"Winter's Tale"

William Shakespeare’s romantic drama The Winter’s Tale will be presented on the Lane Community College main stage for three weekends in October, with a discount preview on Thursday, October 2, and opening night gala on Friday, October 3.

The Winter’s Tale is an adult fantasy. An austere, royal court and a wild, pastoral land are the two, contrasting backdrops to a story that is replete with sexual jealousy, blind revenge, children missing or dead, mistaken identities, love, and a hungry bear.

Guest artist Marc Siegel, who co-directs the Dance Theatre of Oregon, is choreographer for The Winter’s Tale, and plays the role of Autolycus the rogue. "He’s a natural for the role," says director Judith "Sparky" Roberts: "It’s a Shakespearean version of the title role in Scapino, which he played years ago as our guest artist." His daughter Kyra, age 9, will play the ill-fated Prince Mamillius.

Artistry and music will enhance the production: Playwright William Shakespeare will be present. Eugene’s Saturday Market will appear in a filmed interlude. Three siblings - Miriam, Sam and Missy Champer - play live music (and roles). Some of the costumes were inspired by 1920s Parisian designer Erté.

Sicilian King Leontes is consumed with Othello-like jealousy, believing that his wife, Queen Hermione, is unfaithful with his best friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia. Though the sacred Oracle proclaims the queen’s innocence, Leontes pronounces a death sentence on Hermione and her newborn baby. A royal counselor, ordered to remove the infant, abandons it in a storm. Leontes repents his irrational cruelty, too late. The action jumps to agrarian Bohemia, where the shepherds celebrate a summertime sheep-shearing festival. In a story full of colorful characters, the two kingdoms eventually reconcile in a scene of magical wonderment.

Heading the cast in The Winter’s Tale are: Kyle Cooper (King Leontes), Michelle Nordella (Queen Hermione), Chas King (King Polixenes), Sarah Gott (Paulina),Tony Schmidt (Camillo), Chip Sherman (Dion), Jonathan Heritage (Cleomenes), Adam Leonard (Shepherd), Vincent Owens (Prince Florizel) and Barbie Wu (Perdita).

During the last 15 years at Lane, Shakespeare has grown in popularity. The college offers numerous Shakespearean performances throughout the year. Roberts says, "Some literature and drama students are completely hooked. In the 400-year-old masterworks of the Bard, they discover a relevance that transcends time."

Cast

Crew

Special Thanks

Dialect Coach

Joe Cronin

Masks

Trunkful of Faces (Jeff & Tamora Lake)

Photography

Michael Brinkerhoff

Videography

Michael Maruska

Poster Design

Shirley Nagy, Deidre Goudie

Printing

Lane Community College Printing & Graphics

We give our thanks to Suzanne Cushing, the Eugene Opera, the Eugene Saturday Market, Shiloh Flitcroft, Ellie Giese, Mitch Hider, Honeystone Candles, Blodgett, Oregon, Molly Niffen, Wade Skinner, Patrick Torelle, Fox Hollow Fiber & The Black Sheep Gatherers: Wayne and Rollie Thompson and Zeus the Sheep, Jerry Williams, Joel and Jacquie McClure, and Ray and Drusilla Winters for their help and support in this production.