USAO Theatre Arts to present bold adaptation of Lear this Fall
The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma’s Theatre Program will debut a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s King Lear as its fall production on Nov. 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. in Davis Hall. Katie Davis, Professor of Theatre, used several editions of this historic tragedy to create this re-imagined production using text from the earliest publications of Shakespeare’s play. In this version, scenes that were only discussed in Shakespeare’s text will be staged, Lear is portrayed as a matriarch instead of a patriarch, and the length of the play has been shortened, while maintaining the play's focus and themes.
“This classic play was written by William Shakespeare by blending two stories, known through folklore, histories, and an earlier play about Leir. Our process began by asking: Why tell this story now? Why do we remember and repeat old plays,” said director, Katie Davis. “King Lear is about the mistakes of flawed leaders, in governments and in families, having dire consequences for them and everyone around them. It’s a cautionary tale that we tell to remind us not to lose our reason and not to break the bonds that hold communities together. In the play, the villains are liars, cruel people, and ambitious con-men. The leaders abandon their obligations to the poor, the rule of law, and even their families. Famously, Lear values and exaggerated public performance of “love” instead of appreciating genuine care and devotion. One of the duties of friendship is to make you confront harsh realities. Lear rejects this compassionate criticism and advice. This is the first sign of madness, which ultimately ends Lear’s life tragically.”
Davis also serves as the production designer, collaborating with Sara Baird, Adjunct Instructor of Technical Theatre and Production Manager. “Our design and technical team took the challenge of making this old story accessible to audiences today. In Shakespeare’s theatre, scenery, costumes, and props were not specific to each play, but contemporary theatre-goers expect to see settings and rely less on the images in the poetry,” said Baird, a USAO Alumna. “It’s been fun to find a way to include the themes of nature, blindness, aging, and fate in the design. I have worked with student assistant designers and enjoyed the perspective they have brought to the design and creation of the sets, lighting, and props.”
Adjunct Instructor Emily Godwin provides Choreography, and the production has contracted Visiting Artist, Erick Wolfe, MFA, as the Fight Director. Alumna Angelica Bishop is assisting with costuming the production and coordinating the costume shop. Jeff Rutherford, USAO Facilities Technician, is the lead carpenter and scene shop manager. All other production staff and technical positions are filled by USAO students. There are also twenty-five students, representing eight majors, including Art, Psychology, Communication, Business, and Education acting in the production.
Junior Theatre major, Abbee Holden, from Camargo, OK, plays the title role of Lear. “I really love the concept of how we are presenting Lear as a play within a play. While the story is tragic, we allow the audience to leave with hope and the knowledge that we tell stories so that we can teach each other how to live better,” says Holden. “Being able to play Lear and help to tell this story is an honor and a huge challenge. It’s so hard! I was lucky to have taken the classical acting class in the summer, so the text and direction makes sense to me. But it’s a huge commitment. If I’m not at work or in class, I am thinking about Lear.”
Sophomore History major Max Corshia is the stage manager. They graduated from Bristow High School, where they began learning theatre; during their junior year, their teacher became USAO alumna Jessica Frizzell. “Working on this show requires a lot of work and a lot of time, but it is fulfilling and fun to work on this with friends and see it all come together. I’d never known before how much the show relies on the stage manager; you really need the whole team to work together.”
Senior Theatre Arts major Avery Crawford is the assistant costume designer; she is from Noble, OK and will also play the character, Regan, Lear’s second daughter. She says, “This is my very first experience of working on a Shakespeare show. I have really enjoyed the process of working on the costume design, which starts with the very simple suggestions from the play and then with research became a real concept. It was helpful to have had a costume design class, so I know how to analyze the text; this also gave me an advantage on developing my character and how different she is from her sisters.”
Mabel Cremers is a senior varsity soccer player who is completing a degree in theatre with an emphasis in Lighting Design; they are the student lighting designer for this show and are also playing the Duke of Burgundy. They are a student from Veghel, Netherlands who selected USAO because of a desire to play soccer at a small school with many opportunities. “I love being a theatre major. Working on Lear is my first experience in getting to do the design planning paperwork myself. I’m learning how to think about the needs of the play from both the perspective of the script and in watching how the actors are working,” said Cremers. “I like how close the cast has become; it’s like a family. Everyone has your back.”
In the “laboratory” of the Davis Hall Little Theatre, students not only develop the skills to pursue professional careers in the performing arts, they practice the soft-skills of project management, budgeting, problem-solving, and teamwork that can be applied in a wide range of theatre-adjacent fields. The mission of the theatre arts program is to introduce the literature, history, craft, and aesthetic properties of theatre through a rigorous survey core curriculum, providing the serious student the opportunity to excel through upper-level interdisciplinary study of theatre arts, while making the experience and practice of live theatre accessible to all students.
Tickets for Lear will be available at the Davis Hall Little Theatre Box Office starting at 6pm on the evenings of performances. Students, Faculty, Alumni, and Staff of the University are admitted without charge. A “pay-what-you-can” donation is suggested for the General Public. This tragedy may not be appropriate for very young audience members because of graphic violence. For more information call Katie Davis, Coordinator of the Theatre Arts Program for the School of Visual and Performing Arts at (405) 574-1310.
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.