A Celebration of Shakespeare’s Works
Adapted and directed by UT Theatre faculty member, Kate Buckley, the production is set in a timeless context and includes monologues, scenes, forty-two characters, excerpts from nineteen plays, and six songs.
“The majority of the creative input for this production was undergraduate driven. Their excitement in exploring Shakespeare’s characters has made this project a unique opportunity, not only for the student actors but the student designers as well. It has released the power and passion of Shakespeare into their lives. Four-hundred years after these words were written, this young team understands and enjoys the power of Will,” Buckley said.
Kate Buckley (Director) is currently a professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Formerly she was a founding member of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Her previous directing credits at UT include: “Black Pearl Sings!” “Moonlight and Magnolias,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” “Charley’s Aunt,” “Copenhagen,” and “Antigone.” Her regional theatre credits include productions at The Goodman Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, American Players Theatre, Kansas City Repertory, Milwaukee Repertory, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Writers Theatre, Skylight Opera Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, and The Next Theatre, where she served as artistic director for four years. Internationally, she has worked in Milan (Italy), Prague (Czech Republic), and Bratislava (Slovak Republic). She has been honored by Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Committee on numerous occasions, including Best Director, has received two After Dark Awards for Outstanding Direction, a Distinguished Alumni Award from Aurora University, and a Creative Research Award from the University of Tennessee.
Drew Barksdale (Man 1) is a junior seeking degrees in both Journalism and Theatre. He last performed in “Kiss Me Kate.” He also has performed at the Oak Ridge Playhouse, the Norris Little Theatre and with Shakespeare on the Square.
Elizabeth Davis (Woman 1) is a senior at UT majoring in Theatre with a minor in English. She has also performed with ACT, the Oak Ridge Playhouse, Roane State Playmakers, Pied Pipers Children’s Troupe, Theatre Knox Downtown, Tennessee Theatre, and Tennessee Stage Co. In addition, she has worked with Children’s Theatre Knoxville, Knoxville Horror Film Festival, and starred in two short films for the Secret City Film Festival (Oak Ridge).
McKinley Merritt (Woman 2) is a sophomore double majoring in Theatre and Deaf Interpreting. Previous CBT credits: “Kiss Me Kate,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” She has also performed at Street Theatre Company (Nashville) and Circle Players (Nashville).
Joseph Rebrovick (Man 2/Musician) is a senior studying Theatre and a native of Nashville. Previous CBT credits: “The Who’s Tommy,” “The Music Man,” “Kiss Me Kate,” and “A Christmas Carol.” He also is the voice and music behind the character of Jammer on the online kids program SkWids.com.
Erik Schiller (Man 3) is a UT senior from Clarksville, Tennessee. Previous CBT credits: “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” and “Dead Man’s Cell Phone.” He also has worked with the All Campus Theatre, Tennessee Stage Co., and Shakespeare Unauthorized.
Bailey Stipes (Woman 3) will graduate this May with a BA in Theatre and English. Previous CBT credits: “Kiss Me Kate”, “Christmas Carol”, and “Music Man.”
The design team is comprised of UT staff and UT Theatre students. Musical compositions for this production are by Joe Payne and Joseph Rebrovick.
Andrew Karlin (Scenic Designer) is excited to be designing his first production for the Clarence Brown Theatre. Andrew had served as a Scenic Designer at the Hatlen Theatre (Santa Barbara), numerous productions for George Washington University and for the UofA’s Educational Theatre Company. In addition to his work as a Designer, Andrew serves as the Department’s Production Manager and Technical Director. Andrew received his B.A. in Theatre from the University of Arizona, and his M.F.A in Theatre Design from George Washington University.
Kyle Andrew Schellinger (Costume Designer) is the Staff Cutter/Draper for Clarence Brown Theatre Company and holds an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Arizona. His costume design work has been seen at the Clarence Brown Theatre, UT Opera Theater, Arizona Repertory Theatre, the Great River Shakespeare Festival, Beowulf Alley Theatre Company and Truman State University.
Jessica Goings (Lighting Designer) is a senior majoring in Theatre with a concentration in Lighting Design. This will be her first design for The Clarence Brown. She has designed for Opera New Jersey, All Campus Theatre and Pellissippi State.
Kate Bashore (Sound Designer) is a second year MFA candidate in Lighting Design and received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Wake Forest University in May 2007. A native of Virginia, she has enjoyed designing the lights for various productions at the Clarence Brown Theatre, Playhouse on the Square (Memphis, TN), American Stage Theatre Company (St. Petersburg, FL), and has served as the Resident Lighting Designer for Festival 56 (Princeton, IL) since 2008.
“Will Power!” runs from October 25 – November 11, 2012. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances begin at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices vary. For tickets, please call the CBT box office at 865-974-5161 or Tickets Unlimited at 865-656-4444.
