We are such "stuff as dreams are made on”
The Tempest
ABOUT CURRENT PLAYS
and Traveling shows
The 2011 Mainstage plays
2 Great Romantic Comedies in true Repertory!
Original Adaptations by Lorenzo Sandoval, MFA.
Summary:
Did you you know about 70% of American's Shakespeare Festivals present the works of other classic authors along with the works of William Shakespeare?
Accordingly, Shakesperience Fest 2011 presents our Iowa Festival's first expansion into a new series: In 2011, the "Classics-Along-the-Cityscape"series will join our initial series of "Shakespeare-Under-the-Stars". Audiences will thus have the chance to experience not only the great Bard of England, but American's most famous Bard, too!
Surprisingly, the works of Shakespeare and the works of Twain have much in common - both tell classic, enduring human stories that illuminate and celebrate human foibles - and both deal with humanity's weaknesses while elevating us to our best and turest selves. Further, many may not realize that the works of Twain are dotted with references to the works of Shakespeare - the pairing of these two authors, famous Bards that they are, is a perfect way to kick off our new Classics series!
SHOW DESCRIPTIONS
(See additional pages in this section for 2011 Cast and Crew info)
tSHOW A: Shakespeare Under-the-Stars: The Regina Monologues; The Royal Queens and Kings of Shakespeare!
Bubble…bubble… and magical Trouble! Its quite the Midsummer’s eve when those famous witches from MacBeth conjure up a real royal Mystery! Two of Shakespeare’s most memorable Monarchs, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Cleopatra, are spirited right into our midst to share wit, wisdom and the War between the Sexes... while ferreting out the witches' deepest secret. They and a surprise cast of famed historical legends will relish, explore and illuminate the Bard’s greatest romantic and comedic tales - just as you remember them! Against an intriguing, illuminating background of a mysterious story with fun twists and turns, told from the perspective of the world of Shakespeare's female characters, you'll enjoy a rich tapestry of some of Shakespeare's most revered scenes, all portrayed in lush period costumes -with terrific special effects.
And, just as the Bard himself did, we'll make our show come bursting to life with terrific live music and scintillating dance!
Having premiered to rave reviews when the ISE founded the current theatre program at Salisbury House, by popular demand, this show reprises all the best of the original show - -but adds a deightul range of new upgrades, including some new scenes and a great swatch of sizzling new music and dance.
This show is replete with rich, “secret” insider treats for Bard lovers --while a simply perfect introduction for newcomers! The bottom line is that this unique show presents a wide array of simply magical moods - from completely traditional Shakespeare to cutting edge "world-class" treatments - - all presented in one package FREE for all to enjoy, under the summer moon.
n CHECK OUT WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY:
aNEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 2011: "Original music (is) a key feature of many New York Shakespeare Festival productions and scores were commissioned from an eclectic mix of composers, who straddled the worlds of serious and popular music. The NYSF also (has) sponsored many productions that updated (and put)...a contemporary spin on classic works"
aWilliam Lowry, M.Lit; re a Des Moines 2008 production of Regina Monologues: "This is exactly the kind of show we always loved and routinely saw in New York- and have been missing in Des Moines. I am thrilled to see work of this caliber now appearing here in Des Moines. Who says Des Moines is hidebound! Can't wait to bring our out-of-town friends to this amazing play."
tSHOW B: Classics Along-the-Cityscape: Mark TWAIN-ment Tonite!
No doubt about it- as the New York Times says, that rascal Twain is just flat-out cool, cool, COOL. AND ALSO a HOT cultural topic just now. In fact, he's even made the current New York Times bestseller list yet again!
But this is that Funster Rogue as you’ve never before seen him– you’ll find new twists on old favorites - -plus a chance to savor VERY rare Twain romantic works. We’re reprising this hit original play (first produced at Terrace Hill) that captivates everyone from families to the intellectual intelligentsia. And as usual, we'll be adding a lot of fantastic extras - including an original song written by our own Preshia Paulding, the Metro's theatrical songbird extraordinaire.
So - -BE THERE when America’s own Bard makes this lively, insightful appearance on our own Riverbank --in an unusual line-up complete with his lovely wife, beautiful daughters, erudite publisher friend ...and a terrific musical entourage! Its an unforgettable summer night of timeless wit that sails across the entire extravagant spectrum of human endeavor and desires!
n CHECK OUT WHAT THE CRITICS SAY:
aThe New York Times 6/19/10: Mark Twain “ was cool, let’s face it”… “A smash hit on bestseller lists!” “One of our greatest writers.” “Mark Twain just makes you feel good!”
aMike Morrain, Des Moines Register 6/17/08: “The original script (about a wise guy) is the result of more than a year of research by local playwright Lorenzo Sandoval, another wise guy, who pulled together scenes from Twain’s short stories, essays and novels. …The kind of show that makes you wish your life involved more picnics with linen napkins… Even the one-liners are polished.”
ABOUT PAST PLAYS:
The 2010
Festival Mainstage Play
Our 2010 Festival Mainstage Show is everyone’s favorite!
The Iowa Shakespeare Experience presents:
William Shakespeare's
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream Extravaganza”
by William Shakespeare, Adaptation by Lorenzo Sandoval, MFA.
Its all the Shakespeare you remember
– told in a glorious new way you will never forget!
This year, we celebrate the way in which attending the Festival always creates “the best night of Summer!” Mystery, mayhem and the magic of summer abounds in Shakespeare’s most famous romantic comedy- as only The Iowa Shakespeare Experience can tell it!
-
- Our 2010 show takes ALL the different, favoriate ways in which this wonderful story has been performed (as a play, as music, and in dance) and pulls ALL of these great story-telling mediums together for ONE amazing “extravaganza” theatre event!
