Spring 2009

OLD FRIENDS
Veteran Cast Returns to Door Shakespeare!

Going all the way back to the year 2000, members of The Merchant of Venice cast have previously appeared on the Björklunden stage. Most historically, Khris Lewin, who wowed the crowd in Door Shakespeare’s first production of The Taming of the Shrew, will return to play Gratiano and the hilarious Lancelet. Seven years after interning, twice, for DS, Matthew Ecclestone will grace this year’s show as Lorenzo. Listen for his outstanding violin as well!

Steve O’Toole, a five-season veteran with DS, returns to fill Shylock’s shoes. Steve’s versatility has won him past roles such as Bottom, Orgon in Tartuffe, and Caliban in The Tempest. His Shylock is sure to be intelligent and creative.

Other returnees to the stage include Sean Dooley, Amy Ensign, Michael Sander (last season’s Rageanau in Cyrano and Peter Quince in MSND), Suzanne Graff, and Stage Manager Kara Schuette.

New to audiences this year will be composer James Valcq. Valcq is known for his musical theatre piece, The Spitfire Grill, for which he and Fred Alley won the Richard Rogers Award for best new musical. Kay Allmand will join DS to play Jessica. Interns, Rebecca Livengood, Kelly Pursley, and Matthew Van Oss round out this incredibly strong company of talent, craft and great enthusiasm

 

Spring 2009
RETURNING TO ROOTS

Recently, Artistic Director Jerry Gomis and I traveled to Green Bay - along with our two children and the puppy - to interview a potential intern for the upcoming season. Along the way, Jerry and I discussed the fast-approaching season and what excited him most about offering our audience Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

This production will be a bit smaller in cast-size than most in our recent history. It is a very exciting way to present Merchant and offers the actors more than our usual opportunity to play multiple characters. Keep sharp this summer, as you watch the actors exit as one character and re-enter almost immediately as another.

“This is a return to the roots,” said Jerry. “Going back to focus on the versatility of the actors and how they use their body and voice. It offers great fun! For instance the lover, Bassanio (played by Door Shakespeare veteran Sean Dooley - Oberon in the 2002 production of Midsummer, Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet) will also play all of Bassanio’s rivals for the love of Portia (portrayed Door Shakespeare’s lovely Amy Ensign - Elmire in Tartuffe, Ceres in The Tempest, and Mustardseed in last year’s Midsummer).” The production is a perfect solution to what might have been a disastrous problem. In September, Jerry experienced a layoff from the job that provides the Gomis/Graff family with their real means. “At that point,” said Jerry, “we did not know whether or not the family could sustain itself through another Door Shakespeare season. Logistically, a season seemed impossible.”

“Then some folks very close to DS encouraged us to do a season, albeit a shorter one. The encouragement we received to continue on with this more-brief season outweighed the hardships. Now we’ve got more assistance from our seasonal personnel and I’m working again, which is great! I’ll be able to direct the play, and visit on weekends.”

This play is a comedy, but it is deepened by its theme of tolerance and intolerance. “We need to be aware of hate and intolerance,” said Jerry. “And though I think we have to be sensitive about our differences, I think we also have to get over it! It’s who we are, not what we are. It’s about my love for theatre, it’s not about me being a male of Portuguese decent. We need to revisit these touchstones periodically.”

“In some ways it lets me go back to my years growing up in Berkeley, California, and being a product of the ‘60s and ‘70s. With this play, I get to revisit that drive to cut past people’s exterior definitions and look into what defines us as human.”

With a nearly all-veteran cast, the excitement of bringing this play to life on the Björklunden stage has energized everyone involved. And all are anxious to hit the ground running in July! –Suzanne Graff, Executive Director