Shakespeare comes to Fairmont State tonight for free performance
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Mar. 21—FAIRMONT — Shakespeare comes to Fairmont State University with help from North Central West Virginia's biggest fans of The Bard.
The Rustic Mechanicals will perform "Julius Caeser" Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. at Wallman Hall as part of their 2024 Lend Me Your Ears tour. This will be the Rustic Mechanical's 11th season in which Fairmont State has been a recurring venue, including "Love's Labour's Lost" in 2021, and "The Comedy of Errors" last summer.
Founded by Celi Oliveto in the summer of 2014, The Rustic Mechanicals is the only troupe of actors in the state dedicated to touring the works of William Shakespeare and other classical playwrights.
In Shakespeare's epic political tragedy, Caesar returns from war, all-conquering, but mutiny is rumbling through the corridors of power as the race to claim the empire spirals out of control. This production, dedicated to replicating Shakespeare's true-to-life staging conditions, will feature modern music, a three-quarter thrust, and audience interaction that is sure to entertain, enthrall and capture the attention and hearts of its audience.
Directed by Jim Warren, with technical direction by David Byard, costume design by Jason A. Young, gair, make-up, and sound effects design by Samantha Huffman, and production management by Niki DeWitt, the Mechanicals featured in this production include Josh Brooks, Calian Byard, Seret Cole, Isaac Covey, Samantha Huffman, Sinead Tobin, Jason A. Young and Sarah Young.
Angela Schwer, professor of English at Fairmont State University, is ecstatic about the Mechanicals and their cause.
"As the greatest English playwright, Shakespeare will continue to be an important element in our literature curriculum, and we're grateful to the Rustic Mechanicals for making his work accessible to everyone, not just literary scholars," Schwer said.
The Mechanicals will be touring "Julius Caesar" throughout the spring and fall, and holding a separate touring production of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest" in the summer. The Mechanicals also hold productions that they call, "a Play, a Pie, and a Pint," focusing on making Shakespeare's plays accessible to modern audiences by utilizing dynamic and extreme casting techniques paired with Shakespeare's staging conditions.
For more information on booking these touring shows, e-mail vtcrusticmechanicals@gmail.com.
To show your interest and support for the troupe, check out the Mechanical's Facebook Event at https://fb.me/e/9I1Jx6CK4.
