William Shakespeare’s Richard III is now playing at Founders’ Theatre. John Douglas Thompson plays the title role in the production, directed by Jonathan Croy and featuring costumes designed by Arthur Oliver, lighting by Les Dickert and a set by Patrick Brennan. Photos by Kevin Sprague.
Two of our favorite actors—John Douglas Thompson and Elizabeth Aspenlieder, both on stage in Founders’ Theatre this summer—were each the subject of their own delightful interview this week.
John Douglas Thompson, who plays the title role in Richard III, spoke with Berkshire On Stage about his history and his recent critical acclaim.
It is a given that he is an extremely intelligent man, very witty, and powerful. On that I am trying to layer those three psychological underpinnings to make him more real. I want to know why he does what he does, and it’s all there in the language, and I know I will find it.”
Actor and Communications Director Elizabeth Aspenlieder was the subject of a Q&A in the Albany Times Union, discussing her Canadian roots and role as an artist/manager at Shakespeare & Company. She’s currently in rehearsals for The Winter’s Tale, in which she plays Hermione, the good Queen of Sicilia.
Q: What does Shakespeare mean to you?
A: It means an opportunity to be alive, to say good things, to say bad things and to move people in a way I wouldn’t normally be able to do day to day; to push people to communicate and to speak, which is so important to me; to speak with conviction and passion and to not shy away from anything.”
In December we announced our Founders’ Theatre shows for Summer 2010. Now we are proud to announce the rest of our Summer 2010 Season, titled “Greet the Glorious Summer!” A brief note from Artistic Director Tony Simotes:
It is with great humility as well as unbridled excitement that I launch my first season as Shakespeare & Company’s Artistic Director, taking over the reins from the indomitable Tina Packer. She began her mission 33 years ago, along with a merry band of theatrical revolutionaries that I was very pleased to be a part of. Our quest has been to bring the transformative power of theatre alive for our audiences through Shakespeare’s plays as well as ground-breaking new works. My mission is to build upon this priceless legacy while helping to bring us to exciting new places.
Read the rest of Tony’s Welcome Letter here, or in our 2010 Summer Season brochure—which is on its way to your mailbox now. (Or if you just can’t wait, click here to check it out online).
Check out the full Summer 2010 Season after the jump! Continue reading ‘Greet the Glorious Summer! (Full Summer Season Announced)’
John Patrick Shanley’s magnificent early work The Dreamer Examines His Pillow begins previews tonight in the Bernstein Theatre. The play is directed by long-time Company member Tod Randolph (in her directing debut) and features OBIE Award-winning John Douglas Thompson alongside Miriam Hyman and Bowman Wright.
Check out the photos from the production below! Learn more.
Othello, Shakespeare & Company’s critically-acclaimed hit of last summer has received great praise for its second run in Founders’ Theatre. Berkshire Living calls it “an extraordinary production, not to be missed,” and goes on to say “I saw this Othello last summer and thought it was excellent; I think it’s even better now.”
WAMC praises John Douglas Thompson (who won the OBIE Award for his performance of the role at Theatre For A New Audience this Spring): he “takes command of the scenes both physically and vocally. His sense of honor in winning the hand of Desdemona…his early disbelief of her infidelity…and his eventual loss of reason…this is a powerful performance.
Check out the photos of the production, including new cast members Duane Allen Robinson as Cassio, Caley Milliken as Bianca, Ken Cheeseman as Brabantio and Robert Biggs as Lodovico).
This provides the opportunity to compare and contrast roles in Shakespeare as well as a contemporary drama. It is evident to Berkshire audiences that Thompson has the talent to be one of the most renowned actors of his generation. Othello is the most dense and complex of all of Shakespeare’s male roles and Thompson is among its most compelling contemporary interpreters. It is a matter of time and opportunity before he emerges as a major artist in contemporary theatre.
Join John Douglas Thompson for My Year with the Moor on July 28 as the actor discusses his experience playing Othello for an entire year—and answers your questions.
Artistic Director Tony Simotes joined Alan, Joe and Sarah on the Roundtable last week to talk about his new job, how he got here and what he plans to do. John Douglas Thompson (Othello) and Eric Tucker (director of Pinter’s Mirror) were also on hand to chat about their projects at Shakespeare & Company this summer. Clocking in at 20 minutes, this is one of the most in-depth Roundtable interviews we’ve had. Check it out at WAMC’s website, or listen below.
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