Eastern to Perform As You Like It

Written by kate Harner

Willimantic, CT -- Eastern Connecticut State University's Theatre Department will perform Shakespeare's "As You Like It" Nov. 3 - 8 at the Harry Hope Theatre, located in Shafer Hall on the corner of High and Valley Streets in Willimantic. The play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 - 7. A matinee will be presented at 11 a.m. on Nov. 6. A final presentation will take place at 4 p.m. on Nov. 8. The public is invited. Tickets are $5 for Eastern students and groups of 10 or more; $10 for Eastern faculty, staff, alumni and senior citizens; and $12 for the general public.

The performance is directed by Jerry Winters, part-time professor of theatre at Eastern. This popular pastoral shows the worlds of the court and countryside colliding as it explores the themes of love, betrayal and human follies. Eastern's production gives Shakespeare's plot a modern twist by replacing the original Elizabethan aristocracy with the media empire of Duke Frederick and court entertainment and marketing. It uses recorded and live video, which Kara Williams '10, produced with the help of Communication Professor Denise Matthews. The show will also include live wrestling.

The communities of Eastern and Willimantic worked together on the production. The cast includes theatre majors, other Eastern students and community actors. Local musician and songwriter Kevin Scott composed the production's original music. Robert Sweetnum, theatre professor at Eastern, designed the multilevel set for the show.

For reservations, call the Box Office at (860) 465-5123.