Students in George School’s Theater Performance and Stagecraft classes will present William Shakespeare’s The Tempest on Friday and Saturday, May 21 and 22, 2010, at 8:00 p.m. in the Walton Center Auditorium on the school’s campus. The show is free and open to the public.

Believed to be the last play written by Shakespeare, The Tempest tells the story of Prospero, who has lived for twelve years in exile on an island with his daughter, Miranda, after his position as duke of Milan was usurped by his brother. During his time on the island, Prospero has developed his magical powers and come to command a group of supernatural beings known as sprites, led by the spirit Ariel. At the beginning of the play, Prospero causes a tempest at sea to shipwreck his enemies and bring them to the island. Once they arrive, he must decide whether to offer forgiveness or seek revenge.

Matthew Forrest, a senior from Oreland, Pennsylvania, plays the role of Prospero. “He can be vengeful towards his enemies yet also caring, especially to his daughter, Miranda,” said Matthew of the play’s protagonist. “Prospero is also a deep thinker, and much of what happens in the play is caused by what Prospero thinks,” he added.

Of his work in the production, Matthew said, “I think that I’ve gained a fuller understanding of acting in Shakespearean theater.” For Matthew, this process included not only learning about classic Shakespearean devices such as asides, but also developing an appreciation of the ways in which actors must work on their lines to learn a play of such complexity.

Sarah Haber, a junior from Newtown, Pennsylvania, portrays Ariel, the leader of the magical sprites. “Ariel is a sprite, and while the other sprites are elements, she is a shape-shifter with the power to become invisible,” Sarah explained. “In many ways, she’s like a human child because she has raw emotions and feelings that she doesn’t hide.”

During the course of rehearsals, Sarah learned new ways to use her voice as an actor. George School theater teacher Maureen West, director of the play, suggested that because Ariel is a shape-shifter, Sarah could try to make her voice take on the “shape” of certain words, such as “tremble” and “shake,” to evoke their meaning. Sarah said, “I’ve learned a lot about how to use my voice to make things sound more impressive or scarier. Changing only your voice can make a line so different.”

The Tempest comes to life on the George School stage not only through the actors’ performances, but also through scenic and lighting design by George School teacher Scott Hoskins and his stagecraft students, costume design by Linda Bee Stockton, and original music by Richard M. Loatman. In addition, the artwork for the show's poster was created by Lydia Spence, a senior from Newtown, Pennsylvania.

Matthew observed, “I think that Scott has really managed to bring out the magical element in the play, and he’s done so in such a way that it works well with the actors’ efforts.”

Maureen stated, “It has been our artistic goal to blend the historical conventions of Shakespeare’s play with modern theatrical components that will hopefully bring a young contemporary audience to a more full appreciation of the bard’s writing.” Towards this goal, the scenic and lighting design evokes an Elizabethan stage while including abstract representations of the ship and the island. Likewise, the costumes include an Elizabethan wardrobe for the human characters, and what Maureen describes as a “punk contemporary” look for the sprites. In addition, according to Maureen, the music functions as a modern component that complements the beauty of Shakespeare’s language and helps to define the characters’ roles in the story.

“I think that Linda has done an amazing job with our costumes,” commented Sarah. “Combined with Scott’s lighting and all of the movement that we do, it just looks really cool.”

The Tempest concludes a series of three Shakespeare-themed productions that appeared on the George School stage during the 2009-10 year. The series began with Paul Rudnick’s comedy I Hate Hamlet in November and continued with the beloved musical West Side Story, based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, in February. The Tempest is also the last of six performances organized by the George School Arts Department during the current academic year.

The Arts Department offers classes in visual and performing arts, including photography, digital imaging, video production, woodworking and design, communication design, painting and drawing, ceramics, stagecraft, theater arts, theater performance, musical theater, dance, vocal and instrumental performance, and music theory, with Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate course options. For more information about the arts at George School, and a complete schedule of performances and exhibits, visit http://www.georgeschool.org/arts.

About George School
Founded in 1893 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), George School, a rigorous coed boarding and day school for grades nine through twelve, educates students from twenty-one states, thirty-four foreign countries, and a variety of ethnic, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds. Through its commitment to diversity and the Quaker values of equality, integrity, and peacemaking, George School inspires students to be led by their own truths while respecting and appreciating opinions and beliefs different from their own. George School was one of the first schools in the United States to implement an International Baccalaureate diploma program. For information about admission, please call 215.579.6547 or visit http://www.georgeschool.org.