BSC College Theatre to present Shakespeare’s supernatural tale "The Tempest"

For Immediate Release
Nov. 2, 2017

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The theatre department at Birmingham-Southern College is shaking up William Shakespeare’s The Tempest by changing the gender of one of the play’s classic characters.

Scene for The Tempest In the production, which will run Nov. 16-19, the leading role of Prospero will be played by guest artist and BSC adjunct faculty member and alumna Rebecca Kornegay Yeager ’06 of Pinson, Ala., who is also serving as voice and movement coach for the production. Two other roles traditionally played by men will be played by women.

The Tempest is the story of Prospero, Prospero’s daughter, Miranda, and Ferdinand, who fall in love. Prospero struggles to take the high road in her journey to reclaim her rightful position of authority after a devastating betrayal by her brother, Antonio.

“The play is a rich banquet of vivid color, playful prose, and poetic magic,” said BSC Professor of Theatre Dr. Alan Litsey, who is directing the production. “Shakespeare, we know, is a word sorcerer—many scholars believe this is the final full-length play that the Bard wrote solo.”

Performances will be held in the College Theatre/Mainstage on Nov. 16, 17, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for the general public; $10 for students regardless of the school they attend. Reserve tickets by calling the Theatre Box Office at (205) 226-4780; Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 1-4:45 p.m. during ticket sales. The 90-minute production has no intermission.

Litsey will present a free, public talk titled “Betrayers, Magic, and Boundary-Spanning in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest” on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m. in the College Theatre/Mainstage. Participants in the Provost’s Forum will include Yeager; BSC Professor of History Dr. Matt Levey; BSC Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Desireé Melonas; and company members. The cast will perform selected scenes from the show.

In addition, the theatre program is hosting an opening night dinner on Thursday, Nov. 16, in the Executive Dining Room on the third floor of the Norton Center; Levey and Melonas will discuss “The Storm over The Tempest.” Dinner tickets are $20 with limited seating on a first-reserved and first-served basis, and the event is open to the public.

The Tempest Company

Abby Akard - Wardrobe/Dresser
Tania Alvarez - Spirit of the Island
Isabelle Alday - Francisco
Cosette Bolt - Wardrobe/Dresser
Aislinn Cain - ASM/Props
Thi Denerson - Wardrobe/Dresser
Emily Donahue - Courtier to Alonso
Catherine Duncan - Light Crew Head
Charley Freeman - Publicity Manager
Charity Furr - Spirit of the Island
Tyler Graham - Gonzalo
Brittanie Harrow - Lift/Revolve Operator
Abby Henken - Miranda
Shannon Hickey - Ferdinand
Colton Hinderliter - Trinculo/Shipmaster/Choreographer
Brianne Kendall - Spirit of the Island
Ryan Key - Alonso
Caroline Kirkconnell - Costume Manager
Van Looney - Light Board Operator
Annie Norris -Wigs/Makeup/Hair
Elena Martin - Props Crew Dead
Brennan Martignoni - Antonio
Jackson Masse - Stage Manager
Sarah Mayhew - Spirit of the Island
Sarah Anna McCarthy - Wardrobe/Dresser
Rachel McKelvy - Sound Technician
Colin Neel - Associate Stage Manager_ASM/Props
Luke Otwell - Stephano
Megan Pecot - Ariel
Abbie Riggs - Mariner/Adrian
Charlyn Riggs - Light Board Operator
Charlotte Schorle - Caliban/Makeup Designer
Camp Shelor - Light Crew Tech/Deck Electrician
Rose Simpson - Wardrobe/Dresser
Katie Taylor - ASM/Props
Kazia Taylor - ASM/Props
Ann Thomas - Boatswain/Spirit of the Island
Gracie Vaughn - ASM/Props
Will Vogel - Sebastian
Rebecca Yeager - Prospero