Today@Sam Article

Summer Shakespeare Comes To SHSU

June 23, 2017
SHSU Media Contact: Julia May

Sam Houston State University’s Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre Summer Repertory will present William Shakespeare’s fantastical comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” in the University Theatre Center’s Showcase Theatre August 1-3, at 8 o’clock each evening.

The department’s Summer Repertory supports the New Works Initiative, a safe and stimulating playground for artists to explore and develop new works, new approaches, and new performance practices, according to Laura Avery, head of musical theatre at SHSU.

“The New Works Initiative has produced ‘Dust Bowl Motel’ and ‘Ruffled Flourishes,’” she said. “Now in its third year, we are proud to present Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in Original Pronunciation with original music. 

“Original Pronunciation, the Early Modern English pronunciation of Shakespeare’s day, brings us as close as possible to how Shakespeare’s plays would have sounded when they were first performed by The King’s Men,” Avery said. 

“It enables us to hear effects lost when old texts are read in a modern way. Rhymes that don't work in modern English suddenly work, puns missed in modern English become clear, new assonances and rhythms give lines a fresh impact. OP illustrates what is meant by speaking 'trippingly upon the tongue.' OP motivates fresh possibilities of character interpretation. The sound is very exciting and earthy,” she said. 

The production also will use original music known to be have been used by Shakespeare in his plays. The show is directed by Penny Hasekoester with Avery as dialect coach and music director. 

Tickets go on sale July 1. For ticket information, contact the University Theatre Center Box Office at 936.294.1339 or purchase tickets at the SHSU Online Box Office. Summer Repertory tickets are $10.

The Showcase Theatre is located on the SHSU campus in the University Theatre Center between the Newton Gresham Library and the James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts

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