Class stages Shakespeare all over campus

A Calvin theatre class is performing "Shakespeare on Location." The continuous
play, which kicks off each performance at 7:30 p.m. on December 2,3,4 in Lab
Theater, is the project of a class "Acting and Directing Shakespeare," taught
by Calvin theater professor Stephanie Sandberg.

"Shakespeare on Location" is a progressive theatrical experience that stages
scenes from The Bard in multiple campus locations: MacBeth in the Chapel
Undercroft, Hamlet's soliloquy in a philosophy classroom, Twelfth Night in a
tunnel, Romeo and Juliet on the climbing wall.

Students have divvied up directing chores on the various scenes, and they
chose the locations themselves.

"I just started walking around campus and looked at areas that were
interesting to stage a scene in," said junior Abby Beasley, who is directing
the balcony scene in the Calvin Climbing Center.

Re-locating any play is a logistical challenge, Sandberg admitted: "It teaches
you things about staging you wouldn't learn working on a stage." Junior
Christina Binder agreed: "In the theater, you have a lot of control over
lighting and scene design, but when you work in a found space, you just have to
work with what you have."

The students are enjoying the challenge, nevertheless. "I think it disorients
the audience … . We're taking the action offstage and really forcing them to
engage with the scene," said junior Sam McConnell.

For more info, contact Stephanie Sandberg at ssandber@calvin.edu

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Received on Fri Dec 3 12:19:47 2010