Photo by Lee Pellegrini
You can count Professor of Theatre Scott T. Cummings among the many fans of 鈥淗amlet,鈥� which he鈥檒l direct Feb. 21-24 at Robsham Theater Arts Center鈥檚 Bonn Studio.
鈥溾�楬amlet鈥� is a juggernaut. It鈥檚 a theatrical Mount Everest,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel so lucky to be working on this play with this group of talented and dedicated students. To perform such an expansive play in such intimate surroundings should make for an interesting experience.鈥�
Considered to be William Shakespeare鈥檚 masterpiece, 鈥淗amlet鈥� follows the brilliant but vengeful Prince of Denmark, who finds himself at the intersection of betrayal and devastation via family treachery, murder, and suicide.
鈥淵ou have to come at it well-prepared and one step at a time,鈥� Cummings explained. 鈥淭o help with that, students involved in the production are also enrolled in a Shakespeare Performance Workshop that I am teaching. We鈥檙e looking at the play in various contexts to form a foundation for our work in rehearsal.鈥�
鈥淗amlet鈥� was widely performed and regarded as influential during Shakespeare鈥檚 lifetime, and its appeal has endured over centuries.
鈥淪hakespeare鈥檚 theater puts dramatic verse and the spoken text front and center and we are trying to concentrate on that,鈥� said Cummings. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a challenge for student actors鈥攁ll actors really鈥攚ho are more accustomed to dialogue that aims at realism. Shakespeare鈥檚 language is theatrical. It鈥檚 more like music.鈥�
Other spring semester Robsham productions include 鈥淭he Identity Project,鈥� by 51茶馆 Theatre Department students, co-directed by Maurice Parent and Dawn M. Simmons. Parent, an award-winning actor, director, and arts educator, is the current Monan Professor in Theatre Arts. He also is the co-founder and executive director of , 鈥渁 black-led theatre company committed to advancing racial equity in Boston through theater.鈥� Simmons, a director, playwright, and arts administrator, is the collective鈥檚 artistic director.
Described as 鈥渁 devised theater piece written and performed by 51茶馆 students,鈥� 鈥淭he Identity Project鈥� will be presented in April on dates to be announced.
On April 24-28, 鈥�9 to 5 The Musical鈥� comes to RTAC鈥檚 Main Stage. Based on the 1980 hit comedy movie, it follows three unlikely friends who take control of their office and learn there is nothing they can鈥檛 do, even in a 鈥渕an鈥檚 world.鈥� Music and lyrics for the high-energy show, which is described as 鈥渙utrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic,鈥� were written by singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, who also was one of the movie鈥檚 stars.
Ticket prices (service fee included) for these productions are $17 for adults; $12 for 51茶馆 students with valid ID, faculty and staff (one ticket per ID), and seniors. For more information, including performance times, the casts and production teams, visit the Robsham Box Office website.
鈥擴niversity Communications