• About
  • Advertising
  • History
  • Staff
  • Contact

The Andersonian

The Anderson University Student Newspaper

Anderson University’s Student Newspaper

  • Campus News
  • Audio
  • Features
  • Arts & Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
  • COVID-19
You are here: Home / Arts & Culture / Anderson’s Alley Theatre puts a twist on Shakespeare


Anderson’s Alley Theatre puts a twist on Shakespeare

March 13, 2019 by Troyer Goldman

The Alley Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew premieres Thursday, March 14, at the Anderson Museum of Art.

The production takes classic Shakespeare and gives it a narrative twist, recounting the story of love and trickery underneath a big- top tent.

The comedy follows a plucky Lucentio in his pursuit of Bianca, a fair woman who cannot marry until her head-strong older sister, Katherine, finds a suitor. Lucentio encourages the rich man Petruchio to woo Katherine and in turn free Bianca to marry.

Directed by Kay Winter, an AU alum and teacher at Anderson High School, the presentation of the material has shifted focus away from the traditional theme of feminine discipline toward one of personal betterment.

“I wanted people to come to watch this and not think of it as a play about a man ‘taming’ a woman,” Winter says. “I wanted them to come and see it as I believe Shakespeare intended it to be—that all the characters in the play are reinventing themselves in one way or another.”

The addition of the circus environment emphasizes this theme of self-discovery. As Winter says the circus “is the one place where anyone can become anything they want to be.”

“Things have changed with the #MeToo movement,” Winter says. “I wanted to make sure that the audience could really tell that this isn’t about dominating another person—this is about reinventing yourself.”

Winter says that a local performance can provide an escape from campus.

“The Alley Theatre is an awesome experience for students to get away from campus and work with people who aren’t just AU people.” Winter says. “It extends their theatre family.”

The show is comprised of a local cast that ranges from first-time actors to seasoned professionals, and stars two AU students, Juli Biagi as Bianca and Isaac Derkach as Tranio. The show marks the first role in a Shakespeare play for the junior musical theatre majors.

“It’s been hard, of course, because it’s not language that we use nowadays,” says Biagi. “As you know what you’re talking about it makes it that much more exciting.”

Biagi said that the show represents and encourages women to be who they truly are. 

“Putting on this show is actually empowering for women to be who they naturally are,” says Biagi. “I think it’s really interesting to learn the different ways that we’re making the show our own. It has been a really fun experience.”

Participating in Anderson community theatre has provided opportunities to grow and connect with thespians of varying ages and backgrounds, a striking contrast to productions put on at the university.

For Biagi, being involved with the Alley Theatre has exposed her to talented people who volunteer their time to the arts. 

“Learning by experience from others is enriching my experience here,” says Biagi. 

In addition to the Shakespeare roles, each actor has been assigned a complimenting circus role. For Tranio, played by Derkach, the trait of quick-witted deceit will be characterized through the sleight-of-hand of a magician.

“With the idea of a magician in mind, it gives Tranio a new life to me,” says Derkach. “It makes him more than just a servant. He is someone who is willing to go the extra mile for their best friend.”

Derkach said that the artistic location of the performance adds a different perspective.

“The museum is one of the most gorgeous performance venues that I’ve ever been in,” says Derkach. “There is the big dome and there is photography everywhere, so having the big loud colors of our production juxtaposed with all this photography that we’re surrounded by is just really visually appealing and cool to be part of.”

Derkach has worked with the Alley Theatre in the past, providing dramaturgy for last season’s production of Yasmina Reza’s Art directed by David Coolidge.

The job involved breaking down the script, contextualizing the history and identifying running themes for the cast and crew members of the show. 

The theatre is an arm of Central Christian Church in downtown Anderson and has been in operation since 2014. Hosting a production of Shakespeare at the museum has been the traditional season closer for the company, harkening back to its first production, Macbeth.

Rick Vale is the artistic director of the company and plays the role of Bianca’s father Baptista. In April, Vale will be directing the Boze Lyric Theatre’s production of Marc Camoletti’s Boeing, Boeing at Byrum Hall.

