For the 12th annual production of Shakespeare Under the Stars, Moraine Valley Community College’s Academic Theater Department will take the audience to an island where magical things occur as fate unfolds.
Considered William Shakespeare’s last work, “The Tempest” will be staged July 30 to Aug. 1 on campus, 9000 W. College Parkway in Palos Hills.
Performances are free and start at 7 p.m. nightly. Attendees are invited to bring picnic dinners, blankets and lawn chairs.
While past plays have been staged near the Gateway Arch, “The Tempest” will be presented a bit away from the arch to take advantage of nature for a fairytale feeling with lighting and special effects, from the opening scene of a tempest (or storm) to the wizard-like powers of Prospero, the lead character played by Dan Scott of Des Plaines.
“We’ll use lush trees and foliage to get the feel for what the place was like and also give everyone more shade,” said Craig Rosen, director, professor of theater and the Academic Theater program coordinator.
He and Scott were partly drawn to “The Tempest” for its autobiographical nature.
“Shakespeare based the character of Prospero on himself,” Rosen said. “We’re playing with that a bit in trying to make Prospero physically reminiscent of Shakespeare so there are times where people might look up and think ‘Ah, that’s Shakespeare.'”
“The Tempest” reflects history of the 1600s, including a violent storm that wreaked havoc on ships sailing from Plymouth to Virginia. It finds Prospero and his daughter Miranda having survived a shipwreck and, 12 years later, his powers creating a storm to lure those who betrayed him, his brother Antonio and King Alonso of Naples. She falls in love with Alonso’s son Ferdinand.
One of Shakespeare’s shortest works, “The Tempest” is set in real time. Moraine Valley’s production is two hours with an intermission.
“We’re doing a pretty faithful telling of the story,” Rosen said.
While men played female roles and vice versa in last year’s production of “Measure for Measure,” only a few reverse gender roles are featured in this cast, he said, simply based on the best actors for each role.
Diana Zambuto of Palos Hills plays Antonio, or Antonia; Jenn Reynolds of Chicago plays Alonso, or Alonsa; and Shawna Schofield of Orland Park plays as Ariel, or Ariella, Prospero’s mischievous sidekick.
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The cast of community members, current students, alumni and faculty also includes Stephanie Lewis of Chicago as Miranda; Maciej Tylka of Burbank as Ferdinand; RJ Cecott of Hickory Hills as Sebastian; Alex Lenkiewicz of Chicago Ridge as Trinculo; John Reidy of Palos Park as Adrian; Jim LaPietra of Berwyn as Stephano; Jack Higgins of Chicago as Gonzalo; Sammy Burnett of Chicago as Francisco; Tim McCarthy of Chicago as Caliban; and Michael Granat of Worth as the Boatswain.
The production features all original recorded music by Joe Griffin.
“It’s an informal atmosphere, a whole night out and a family or friend event with great theater and it’s free,” Rosen said. “It’s a way to see what’s going on the community and be part of where you live.”
Vickie Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
“Tempest”
What: Moraine Valley Community College’s Academic Theater Department’s 12th annual Shakespeare Under the Stars
When: 7 p.m. July 30, July 31 and Aug. 1
Where: Outdoors near the Gateway Arch on campus, 9000 W. College Parkway in Palos Hills.
Admission: Free.
Information: 708-974-5500 or morainevalley.edu/fpac.
Etc.: Restrooms and vending machines located nearby inside the Fine and Performing Arts Center.
Outdoor theater elsewhere
*Theatre-Hikes, a Chicago-based group of Actors Equity Association actors, will stage outdoor productions in the historic Pullman neighborhood on Chicago’s far South Side.
“Clue the Musical” will be at 1 p.m. July 25 and 26.
“In This Final Century,” a new work based on “War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells, will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 and 10 a.m. Oct. 24.
*Hikes meet at Hotel Florence at 111th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for kids.
For information, call 872-202-4963 or go to theatre-hikes.org.
*The Village of Palos Park’s Recreation Department will host “Theatre at the Metra Depot” at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Metra Depot at 123rd Street and 82nd Avenue.
Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs. The lot will open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 per vehicle. Concessions will be available.
For information, call 708-671-3700 or go to palospark.org.