As You Like It by William Shakespeare

With New Music by Mark Nichols

 

Tickets go on sale April 21.

 

Dates and times:  Thursday May 1-Saturday May 3 at 8 p.m., Sunday May 4 at 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday May 16-17 at 8 p.m., special benefit performance for Whitman College Drama Club Saturday May 18 at 8 p.m.

 

Location:  Alexander Stage, Harper Joy Theatre at Whitman College

 

Box office: 509-527-5180 from 10-12 and 1-4 weekdays.

 

Production Staff:

 

Director                                   Christopher Petit

Scenic Designer                      Arthur Chadwick

Costume Designer                   Liza Mae Chadwick

Lighting Designer                   Thomas G. Hines

Sound Designer                      Mark Nichols

Properties Designers               Lisa Mattson and Lia Moore

Stage Manager                        Blair Feehan

 

Cast:

Rosalind                      Kristan Brown

Celia                            Megan Duffy

Orlando                       Alex Cassidy

Oliver                          Forrest Seamons

Silvius                         Peter Richards

Touchstone                  Kyle Bain

Adam                          Mark Kennedy

Corina                         Erin Salvi

Jacqueline                    Anna Dart

Phoebe                                    Sarah Hatheway

Audrey                                    Sarah McCarthy

Duke Senior/

Duke Frederick           Blake   Saunders        

Charles                        Ben Moore

Lebeau                         Julianne Graper

Amiens                        Evan Cartwright

The Toadlickers           Evan Cartwright, Ben Moore, Amanda Naylor, Julie McQuary, Julianne Graper, Russell Caditz-Peck, Kelsey Yuhara

 

 

History:  Probably first performed by the Lord ChamberlainÕs Men at the Globe Theatre, London, in 1599.

 

About the play: This lyrical comedy where the boundaries of reality and fantasy merge is a celebration of life and humor, full of passionate possibilities and the transformative effects of love. As You Like It presents Shakespeare's greatest heroine Rosalind, who in fear of her life flees to the forest of Arden. Escaping what she most fears, she soon discovers what she most loves.   Guest artists Mark Nichols and Arthur and Liza Mae Chadwick will be in residence at Harper Joy Theatre to compose the music and design the set and costumes.

 

The director says:  Harper Joy Theatre's modern dress version of As You Like It incorporates live music and song to evoke Shakespeare's timeless tale.  The Duke and his followers are all musicians who spend their time in the forest creating music.  We have chosen moments of heightened emotion, primarily between the lovers, where the characters burst into song—much as in a modern musical.  Ours will be a light and playful touch, full of humor and joy, ruminating on and celebrating the many aspects of love.

 

About the guest artists:

 

Composer Mark Nichols:

 Mark Nichols has been a professional composer for twenty years. A native of Ferndale, Washington, Mark began writing music in the sixth grade and continued to study piano until his first year at Whitman College.  After college, Mark moved to Seattle and wrote Little Boy Goes to Hell, a rock opera, and has since written over thirty pieces of musical theater, produced albums, scored films, and is now a film director.  Mark and Chris Petit began working together in 1995, and three years ago collaborated in Walla Walla on Caucasian Chalk Circle.  Mark will be in New York this spring to watch a version of his musical Joe Bean performed by Broadway talent.  Mark's material can be found at www.TheReallyBig.com.

 

Scenic designer Arthur Chadwick: AEChadwick is an Art Director and Set Designer in Hollywood. His recent work can be seen on ABCÕs ÒOctober RoadÓ and the Food Network's ÒIron Chef AmericaÓ. He has designed and drawn scenery for over 100 television shows of all types, including Rachel Ray's daily show, every show on the TV Guide Channel, several years of both the Primetime & Daytime Emmy Awards, and the American Music Awards. He was Head of Costume Crafts at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival for 17 years. Chadwick has worked with the Food Network, Dick Clark Productions, Paramount Television, Stone/Stanley, Triage Entertainment, and Radio City Music Hall. He has also worked at the Embassy Theater in London, and the Orpheum Theater in South Dakota. Chadwick has an MFA from Carnegie Mellon University.

 

Costume Designer Liza Mae Chadwick: lives and works in Hollywood California. Some of the projects Liza has recently been involved with include the films ÒBlades of Glory,Ó ÒThe Prestige,Ó ÒUnderdog,Ó ÒCharlie Wilson's War,Ó ÒBobby,Ó ÒNancy Drew,Ó and ÒThe Good German,Ó as well as the 2006 Madonna World Tour, and the 2007 Smashing Pumpkins Tour. Liza's most favorite recent project is the soon to be released ÒSpace Buddies,Ó starring a cast of golden retriever puppies.  Liza received her training at the North Carolina School of the Arts.