This season has seen an increased collaboration between AU and the Alley Theatre, primarily through the cast of students, which included Sam Lynch and Skyla Bruno in William Inge’s Picnic in February. This is the product of the intentional professional relationship between both organizations coordinated by Vale and Coolidge.

“This year we made sure that students were available to audition,” says Vale, a retired professional actor from Seattle. “That has opened up a door that has been really great for us. It has been a very positive relationship. I’m just sorry that they have to go to school. If I could get them out of class, I could work with them all the time.”

When moving to the Midwest, Vale had not anticipated the activity or caliber of community theatre in the small city of Anderson, Indiana.

“It is surprising the amount of talent that is here,” he says. “Everybody who comes to theatre either here or at Mainstage is astounded by the high quality.”

The Taming of the Shrew marks the end of the Alley’s fifth season that began in November, which has been a season celebrating female directors.

The premiere of The Taming of the Shrew will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. AU students with valid ID can purchase discounted tickets for price $5. The regular price of admission per ticket is $10.

Additional showtimes will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15, and Saturday, March 16, with a final matinee show at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 17.

Derkach going through cues during a tech rehearsal. Photos by Troyer Goldman
Biagi in costume for the show.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Arts & Culture

Watch

Jacey Crawford discusses the breaking news that classes will be virtual for the remainder of the semester, beginning Nov. 16.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Jacey Crawford discusses the recent esports win and talks with Dr. Sarah Neal, Lead of AU’s COVID-19 Task Force.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Video

Listen

Raven Watch 2020-12-07

On this episode of the Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan is joined by former Big Ten Player of the Year and Indiana Pacer Clark Kellogg as they discuss displaying your faith in sports, Clark’s career as a player and broadcaster and his game of “H.O.R.S.E.” with President Obama.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-12-03

On this episode, Jordan Yaney sits down with senior soccer player Drew Sonnefeldt to discuss his soccer career, trips to Europe, hobbies, and dreams of playing professional soccer

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-24

In the third Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Hannah Hawkins, a senior basketball player, about starting her freshman year 0-25, becoming more of a leader on the team and facing their one-on-one battle on the court freshman year. Thanks to our sponsor, the Folgate Agency. Please contact Steve Folgate for Allstate insurance and […]

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-18

In the second-ever Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Kennedy Parker, a senior baseball player, about finding out last season was canceled while the team was in Florida, why he decided to come back for a fifth year and play and what he expects out of this year’s team.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Audio

Follow

andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
16 Jan

Check out these pictures from the Men's Basketball game on Thursday: https://andersonian.smugmug.com/AUMBB-01142021/

Reply on Twitter 1350570022108860423Retweet on Twitter 13505700221088604232Like on Twitter 13505700221088604236Twitter 1350570022108860423
andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
8 Dec

After several weeks of searching for a new esports head coach, AU has filled the position. Learn more about Head Coach Matthew Burnstedt: https://andersonian.com/2020/12/08/au-hires-new-esports-head-coach/

Reply on Twitter 1336445599244292096Retweet on Twitter 13364455992442920961Like on Twitter 13364455992442920963Twitter 1336445599244292096
Retweet on TwitterAndersonian Retweeted
AURavenWatchRaven Watch@AURavenWatch·
7 Dec

Check out the new Raven Watch Podcast with former @Pacers forward Clark Kellogg (@ClarkKelloggCBS). Tune in as Clark and @jordanyaney discuss faith in sports, his career as a player and broadcaster, and his game of H.O.R.S.E against President Obama.

LINK https://andersonian.com/2020/12/07/raven-watch-2020-12-07/

Reply on Twitter 1336095317591265291Retweet on Twitter 13360953175912652918Like on Twitter 133609531759126529114Twitter 1336095317591265291
Load More...

The Andersonian, the student newspaper of Anderson University, Anderson, Ind., publishes a print edition and maintains this website. As a matter of institutional policy, the University administration does not review or edit Andersonian content prior to publication. The student editors are responsible for both print and online content. While the administration recognizes the role of the student press on a college campus and in journalism education, the views expressed in the Andersonian are not necessarily those of Anderson University.

© Andersonian 2017, All rights reserved · Site by Mere
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.