I have always loved the plays of William Shakespeare, but getting others to feel the way I do about him has been a hard sell. I firmly believe that to fully appreciate Shakespeare one needs to see the show done on stage, but trying to convince a group of high school students that they would enjoy doing one of his plays has been as hard a task as selling snow to Eskimo’s………..
I have attempted to get them some Shakespearian exposure in the past with a cute fall show called “Get Bill Shakespeare off the Stage!”, which we ended with each student reciting a famous monologue from some of Shakespeare’s most famous characters. The students did a great job, and were really surprised at how much they enjoyed it, but still were resistant to doing a full length production of any of the Bard’s work. I am doing a Ken Ludwig piece this December at Schenectady Civic Playhouse called “The Game’s Afoot”, and am enjoying the work so much I looked up other things Mr. Ludwig had written. Lo and behold I find a show called “Midsummer Jersey” – where A Midsummer Night’s Dream by WS meets the TV show Jersey Shore! Eureka! The choice was made, and you will see the outcome of that choice come alive for you here tonight on our stage.
I think I can safely say the students have had a good time with this show –and I know I can say I have had a great time directing it. There is much more Shakespeare in this show than I think the kids realize, and they are handling the flowery way of speaking like pros. They have done everything I have asked them and more – and I am very proud of all of them. I would like to thank each and every one of them for making this such a great experience, including all my backstage and lighting/sound tec crew. I would also like to thank my adult support staff – producer, business manager, advertising manager, set crew, painters, costume, props –you name it, I have had help with it. I can’t do a show like this without them.
But now “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king!” For “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” Enjoy!
