2008 Woodie Awards
Nebraska Group To Bring Schools Shakespeare
Kirby Kaufman
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Arts & Leisure
"Swift as a shadow, short as any dream; Brief as the lightning in the collied night," are words from William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" that might describe Nebraska Shakespeare's version of the play.
The 55-minute adaptation attempts to condense the original, which typically runs anywhere from three to four hours. The play is condensed to help the group bring it to schools in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
Lines are cut from the original play, but leave the main plot intact. The audience still receives the same type of entertainment that they would during a full version, but it is more suited for a modern audience in the sense not many people would sit around three or four hours to view a play.
The set is quite simple with backdrops and minor props to allow for easy mobility when moving from location to location.
"People forget that this was entertainment," said Marketing Director Nellie MacCallum.
Being shortened allows actors to say their lines slower, which in return enables the audience to understand it easier, MacCallum said.
"You train the ear to hear it," said Director of Education and Production Thomas Lowe.
The play is also modernized. The costumes are that of the avengers from Britain in the 1960s. Characters will resemble something out of Austin Power's, MacCallum added.
The shortened time also helps Nebraska Shakespeare to show at high schools and middle schools. The briefer playtime helps the schools to not have too much disruption in their schedule. The show would last between one to two class periods.
Sarah Carlson-Brown cut the script of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to fit within the 55-minute time frame. Carlson-Brown and her husband Vincent are actors and managers of the production. The stage manager also has two roles, as he is an actor in the play as well.
"You take one hat off and the other on," said MacCallum.
Shows begin towards the end of September and last through the month of October. The first performance will be Sept. 29 in Papillion, Neb.
Nebraska Shakespeare held a preview for its audiences at Creighton University last year, and are unsure of a destination now because Creighton is booked full. UNO is a possible location.
The shows are made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts. With their support, Nebraska Shakespeare is able to tour and produce shows.
Every child should see at least one professionally performed before they graduate from high school, Lowe said.
The 55-minute adaptation attempts to condense the original, which typically runs anywhere from three to four hours. The play is condensed to help the group bring it to schools in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
Lines are cut from the original play, but leave the main plot intact. The audience still receives the same type of entertainment that they would during a full version, but it is more suited for a modern audience in the sense not many people would sit around three or four hours to view a play.
The set is quite simple with backdrops and minor props to allow for easy mobility when moving from location to location.
"People forget that this was entertainment," said Marketing Director Nellie MacCallum.
Being shortened allows actors to say their lines slower, which in return enables the audience to understand it easier, MacCallum said.
"You train the ear to hear it," said Director of Education and Production Thomas Lowe.
The play is also modernized. The costumes are that of the avengers from Britain in the 1960s. Characters will resemble something out of Austin Power's, MacCallum added.
The shortened time also helps Nebraska Shakespeare to show at high schools and middle schools. The briefer playtime helps the schools to not have too much disruption in their schedule. The show would last between one to two class periods.
Sarah Carlson-Brown cut the script of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to fit within the 55-minute time frame. Carlson-Brown and her husband Vincent are actors and managers of the production. The stage manager also has two roles, as he is an actor in the play as well.
"You take one hat off and the other on," said MacCallum.
Shows begin towards the end of September and last through the month of October. The first performance will be Sept. 29 in Papillion, Neb.
Nebraska Shakespeare held a preview for its audiences at Creighton University last year, and are unsure of a destination now because Creighton is booked full. UNO is a possible location.
The shows are made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts. With their support, Nebraska Shakespeare is able to tour and produce shows.
Every child should see at least one professionally performed before they graduate from high school, Lowe said.
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