TWU Theatre Presents Shakespeare’s As You Like It

3/26/04

DENTON — Disguise and deception turn a tranquil forest glen topsy-turvy as the Texas Woman’s University Department of Drama presents William Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. April 14-17, with matinees at 4 p.m. April 13 and 2 p.m. April 18. All performances will take place in the Redbud Theatre on Bell Avenue on TWU’s Denton campus. Ticket prices range from $5 to $12. For reservations and other information, call the TWU Theatre Box Office at (940) 898-2020.

Directed in true Elizabethan style by TWU drama faculty member Michael Scudday, As You Like It presents the tale of Rosalind (played by Jennifer Ehrhart of Denton), a young woman who secures her own destiny through clever disguise.

Banished from the court with her father, Duke Senior (Jaymes Gregory of Haltom City), Rosalind ventures boldly into the unknown Forest of Arden. Disguised as a man to avoid the dangers of uncivilized society, Rosalind mixes masculine privilege with feminine wit to befriend and counsel the lovelorn Orlando (Alison Trapp of Denton), helping him ultimately to win her own heart.

Shakespeare’s As You Like It was one of the first plays to be presented at the original Globe Theatre in London. TWU’s production pays homage to the original through Elizabethan costume designs by Joshua Scott Hancock of Kilgore, and a Globe-inspired set by Jaymes Gregory. Director Scudday redefines scenic concepts to include actors portraying forest animals, with original masks created by Samuel Brian Beck of Fort Worth and choreography by Jeff Kaplan.

Many of Shakespeare’s funniest and best-known characters also appear, including Touchstone, the mischievous clown (Jason Morgan of Irving); Audrey, the naïve country ingénue (Brista-Elise Hurst of Kilgore); and Jacques, the hilariously brooding Lord of Duke Senior’s court (TWU drama faculty member Dr. Tony Medlin). Other cast members are Shelly Baranowski of New Braunfels; Casey Bellows of Rio Vista; Beau Bratcher of Whitesboro; Chrissy English of Jourdanton; Joshua Scott Hancock of Kilgore; Lorenzo Hernandez of El Paso; Amanda Kelts of Alberta, Canada; Audra McHenry and Travis Ross, both of Jacksonville; Reginald Peters of Dangerfield; Dustin C. Remmert of Houston; Camille Thompson and Megan Welch, both of Fort Worth; Jeff Winkler of Alma, Kan.; and Jodi York of Denton.

Lighting design for the production is by Dayna Morgan, with sound design by Jeff Winkler and period-based properties designed by Alison Trapp. The production crew includes assistant director Reginald Peters; stage manager Meredith Thomas of Grand Prairie; and assistant stage manager Ruth Engel of Keene.

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For Further Information Contact:

Karen Treat
Senior Copywriter
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: ktreat@twu.edu