June 23 2010: Rehearsals Begin

In this Issue

• Rehearsals Begin
• Costuming Dream
• Shakespeare Around Town

Rehearsals Begin

On Sunday night Willamette Shakespeare held the first rehearsal for the summer production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. As is traditional, the first rehearsal was a read-through of the entire play. For those of you who have never been to a first read-through, it can be one of the most exhilerating parts of the process. It is rough and unpolished; actors are just starting to find their characters; there are hints of future brilliance. You might say that a first read-through is a diamond in the rough.

Christy Drogosh and Nathan Dunkin give little improvised version of the Titania / Bottom scene in the park blocks of downtown Portland.

Sunday night's read-through was no exception. Some of the cast had worked together before, but most were meeting for the first time. Even before the reading began, first-day-of-school nerves were replaced by laughter as the cast took their first steps from strangers to ensemble. Even at this early stage of the process, the cast told the story as a group, joying in the language and relishing every ounce of humor.

Over the last few nights, the cast has gone through "table-work" which is, as it sounds, actors working through the script, around a table, in order to draw meaning, context and character from the play. This has been running concurrently with movement work and clowning excercises to help actors create the physicality of their characters and develop into a true ensemble.

Stay tuned to read more about what is going on behind the scenes as we progress through the various stages of the production from the first read-through to the final bow.

Costuming Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream offers great opportunities and challenges to every member of the team. Designers and production staff have to grapple with years of preconceptions about the play from its production history and the degree to which its characters have become part of the vernacular.

On the other hand, the play is free from conventional time and place so there is enormous room for creativity. Because Willamette Shakespeare uses limited technical elements, the costume design is an absolutely crucial element in telling the story.

This year, Willamette Shakespeare is privileged to be working with costume and fashion designer Jessica Bobillot. Jessica brings enormous production skills along with her design experience. She has worked in a number of Portland-area theatres, including Artists Repertory Theatre and the Portland Opera, in addition to teaching fashion design at The Art Institute of Portland.

When asked about the challenges of costuming this play, Jessica responded, "A Midsummer's Night Dream is a favorite play. Because it is so beloved, everyone from Laurence Olivier to any high school student has seen it. As a costumer the challenge is to find an interesting way to clothe these well known characters that is fresh to the avid theater patron as well as the high school student, while still supporting the story."

You will, of course, have the opportunity to see Jessica's approach to this challenge first hand at the show this summer, but look for a sneak-peek of her designs in an upcoming newsletter.

Shakespeare Around Town

A number of other companies have shows in production or soon to be so. We encourage you to support Shakespeare in the Willamette Valley by attending as many of these shows as you can.

Original Practice Shakepseare Festival - Much Adoe About Nothing

Original Practice Shakespeare Festival attempts to recapture the original spirit of Elizabethan performance by creating fast-paced, high-energy productions using performance techniques from Shakespeare's time. For more information go to http://www.opsfest.org/. Brian Allard, Clara Hillier and Emily Gleason from our cast will be performing in various roles. Performances are FREE!

• Sat, June 26, 2:00 - Washington Park
• Sun, July 11, 2:00 - Irving Park
• Sat, July 17, 2:00 - Laurelhurst Park
• Sat, July 24, 2:00 - Fernhill Park
• Sun, July 25, 2:00 - Lents Park
• Sun, Aug 15, 2:00 - Laurelhurst Park

Portland Actor's Ensemble - Pericles and Comedy of Errors

Portland Actor's Ensemble has been performing in Portland-area parks for over 40 years. Pericles is already in production, and Comedy of Errors opens at the end of July. See http://www.portlandactors.com/ for more information. Performances are Free!

Pericles

• June 17, 18, 19, and 24, 7:30 pm - Mt. Tabor Park
• June 25, 6:30 pm - Marylhurst University
• June 26, 6:00 pm - Somerset Meadows Park
• July 1 and 2, 7:30 pm - Mt. Tabor Park summit
• July 3, 6:00 pm - Meinig Memorial Park
• July 8, 9, and 10, 7:30 pm - Mt. Tabor Park summit
• July 15, 16, and 17, 7:30 pm - Mt. Tabor Park summit

Comedy of Errors

• July 31 and August 1 3:00 pm - Laurelhurst Park
• August 7 and 8, at 3:00 pm - Washington Park
• August 14, at 6:00 pm - Raleigh Park
• August 15, at 3:00 pm - Gabriel Park
• August 21, at 7:00 pm - Maryhill Museum
• August 22, at 3:00 pm - Lynchwood Park
• August 28 and 29, at 3:00 pm - Concordia University
• September 4, 5, and 6, at 3:00 pm - Reed College

Bag & Baggage - Twelfth Night

Bag & Baggage performs original adaptions of the Bard's work year round but takes up residence in the summer at the plaza of the Hillsboro's Civic Center. See http://www.bagnbaggage.org/ for more information. Tickets are $10.

• Fri July 30 through Aug 14, Thu-Sat eves at 7pm.

More Shakespeare to report? Email info@willametteshakespeare.org. We will add your show to our list.