GREENEVILLE– A 16-member cast, many of themTusculum Universitystudents, has been selected and will bring a vibrant feel to upcoming performances of “The Taming of the Shrew” at the higher education institution.
Theatre-at-Tusculum conducted auditions for the Shakespeare comedy. Tusculum students and many others in the community put their talent on display for Steve Schultz, the play’s director. He is delighted with the outcome, especially with the fact half of the cast will be Tusculum students.
The university offers a theater concentration within its bachelor’s degree incommunication. Students enrolled in that program are taking Acting 1 this semester and are required to be in this production.
“They are spending their day in an academic environment, they’re studying these lines and they’re studying these characters as part of an acting class,” said Schultz, who also serves as director ofTusculum Arts Outreach. “They’re going to bring a fresh energy to the roles, and there’s something to be said about having a bit of school spirit in a production. These students love Tusculum, and they’re excited to do well for the university.”
The two leads in “The Taming of the Shrew” feature Tusculum students – Izzy Wilson as Katherina and JT Wolf as Petruchio. Other students in the production are Lily Burgner as Lord, Emme Foster at Vincentio, Elise Garland as Gremio, David Hutsell as Hortensio and James Sams at Pedant.
The other cast members are community members – Brittany Brooks as Bianca, Erika Carter as Tranio, Michael Fillers as Christopher Sly, Zach Gass as Baptista, Isaac Kilsteiner as Lucentio, Shae Lenoir as Hostess, Olivia Nunnelly as Page, Keegan O’Laughlin as Biondello and Bo Poe as Grumio. Gass is a Tusculum alumnus.
“It’s exciting that there are so many people in the cast who have never performed Shakespeare and will have a magnificent experience this fall,” Schultz said. “Once they perform in a Shakespeare play, they will always remember the first time they were able to participate in one. There is a reason these plays are the most popular to do. They are the most fun to perform, they’re the most challenging to perform and when they are done right, the audiences love them most of all. I am confident these cast members will excel, and the audiences will thoroughly enjoy seeing the shows.”
Schultz said the first rehearsals are going to be classes, where he instructs them about Shakespeare. The lessons will touch on the language of the plays, how to perform with that language and scan the poetry.
The cast is excited to embark on rehearsals and bringing “The Taming of the Shrew” to life at Tusculum and is already asking questions about the scenes and characters. Schultz said he is liking the fact that the cast features many who have worked professionally in theater productions and others who have pursued much different careers.
Foster is one of the cast members who is enthused.
“I’m really excited to get back on stage because it has been a while,” she said. “I have a little bigger role this time, so that is nice. Plus, I am happy to perform in more of a classical play. I’ve done a lot of contemporary plays. I’ve never done a Shakespearean play before, so that will be a new experience. And I do like a challenge.”
Wolf is enthused about being part of this cast because he has worked with many of the members in the cast. He also likes the character he is playing and the opportunity to be one of the leads.
“I love the way he uses wit to not only manipulate a situation but also just to prove that he’s still human as well,” Wolf said. “I always say there are no minor roles. This role gives me a chance to just step forward. It’s a new challenge, and I can’t wait to overcome it and just do my best with it.”
Wilson is pleased to see a Shakespeare play at Tusculum for the first time in a while. She is also thrilled that the cast will feature mostly East Tennessee natives and said people will see some similarities between the Shakespearean language and the accent of people from Appalachia. Plus, she looks forward to shaping her role.
“I’m hoping to give Katherina all of the fire that she deserves because she is a very complex character,” Wilson said. “Even though many people see her as just angry at first, there’s a lot of personality to her. I think she’s a very understandable character, and I think many people will be empathetic to her.”
Performances of “Shrew” are Thursday, Dec. 3-Saturday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. in the Marilyn duBrisk Theatre inside Annie Hogan Byrd.Tickets go on sale soon.
Theatre-at-Tusculum is part ofArts Outreachand Tusculum’sCenter for the Artsand is supported in part by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and many generous donors. To learn more about the Center for the Arts and Arts Outreach, visithttps://site.tusculum.edu/center-for-the-arts/. Additional information about the university is available atwww.tusculum.edu.
