PHOTO BY BRIELLE AGUAYO
Cast members of “Cymbeline” rehearse their final scene of the play, while standing on platforms to also practice their blocking.
Undergraduate students are performing “Cymbeline” by William Shakespeare in the Black Box Theatre in the Don Taft University Center from Feb. 21-23. It is a production of the Department of Communication, Media and The Arts.
“Cymbeline” is a tragic comedy following Imogen, the daughter of the king, as she navigates love, betrayal and mistaken identity.
Alex Alvarez, assistant professor in DCMA, said he invited Nicole Stodard, adjunct professor in DCMA and producing artistic director of Thinking Cap Theatre, to be the “Cymbeline” production’s director because he knows she would have her own take on directing.
“So I knew that we wanted to do a classical piece,” Alvarez said. “I knew that Nicole would not be interested in just rehashing another classical play, but to bring her own flavor to it, to discover it with the cast and to discover it on her own when reading it and adapting it.”
Alvarez invited Stodard because he knew she had an interesting kind of visual eye, palette and aesthetic in directing.
“I am excited for the students to experience working with Nicole, designers, cast members [and] crew,” Alvarez said. “Nicole has something special to offer our students here at NSU.”
Alvarez believes it is important for students to understand how to work with other theatre directors.
“I think the students are learning how to work with a professional artistic director who has a very specific way of working,” Alvarez said. “The designers are in the room more frequently than other plays in the past because visual aesthetic is something that’s really interesting to her. If something shifts in rehearsals, then the designers are there in time to see it shift and are part of the discussion of what then needs to change.”
Alvarez said directors have certain choices, ideas and questions brought to the rehearsal process as it shows students a director is not there to just give them answers on how to act.
“It’s just fun to work with other people and see how other people work. It gives our students a way to just learn how different directors work and their vision,” said Reagan Singer, junior elementary education major and a set designer for “Cymbeline.”
The student cast and crew have been working on the “Cymbeline” production since the start of this winter semester.
“We had auditions at the end of the second week, took a week off and then started rehearsal,” Alvarez said.
Singer had a positive experience working on the “Cymbeline” production.
“So far the creative process has been great,” Singer said. “I’ve loved working with our director.”
Alvarez said he also enjoyed producing the play, and believes Stodard’s vision of it will bring positivity and excitement.
“There’s going to be music in it. There’s going to be some movement in it. It is going to be a good time,” Alvarez said.
For more information:
“Cymbeline” will be performed at the Black Box Theatre on Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.
Admission is free.
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