Illinois State University ISU ReD: Research and eData Illinois Shakespeare Festival Fine Arts Summer 2002 2002 Illinois Shakespeare Festival Program School of Theatre and Dance Illinois State University Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/isf Part of the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons Recommended Citation School of Theatre and Dance, "2002 Illinois Shakespeare Festival Program" (2002). Illinois Shakespeare Festival. 28. https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/isf/28 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Fine Arts at ISU ReD: Research and eData. It has been accepted for inclusion in Illinois Shakespeare Festival by an authorized administrator of ISU ReD: Research and eData. For more information, please contact [email protected]. I LLINOIS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL Folio A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM ROMEO & JULIET THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 2 5rhSeason THE THEATRE AT EWING MANOR - 2002 "A bed, a bed, my kingdom for a bed ... " You'll fall in love with our beds and a whole lot more at the Hampton Inn Bloomington-Normal. Guaranteed. With complimentary breakfast buffet, free local calls, an outdoor heated pool, and your choice of smoking or non-smoking rooms, plus the opportunity to earn Hilton HHonors hotel points and airline miles. All backed by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If you're not completely satisfied, your night's stay is free. Hampton Inn Bloomington/Normal 604 ½ I.A.A. Drive Bloomington, IL 61701 The closest hotel to the Festival. For reservations call (309) 662-2800 or 1-800 HAMPTON For cellular reservations, call #INN. ~~ ~ 6 o/ ILLINOIS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 20oi A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE JUNE 19, 21, 27, 29, JULY 5, 7, 13, 16, 20, 21, 26, 27, AUGUST I, 4, 7, IO czSo ROMEO AND JULIET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE JUNE 20, 22, 28, 30, JULY 6, 14, 18, 20, 24, 28, 31, AUGUST 2, 8 czSo THE MERCHANT OF VENICE BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE JULY II, 12, 17, 19, 23, 25, 27, 30, AUGUST 3, 6, 9 EWING MANOR, BLOOMINGTON • WESTHOFF THEATRE, NORMAL CALVIN MAcLEAN FERGUS G. CURRIE Artistic Director Managing Director The 2002 Illinois Shakespeare Festival is made possible in part by funding and support pro­ vided by the Illinois State University Foundation; the Illinois Arts Council - a state agency; the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Bureau of Tourism; State Farm Companies Foundation; McLean County Arts Center; Philip Morris; Harmon Arts Grant; and Illinois State University, the College ofFine Arts, the Department of Theatre; as well as through the generous contributions of Illinois Shakespeare Society members. 3 Greetings: As Governor of the State of Illinois, I am pleased to welcome you to the 25th season of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. From the actors and actresses who bring to life the Bard's timeless characters, to the Madrigal Singers who serenade visitors on the lawn, the Shakespeare Festival showcases a marvelous array of artistic talent. I applaud the hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence of everyone involved in the event. As Governor of the State of Illinois, best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable evening. Sincerely, George H. Ryan Governor ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY Illinois State University takes immense pride in the success of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival which embodies so well the distinctiveness and excellence found at this University. The leadership of our distin­ guished faculty is undeniable. It's through their work our students arrive prepared to perform beside professional actors ... and the results are stellar. Off stage the Festival management needs are met by students in a nationally unique program combining an MBA degree with an Arts Management emphasis. Success is also evident in the stunning new home of the Festival. .. a collaboration between private donors, the Illinois State University Foundation and Illinois State University. We all have much to celebrate and enjoy. The entire University Family joins me in sending congratula­ tions to all on this 25th anniversary season. Vic Boschini President 4 A message from the Artistic Director Welcome, Twenty-five years is a long time. Much has happened in that time. A long-held dream was accomplished. Many good friends and many talented people have been here for a time, and then moved on. Some have returned, and some cannot. By now, some who were children when the Festival began are returning to the Festival as adults. Some even bring their own children. Those of us who have been here for a while can measure our own maturity as the summers fly by. And what a privilege it is to measure whatever wisdom living brings upon the extraordinary wisdom of Shakespeare. Twenty-two