ABOUT THE 2010 MAINSTAGE PLAY: Is that shadow a memory of Fred Astaire back in the days of Old Hollywood glam and glory? A young Katherine Hepburn? Is there a glimmer of our old friend Marlena Dietrich? Just maybe! Because this year as we set our play, The Iowa Shakespeare Experience takes you to the time when classic, gorgous story telling was at its peak! What better way to escape into the immortal tale of Midsummer Night's Dream than to catch a glimmer of the time of great summer escaptes - the immortal era of Old Hollywood's Silver Screen. We'll harken back to yesteryear to tell stories the way they were meant to be told!
So, how is this play set? Well - - for starters, this play does NOT have a rigidly set time period. Instead, much like a dream, we simply take you to Shakespeare’s famous mythical township of Illyria – and there we find that Illyria is a gorgeous waterside Dukedom much like Europe's Kingdom of Monaco. It seems that in Illyria, the haute couture, style and incredible sophistication of an earlier time simply never went out of style! As it should be, for a tale this "de-loverly". So in Illyria, musical strains reminscent of America's Hollywood halcyon days can be heard echoing in palace and riverside glade.
On this particular enchanted evening in Illyria, you will find yourself immediately welcomed to a Ball - - -given by none other than the Duke and Duchess themselves! “Puttin on the Ritz”? Why yes, indeed, we are! Between women in spectacularly beaded ballgown costumes and men flaunting black tie and tails (but of course!) - - we will put on the Ritz indeed. And before the night is over, you will witness love, love gone awry, magic, hijinks and might even find yourself attending a wedding reception or two - or maybe even three!
Its all there in this classic tale of love and mayhem in the glory of a midsummer night.
A FEW DETAILS ABOUT THE STORY: A delightfully sophisticated Puck, in spectacular costuming (with a special assist from our friends and mentors at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as well as incredible design elements from the talented Mel Ziggensfeus) will be our old friend the magical wanderer for this terrific show. And in this show, Puck will indeed take us on a trip though romance, mystery, drama and delight. “Oh, what fools these mortals be!” For in the moonlit, enchanted forests of Illyria, three romances may end up in wedded bliss- IF they can survive a haunting, mysterious night in the woods, where magical fairies and marvelous mayhem abounds. Spells will be cast and dreams will be dreamed! “Moonlight Seradade”, to be sure.
By troth! The magic doesn’t stop there! For in the ISE’s special 2010 extravaganza production, an entire story line will be told with all the “sizzle and sigh” that is top notch professional dance! Internationally-recognized ballerina Karina Barone not only returns as our choreographer, but will herself be making an "Unforgettable" stage appearance to tell the story of the Faery Queen Tatania and King of the Faeries, her love, Oberon. Oberon will be unforgettable, too: that oh-so-sexy Man in Tights, Matt Wiggins, commands the stage as last summer, he commanded oh-so-many hearts! Its a glorious, magical “Moonlight Sonata”. Delighted by Karina’s past work on the Des Moines Metro Opera stage? You’ll be bedazzled here!
So - - “Would you like to swing on a Star? Carry Moonbeams home in a Jar”? Then get thee to the best night of summer- where we’ll be “Dancin’ Cheek to Cheek!”
ABOUT THE 2010 SHAKESPERIENCE CAST: Much more information about our starry cast can be found in the "About the Cast " pages of this website section. However, suffice it to say that this summer it’s a starry night in every sense of the word! The ISE’s beloved John Zickefoose returns for his fourteenth Heinemann-Sandoval production, to command (as he inevitably does) the role of a most suave Prankster Puck! I say: Noel Coward in a Cape, if there ever was one! Backed by our own Lorenzo Sandoval as Theseus the Duke, Host of the famous Pyramus and Thisbe play-within-a-play, you know these two will have great fun!
But then there is also the truly legendary Hollis Monroe, lauded state-wide radio personality and a true legend of Iowa’s Shakespearean stage, and you don’t need to worry: As Egeus, no way we would let this noted star of stage - - not to mention of opera - - -leave the boards without taking a song or two!
And in 2010, The Iowa Shakespeare Experience follows our long tradition of showcasing new top acting talent to major Des Moines audiences. You will be captivated by our two young damsels, rising stars from the marvelous theatre programs at Simpson (Tiffany Flory) and University of Iowa (Allison Hade.) When they swing into the occasional midnight melody with their suitors, (John Spinx and Joe Parrish, two popular Actors who have cut a wide swath in the Des Moines theatre and music scenes) you will truly feel “Its De-loverly!”
And lets not forget Hipplyta, the Duke’s intended! In our star-spangled version of the show, the soon-to-be Dutchess is played by Des Moines’ enchanting young chanteuse who is taking the Metro’s cabaret scene by storm. Yes, Heather MacLellan will return to her theatre roots for this one special show!
“Unforgettable” – and by the way, of course not just anyone could lovingly surround these fine talents, great voices - -and the rhythmical famous poetry of the Bard- - with live music and fresh original songs. So for this show, the ISE is delighted to bring back Des Moines’ first lady of song, the iconic Tina Haase Findlay – headliner at literally each and every summer festival in the city! So how could the Shakesperience™ Fest have it otherwise! (And pssssst: Tina herself is bringing a surprise – watch for NIGHTLY guest appearances by two of the Metro’s most famous crooners, as the extraordinary Max Wellman and Fred Gazzo (he of Bally’s Las Vegas Big Band scene) take the stage!
Don’t miss these - - - and other front and back stage masters of the mystery of the summer night!