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Director Robyn Neal knows that, when it comes to doing Shakespeare well, time is as important as talent. After auditions on September 14, four months before opening, she spent weeks meeting one-on-one with each of her actors to discuss characterization and read through the text to lay the foundation before blocking rehearsals began September 25th. Robyn’s wealth of performing experience makes her insights as a director particularly valuable and rich. She won a Pelican Award for last season’s portrayal of Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret and played a memorable Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter. Her Shakespearean roles include Titania in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth and Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Robyn’s last directing assignment at PBTS was Painting Churches, an intimate family drama with a cast of three. Now she’s juggling more than twenty! Playing the noble Moor is Larry Knight, who won last season’s Best Actor Pelican award for Julius X. Jessica Palombo, recently seen in Home on Deranged, is his naïve bride Desdemona. Derek Coghlan, whose one-man shows never fail to fill the house at Players, plays Iago, surely one of Shakespeare’s most complex and mesmerizing villains. With Tracy Olin as Emilia, Garry Burgoyne as Cassio, and Joe Walz as Roderigo, the cast abounds with performers who have done outstanding work on our stages in the past few seasons. Steve McMahon, Larry Fairall, Lisa LaGrande, Matt Shuman, Tom Trauger, Ric Duncan, Morgan Williams, Sam Willis, Anthony Hodge, Tyler Ross, Laura Crolla, Rebecca Rafidi, Damon Clark, Daniel and Jacob Goodling and Andy Ratliff bring unusual depth to the supporting roles. Holly Gutshall is assisting the Director and Kendra McNatt is Stage Manager.
Some scholars see compelling and fast-moving Othello as Shakespeare’s best tragedy, a mature master working at the very top of his form. Theatre-goers with very long memories may recall Emmy winner Michael Emerson making his Jacksonville debut as Iago in a production at UNF in 1986, but Players by the Sea is– proudly - the first Jacksonville community theatre to tackle it. Plan on a Shakespearean New Year January 16-31. Players by the Sea is located at 106 Sixth Street North in Jacksonville Beach. For reservations call 249 0289. Othello January 16,17,22,23,24,,29,30,31 at 8:00pm18,25 at 2:00pm Call 249-0289 for reservations or go online for reservations at http://www.playersbythesea.org/MakeReservations.htm |
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