University Theatre to present “An Evening with Billy Shakes”
April 2, 2021
YSU’s University Theatre will present its next production, “An Evening with Billy Shakes,” April 9 – 11 and 16 – 18.
The virtual production, directed by associate professor of theatre Matthew Mazuroski, will feature scenes from a dozen of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays. The show will begin at 7:30 PM Fridays and Saturdays and at 2:00 PM for the Sunday matinee performances.
Scenes that will be performed include those from “As You Like It,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Macbeth,” “Measure for Measure,” “Hamlet,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Othello,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Twelfth Night,” “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” and “Julius Caesar.”
"In my opinion, more people have been turned off to the power of live theatre by poor renditions of Shakespeare than by any other means,” Mazuroski said. “I think ninth-grade English literature classes that have students read Shakespeare without getting the plays on their feet is another culprit. Our sole focus throughout the design and rehearsal process [has been] to bring the language and characters of Shakespeare off the page and onto the stage and to remove the barriers between the text and the audience."
The cast includes students Meganne Evans, Boardman, Ohio; Samantha Gurd, Poland, Ohio; Mitchell Sharp, Beloit, Ohio; Destinee Thompson, Akron, Ohio; Adam Dominick, Lancaster, Ohio; Lexi Denney, Canfield, Ohio; Madeleine Pomeroy, Youngstown, Ohio; Machiah Davis, Cleveland, Ohio; Kamryn Deja, Ambridge, Pennsylvania; Nicolas Wix, Warren, Ohio; Kyle Hudson, Minerva, Ohio; Elise Vargo, Westerville, Ohio; Hannah Rosser, Austintown, Ohio; Morgan LaCamera, Lowellville, Ohio; and Nate Montgomery, Columbiana, Ohio.
Technical staff includes scenic designer Todd Dicken; costume designer Katherine Garlick; production manager and technical director Ryan Fitzpatrick; sound designer Johnny Pecano; sound operator Thomas DeLuca; properties designer Wendy Akers; lighting designer James Oakry; video production coordinator and editor Miles Garrett; and videographers Mazuroski and Miles Garrett.
The production will be available to view here. Tickets may be purchased using the same site; a single viewer ticket is $10, group viewing is $25, and YSU students, faculty, and staff are free with a valid ID.