by Jayme Foltz | Apr 11, 2022 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Soft pop and the whistle of coffee machines fill the air as students bustle through the Starbucks entrance. Baristas are hard at work making beverages for caffeine-hungry students, while others flock together to catch up with their friends between classes. In the far corner seated in two leather chairs are students, Jakholbi Murry and Shelby Talbert, casually chatting. I sought out their expertise on a subject they should be well informed about. Shakespeare. Is he still relevant in modern culture? “Yeah!” The duo exclaimed after stealing a glance at one another. The duo has been preparing for months for the performance of Romeo and Juliet, in which they play the role of the tragic couple. “I think his stories keep getting pulled over and over because they resonate,” Talbert said. “They continue to talk about topics that are important to us and there are always new ways to reinvent them.” Shakespeare was known and still could be considered the greatest dramatist of all time. The poet wrote over 150 poems and more than 30 plays that span a range of genres including comedy, romance, and tragedy. He continues to inspire creatives with his legacy. Such as Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” inspired by Romeo and Juliet and The Lumineers’ “Ophelia” inspired by Hamlet. Disney’s The Lion King is also paralleled by Hamlet and the classic rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. “A lot of places see Shakespeare as the pinnacle of theatre, like, that’s what good theatre looks like,” Murry said. “I think it’s why so many places, all across...
by Jamin Craig | Oct 17, 2014 | News Slider
Two infamous gangs are squaring off on Collins Alumni Auditorium stage on Halloween weekend. No, these gangs are not real, but they are part of the iconic musical phenomenon known at West Side Story. The musical, inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, tells the story of two star-crossed lovers,Tony and Maria. The two meet at a dance and immediately fall in love, but they quickly realize they have to keep their relationship secret since they come from rivaling groups of people. The setting is the West Side of New York City. The two groups are gangs; the Sharks, a feisty group of Puerto Ricans that are friends of Maria, and the Jets, the tough group of New Yorkers that Tony aligns himself with. Mike Fernandez, the dean of the new College of Entertainment & the Arts, is directing the show. He said that West Side Story presents new opportunities for those involved. “We were really aching for a strong, gritty musical that had some great dance to it,” Fernandez said. “We certainly had done shows before that explored dance, but we really wanted something that would push us in terms of dance capability. We also felt like we wanted to push ourselves musically, and so how better to do that than with West Side Story?” Tyler Russell, a senior theatre major, will be playing the role of Tony. Russell said he is ecstatic that he gets to play such an iconic role. But, to Russell, playing Tony has not come without its challenges. “Physically, emotionally and vocally, Tony is the most difficult role I have ever played,” Russell said. “So...
