MARCH 1-7, 2018 FACEBOOK.COM/WHATZUPFTWAYNE // WWW.WHATZUP.COM --------------------------Feature • Hamlet ------------------------ Thy Name Is Woman By Steve Penhollow And she played Gertrude, the wife of the character she is now playing, in a 1999 Civic Theatre produc- SPRING There are many reasons why a theater director tion of Hamlet. might want to produce an all-female production of “It’s pretty exciting,” Black said of playing Clau- William Shakespeare’s Hamlet in 2018. dius. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to climb But Thom Hofrichter’s reasons are entirely practi- into the character because he’s such an evil guy. He’s cal. such a slime bucket, such a politician.” SAXOPHONESALE The interest in Shakespeare among female actors Playing Claudius has helped Black understand the hereabouts is inversely proportionate to the number play better. of roles avail- “It is such a able. Translation: wonderful and Too many great interesting thing female actors, not to be coming at it UNBELIEVABLE PRICES ON SAXOPHONES! enough female from such a dif- roles. ferent angle,” she One solution said. “A much is to be less strict more acrimoni- about gender ous angle. specificity. “From a pure- UP Hofrich- ly selfish stand- ter, the minis- point,’ Black said, ter of drama at “it’s such a joy TO % First Presbyte- to have the op- rian Theater, said portunity to put the meaning of my arms around a Shakespeare’s character as large OFF work doesn’t re- and well fleshed- ally change when out as this role SELECT SAXOPHONES a director plays is.” 60 fast and loose An all-female with time, gender, cast exudes a nationality or set- different energy ting. than a mixed cast, “If you put Black said. him in Elizabe- The challenge than times versus for this particular putting him in the all-female cast, 1920s,” he said, she said, has been FINANCING “it really doesn’t to strike a balance matter. The wis- between hyper- AVAILABLE dom and the hu- masculine and manity is there. HAMLET hyper-feminine ASK FOR DETAILS! “I have seen [pro- 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 1-3 interpretations of the ductions of Hamlet] & Friday-Saturday, March 9-10 characters. where they whip out 2 p.m. Sunday, March 11 There are a number guns,” he said. “It 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 16-17 of lines that have sud- comes down to how denly become prob- humans behave and First Presbyterian Theater lematic in this context Shakespeare does that 300 W. Wayne St., Fort Wayne – “Frailty, they name is better than anyone else. $10-$20, 260-426-7421 ext. 121 woman,” “’Tis unmanly Why shouldn’t women grief,” etc. – and the ac- have a chance to play some of the greatest roles ever tors have to figure out how to deliver them. written?” One of the singular pleasures of being involved in Why not, indeed? this production, Black said, is that every actor brings $ In fact, there is a rich tradition in theater of wom- intense passion to her role and to Shakespeare’s work 495 en playing the lead role in this play. in general. STUDENT SAXOPHONESAS LOW AS Sarah Bernhardt, a French actress of the late 19th “I would say that every single person who comes and early 20th centuries, who was as famous in her to rehearsal every night is invested in making it as time as Helen Mirren is in ours, played Hamlet on good as they can make it,” she said. “You always re- stage and screen. ally want that.” “I cannot see Hamlet as a man,’’ the New York It was a natural affinity for Shakespeare’s words Times quoted Bernhardt as saying. “The things he that convinced Hofricher to cast Halee Bandt as Ham- says, his impulses, his actions, entirely indicate to me let. that he was a woman.’’ “I never thought I would get an opportunity to Local actress Kate Black, who may be Fort play this role,” Bandt said. “I do love Shakespeare. I 3710 Hobson Road MynettMusic.com Wayne’s Helen Mirren, is playing Claudius in the up- have loved the entirety of his work since I was a teen- coming First Presbyterian Theater production. ager. I was one of those nerdy kids who liked it when Fort Wayne, IN (260) 482-5533 Black is no stranger to gender-switch Shake- no one else did.” speare. She played the title role of Othello in a First Presbyterian Theater production of that play in 2000. Continued on page 6 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.whatzup.