“The Tempest,” November 12 through 15

Thursday, November 12, through Sunday, November 15

University of Dubuque's Heritage Center, 2000 University Avenue, Dubuque IA

From November 12 through 15, magic, mystery, and adventure will take center stage at the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center, when William Shakespeare's The Tempest enjoys a student-acted production freshly adapted by Sunil Malapati, PhD, professor of chemistry at Clarke University.

After a powerful storm brings a ship full of visitors to a mysterious island, long-buried secrets, old rivalries, and questions of love, power, forgiveness, and freedom begin to surface. Filled with humor, romance, enchanting characters, and Shakespeare’s unforgettable language, The Tempest invites audiences to journey into a world where nothing is quite what it seems.

The Tempest will be directed by Joe Klinebriel, MFA, professor of theatre at UD. “The Tempest is an ideal Shakespearean play to creatively explore with young actors," Klinebriel said, "because it invites discussion about such themes as power and authority, freedom and colonialism, and forgiveness and reconciliation. But what is additionally exciting is the creativity that producing this work of Shakespeare asks of our designers. This particular Shakespearean play challenges our entire team to creatively interpret a remote island, its inhabitants, and all of its magical elements. All of the contributing design elements – the set, costumes, lighting, and sound designs – have challenged our various designers to push the boundaries of their creative thinking to assemble a unique and immersive world that we can’t wait to share with our audiences."

Among the students contributing to the design elements is Braeden Collins, a senior music and aviation management double major from Madison, Indiana, who plans to incorporate live instruments, effects, and singing throughout the play as a student composer of original music and sound design.

“Shakespeare wrote in many references to sound and song in this play," said Collins, "and creating the soundscape in real time with common instruments allows me to imagine what he would’ve been imagining. Some of the sound profile will change from performance to performance, as the actors and world they live in evolve throughout the process. Much of the preparation has consisted of talking with Joe about the atmosphere and how sound can aid in conveying our message rather than the notes."

Although experimentation and invention are his favorite aspects of writing sound, Collins said the opportunity to push himself and compose music for UD plays is truly the best part. “Seeing a production from start to finish is an amazing experience, and one I would not have gotten if I wasn’t at the University of Dubuque."

Christopher Marriott, a senior theatre major from Dubuque, Iowa, who will play the Prospero, said Klinebriel has introduced Shakespeare in class for the last couple of years to allow students to get more comfortable with the Elizabethan-era language and Shakespeare’s unique character-building style. Theatre and English students have also had the opportunity to attend Shakespearean performances at American Players Theatre just outside of Spring Green, Wisconsin.

“Having the opportunity and privilege to play Prospero, a sort of anti-hero character with a somewhat unexpected redemption arc in this story, has been simultaneously intimidating and awe-inspiring," said Marriott. "However, no amount of preparation will substitute for jumping in and getting dirty when it comes to cultivating a Shakespearean character. Prospero has innumerous facets to explore, making the character that much more elusive to embody. Thankfully, I have a wealth of experience here at UD to tap into to assist in my character development process.

"In fact," Marriott continued, "this entire production would not be possible without the experience and expertise of our program director, Joe Klinebriel, who did his post-graduate studies with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. He is leading the charge for a cast full of eager, talented, and passionate student actors; students who are very excited to show off all their hard work and to demonstrate their developing tenacity for Shakespearean theater.”

The Tempest will be performed in the Babka Theatre of the University of Dubuque's Heritage Center November 12 through 15, with performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. (Post-show discussions will be held after the Friday and Saturday shows.) Admission is $10, and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)585-7469 and visiting Dbq.edu/heritagecenter.