The Winter's Tale: Director's Notes
By Leigh SmileyA winter's tale is a story told by a warm fire on the coldest, darkest and most unbearable days of the year. It is a tale that breathes life into the imagination and into the ember of hope that will become the fire of spring and summer. In Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, King Leontes' son, Mamillius, whispers a tale of "sprites and goblins" in his mother's ear as if acknowledging the madness he has witnessed in his father's behavior and the uncanny knowing that children possess. Imagine, if you will, that his tale, like Shakespeare's play, is full of danger, passion, betrayal, jealousy, untimely death, bear attacks, shipwrecks, young lovers, disguises, thievery, clowning, wonder and the miraculous transcendence of death. Read the full program notes...
Puppetry and Performance
The cast of The Winter's Tale includes custom-made puppets as integral characters, with student performers as puppeteers. In some cases, students helped create the puppets they are animating. Theatre artist Aaron Cromie designed the masks and puppets and conducted a Department of Theatre workshop at which many of the onstage creations first came to life. See the pictures by Gene Carl Feldman...In Rehearsal
Auditions for The Winter's Tale were held in September and rehearsals began in January. As with all Department of Theatre productions, the cast includes theatre performance majors as well as actors from outside the department. See the pictures by Gene Carl Feldman...Chat & Chew, March 2
The Center hosts informal "Chat & Chew" events before select performances to give students the chance to enjoy a light dinner of pizza and soda as they speak with artists about that night's event. Get more information on Chat & Chew...The View from Backstage
Members of the company share some insights. Read the blog...Leigh Smiley on Magic, Time, Forgiveness – and Puppets
Watch the video on YouTube. Click here to view...
