Theatre Arts & Dance Opens Year with Romantic Comedy

Published: October 06, 2012 | Author: Jen Burt | Read Time: 3 minutes

Love takes center stage in William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy As You Like It,
performed by Southern Utah University’s Department of Theatre Arts & Dance October
5, 8 and 11–13 at the Adams Shakespearean Theatre at SUU.

Referred to as a “pastoral comedy,” As You Like It follows its heroine, Rosalind, who
is banished from court by her treacherous uncle. Fleeing to the Forest of Arden along
with her cousin, Celia, and the fool, Touchstone, Rosalind disguises herself as the male
shepherd named Ganymede. As Ganymede, Rosalind befriends a love struck Orlando
whose object of affection is none other than the fair Rosalind. Soon “Ganymede”
is coaching Orlando in the finer art of wooing his beloved Rosalind. Filled with an
assortment of colorful characters, humorous situations and one of Shakespeare’s most
quoted speeches, “All the world’s a stage…” As You Like It remains a timeless comic
classic.

Associate chair of SUU’s Department of Theatre Arts & Dance, Peter Sham, will stage
the comedy, which kicks off the 2012-13 Theatre Arts & Dance Season.

According to Sham, “As You Like It is a romantic comedy and a celebration of life and
love for all races, creeds, preferences and religions. It is a play that takes its characters
on a journey of redemption and forgiveness, and returns them to a community in which
all members are more enlightened than they ever were before. Shakespeare’s comic
masterpiece shows us that change, growth, love and acceptance are the keys to the
meaning of life. Let's enjoy it while we can.”

Come to the Forest of Arden at the Adams Shakespearean Theatre and enjoy the delights
of As You Like It. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. for all performances. Tickets are free for SUU
students with a valid ID, $10 General Admission; $8 SUU Faculty/Staff, $5 Youth.

Money-saving season subscriptions are available for the 2012-13 Theatre Arts & Dance
Series, which, along with As You Like It, will include the holiday favorite Peter Sham and
Brad Carroll’s A Christmas Carol on the Air, featuring Fred C. Adams as Scrooge; the
Tony Award winner CHICAGO the Musical; and in rotating repertory, two contemporary
plays God of Carnage and Women of Lockerbie. This series also includes Boundless
Journeys: A Student / Faculty Dance Concert.

Season tickets are $48 for the General Public and $24 for Student/Child. Tickets may
be purchased by phone at 435-586-7872, in person at the Centrum Arena Box Office or
online at suu.edu/arts.

For the season’s inaugural production, As You Like It, Sham developed his
vision with the help of set designer Jarrod Bray, costume designer Kaylin James,

lighting designer William Howard, hair and make-up designer Kristy Kozolowski,
sound designer Nicholas Pinegar, props master Miriam Gonzalez-Hernandez and
composer Christine Frezza. Kelli Kovach is the assistant director, Kristen Sham is
choreographer and Ben Harris is fight choreographer, while Elizabeth Haight serves as
stage manager.

The cast features Jessica Winward as Rosalind and Marco Vega as Orlando, the
comedy’s delectable lovers. The company includes Alex Allred (Duke Senior), Tony
Carter (Silvius), Amanda Dayton (Celia), Ian Durant (Touchstone), Ben Harris (Duke
Frederick), Dory Peacock (Phebe), MacKenzie Pedersen (Audrey), Joe Spear (Jaques)
and Christopher Whiteside(Oliver). Rounding out the cast in multiple roles are Josh
Durfey, Gabrielle Harris, Taylor Holbrook, Nate Marble, Andrew Morrison, Grayson
Moulton, Selena Price, Nathan Smith and Natalie Spangler.

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Contact Information:

435-586-5400
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