Madison Harris Will Play Celia in Production of “As You Like It”
In March 2014, Morrie Piersol, ARGS Theatre Department will be showing As You Like It by William Shakespeare. The show will open on March 7 at 7 p.m. It will also be showing on March 8, 14, and 15 at 7 p.m. There will be a Sunday Matinee on March 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. The cost for tickets will be five dollars for students and seniors and ten dollars for adults.
This show was chosen by Morrie Piersol, the Theatre Arts Director, because ARGS has only done one Shakespeare play throughout school history. They are trying to mix things up and do different plays, such as comedies. For auditions, the cast started out by reading monologues (male and female) from major roles. There were two sets of callbacks at which the students read again. The cast has been getting Shakespeare training through looking at different websites.
As You Like It is about the Villainous Frederick who usurps his older brother’s Dukedom and banishes him from his lands. To escape death, the banished Duke’s daughter Rosalind, her cousin Celia, and one of Shakespeare’s funniest fools flee into the woods. There, in the bewitching Forest of Arden, they discover shepherds and aristocrats; country folk and lovers; and, ultimately, life, love, joy, and freedom. Shakespeare’s glorious and wise comedy reminds us of everything it is to be alive.
The audience should expect a fun night with an interesting set of stories, and an understandable Shakespeare.
Cast:
Orlando – Eric Pastore (Chesterfield)
Oliver – Daniel Kunkel (Chesterfield)
Rosalind – Grace Mincks (Colonial Heights)
Celia – Madison Harris (Richmond)
Touchstone – Brendon Watts (Chesterfield)
Jacques – Tyler Clarke-Williams (Richmond)
Duke Frederick/Duke Senior – DeMauray McKiever (Chesterfield)
Corin – Jo Rozycki (Richmond)
Silvius – Guru Bhutta (Chesterfield)
Phoebe – Sidney Rogers (Chesterfield)
Audrey – Ellie Whelan (Prince George)
Charles/William – Will Watkins (Surry)
Hymen – Garvey Dobbins (Richmond)
Adam/Mar-text – Jack Foreman (Richmond)
Dennis/Lord – Jordan Sheehan (Chesterfield)
LeBeau/deBois – Ty Boone (Petersburg)
Amiens – Benjamin Wilson (Chesterfield)
Attendants: Madeline May (Richmond), Cheyenne
Nicholas (Chesterfield)
Credits are given to playwright William Shakespeare,
director of play and Theatre Arts Instructor
Morrie Piersol, scenic/set design by Emily Burke
(Richmond), original music written by Denton
Holder (Chesterfield), lighting design by Kelsey
Cappiello (ARGS class of 2010), costume design
by Kym Mincks (mother of Grace Mincks),
and props by Melanie Frederick (mother of Adam,
class of 2013).