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- March 1, 2018 whatzup Volume 22, Number 28 he spring and summer concert season is starting to shape up. We’ve had a peek at the line-ups for Foellinger Theatre (excluding the Pacific Coast Concert shows, which are a bit delayed this year) Tand Clyde Theatre (which were announced just as we were going to press this week), and it looks like there will be plenty to keep music fans busy. If you want to stay in the know about upcoming shows, you’ve come to the right place. And if you’re reading this on whatzup.com, you’re in an even better place, as our online calendars extend much further into the future than what’s possible in a print publication. Either way, keep checking in, as the concert announcements are rushing in like nudists in a snowstorm. Meanwhile in the here and now, we bring you the last big show of winter, Down the Line, the Embassy Theatre fundraiser featuring local talent playing legendary rock n’ rollers. Rachel Stephens’ story is on page 4. And on page 2, Steve Penhollow previews First Presbyterian Theater’s all-fe- Saturday, Apr. 14 • 8pm • $25-$30 male production of Hamlet. We also highlight some local talent this week: actor Brock Ireland, currently starring in the Civic’s La Cage aux Folles BIGG ROBB March 3 | 7pm (page 5) and artist Michael Collins (page 6). There’s plenty to see and do, so let’s get to it. All we ask in return for keep- Down the Line 12 LEGENDS BY LOCA L S ing you well informed tis that you remember to tell ’em whatzup sent you. Todd Harrold/Nick Bobay ..... Stevie Wonder March On, Comrade ......................Phil Collins The Be Colony ................................Radiohead inside the issue Unlikely Alibi ................................... The Police Pink Droyd ..................................................Styx • features ROAD NOTEZ .................................. 12 FLIX ................................................. 15 Black Panther HAMLET ........................................................2 90 Years of Film Thy Name Is Woman SCREENTIME ................................. 15 Will Black Panther Set New Trend? A nostalgic film series DOWN THE LINE ..........................................4 celebrating the Embassy’s Locals Share the Spotlight CURTAIN CALL ................................ 18 I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change historic past BROCK IRELAND .........................................5 Audience participation musical performance The Mettle to ‘Let It Go’ on the theater’s historic Grande Page pipe MICHAEL COLLINS ......................................6 • calendars Saturday, April 28 • 8pm • $20-$80 organ precedes each show! Spontaneous Inspiration Frozen (2013) ........................................May 13 Wings (1927) ........................................June 17 LIVE MUSIC & COMEDY ....................8 TORONZO CANNON Independence Day (1996) .................. July 13 • columns & reviews MUSIC/ON THE ROAD .................... 12 Tuesday, May 22 • 7:30pm • $35-$75 Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) ........Aug. 24 ROAD TRIPZ ................................... 14 GIVE HEAR ‘SOUND OF LOVE’ The Sound of Music (1965) ...............Sept. 21 SPINS ................................................7 THINGS TO DO ............................... 17 BENEFIT CONCERT The Sweetwater All Stars, Niklas Sorensen, Rick STAGE & DANCE ............................ 18 March 11 | 3pm Springfield ART & ARTIFACTS .......................... 19 BACKTRACKS ...................................7 MANDY HARVEY Primal Scream, Screamadelica (1991) Cover by Brandon Jordan IN THE MOOD OUT AND ABOUT ...............................8 Musicians Step Up for Farias Family March On, Comrade photo on page 4 by Jen Hancock ON SALE NOW Rockin’ Road to Dublin ....................March 20 Earth, Wind & Fire .............................March 21 Forever Young ...................................March 31 Wednesday, May 23 • 8pm • $20-$35 NABBA Championships 2018 ............... Apr. 6 BSU Showcase/Canadian Brass ............ Apr. 8 Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story ..........Apr. 11 MARCUS KING BAND Marquee Gala w/Mandy Gonzalez ......May 4 90th Anniversary Celebration ............May 19 GO TO OUR WEBSITE FOR TICKET INFO & MORE ALL SHOWS ALL AGES Embassy Theatre 125 W. Jefferson Blvd. Fort Wayne, Indiana ticketmaster.com March 1, 2018 ------------------------------------------------------------------ www.whatzup.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Todd Harrold Nick Bobay Duo; The Be Colony 103.3 The Fort .....................................................................11 Arena Dinner Theatre / The Glass Menagerie .....................19 C2G Music Hall................................................................. 3, 15 Calhoun Street Soups, Salads, Spirits ...............................9 Columbia Street West ............................................................9 The CW ....................................................................................15 Dupont Bar & Grill / JD Lounge..............................................8 Embassy Theatre .....................................................................3