tickets. For tickets, call (847) 543-2300 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. A post-play discussion with the cast and director will be held immediately following the Feb. 28 production.
The Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 60 minutes prior to each performance at 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more in advance. For information, call (847) 543-2431 or email JLCgroupsales@clcillinois.edu. To request sign language interpreting, please contact the Box Office at least two weeks in advance at (847) 543-2300.