summers ago, when I first came to Bloomington-Normal to perform in this Festival, I had no idea of its impact on my life. In that summer of 1980 the Festival first produced A Midsummer Nights Dream and Romeo and Juliet. We have produced these plays a couple of times since then, but not in the same summer. In 1980 I remember with great pleasure how well they fit together in repertory: a wonderful Dream one night, and sublime, passionate tragedy the next. On one night there was unparalleled joy and inspired silliness, and on the next desperate longing and astonishingly beautiful words. That summer made its mark on me, and this twenty­ fifth season partly tries to recall the Festivals early years. Karen Kessler, who directed The Taming of the Shrew, (noted for some of its own joy and inspired silliness) returns to direct Midsummer. I am excited to direct Romeo and Juliet. Our third offering is a venture into some new territory. While we have produced The Merchant of Venice once before, the 2002 production will be directed by noted Israeli playwright and director Joshua Sobol. Our twenty-fifth season seemed to be the perfect time to bring this internationally celebrated author and director to us. Welcome to our 25th season. - Cal MacLean THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON OF THE ILLINOIS SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL is dedicated to SENATOR JOHN MAITLAND years served: 1979 - present Biography: Grain farmer; born July 29, 1936, in Normal; attended Illinois State University; served in U.S. Marine Corps; married (wife, Joanne Sieg), has three children and six grandchildren. Thank you for your dedicated years of service to the State ofIllinois and to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. 5 WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S idsYmmer Ni~lit'S lire<Am Demetrius with the love juice while he goes to SYNOPSIS do the same to Titania. While awaiting his wedding day to Hippolyta, Queen Lysander and Hermia have become lost in of the Amazons, Duke Theseus of Athens hears a complaint the forest and find a place to sleep. Mistaking from Egeus. Egeus' daughter, Hermia, does not wish to Lysander for Demetrius, Puck uses the flower. marry Demetrius - preferring instead to marry her love Helena stumbles upon Lysander, waking him Lysander. Egeus demands that Theseus enforce the law of and he finds himself madly in love with her. the city, that if a woman refuses to wed the man of her Helena assumes he is teasing her and runs off father's choosing she must either enter a convent or be put after Demetrius. Lysander pursues her, leaving to death. Theseus reluctantly agrees to uphold the law, but Hermia sleeping alone. gives Hermia time to consider. In another part of the forest, the tragedi­ Hermia and Lysander defy the law and flee Athens. ans meet to rehearse their play. In the midst of While planning their escape they tell Helena of their plan. playing Pyramus, Bottom is turned into an ass Helena laments the loss of her suitor by the mischievous Puck. His terrified fellow Demetrius to Hermia and privately actors run off, leaving Bottom to be discovered decides to tell him of the lovers' by the sleeping Titania, who immediately falls plan, hoping to gain his grati­ in love with him. tude and regain his love. Discovering Puck's mistake, Oberon In the meantime, a orders him to fix the problem. Puck applies the group of Athenian crafts­ juice of the flower to the eyes of the sleeping men meet to plan their Demetrius who awakes and sees Helena, next theatrical produc- falling completely in love with her leaving tion. They agree to Helena with two suitors and Hermia with meet in a clearing in none. the woods the fol­ The lovers chase through the forest, trying lowing night for to make sense of what is happening to them. their first rehearsal. With some assistance from Puck they all even­ In the forest, the tually fall asleep and Puck applies the antidote Fairy Queen, Titania, and to Lysander. Oberon removes the spell from the Fairy King, Oberon are Titania and they reconcile, leaving a restored tussling over the possession Bottom asleep and the sleeping lovers to be of an orphaned changeling discovered at dawn by a hunting party led by boy. Oberon sends his mis­ Hippolyta and Theseus. chievous henchman, Puck, Egeus once again demands that Theseus to find a certain flower, the enforce the law but Theseus instead invites the juice of which causes the now happily paired couples to be married person anointed to fall along with he and Hippolyta that evening. completely in love with the Bottom awakes and tries to figure out next living creature spied. what has happened to him. Having no expla­ While relishing the nations but finding it strange and wonderful, thought of using this he hurries back to Athens to rejoin his compa­ flower on Titania, Oberon triots. observes Helena's pur­ The newly wedded couples - after being suit of Demetrius entertained by the Mechanicals' unique rendi­ through the woods.