The WKU Department of Theatre & Dance is presenting a production of “Henry V” this weekend in the Fine Art Center’s Russell H. Miller Theatre.
“Henry V” by William Shakespeare is a historical play following the English king in his pursuit of the French crown.
For this semester, Director and Theatre and Dance visiting instructor Chris Gilly-Forrer shaped the production through a different lens of interpretation: an English classroom in a modern-day high school.
“Throughout the course of the story, you’ll see these students, who maybe at first weren’t excited to play Shakespeare, playing Shakespeare in an exuberant way,” said Fadé Akinbayo, a junior performing arts major cast as the lead, King Henry V. “The fun thing about Shakespeare is he’s dead, so… he’s not gonna yell at you for putting Henry V in an English classroom.” Akinbayo continued.
In addition to a different setting, the original three-hour-long script has been cut down to under 90 minutes.
“This show is really really digestible, and it can be very fun for anyone,” Patrick Echols, a junior biology major and Exeter in the play, said. “I think it’s important to show Shakespeare in that light – as accessible to anyone.”
Students from all areas and concentrations pitched in with the planning and creation of the show. Set pieces, costumes, music and some aspects of design, direction and production were entrusted to students within the department.
Student and professor designers helped convey the mix of modern and period styles through costuming.
“Most of the costumes are what modern-day teenagers would wear,” said Annie Sanders, a junior theatre major with three semesters of experience in the costume shop.
As the show continues, period-style costumes are added to the high schooler’s clothing to better reflect the original setting of the “Henry V” play.
Background soundtracks of hip-hop and R&B music are featured in the show in addition to live music played on stage by the actors.
Poe Fogle, a sophomore film production major and cast as Cambridge and Orlean, plays the guitar.
“I either underscore the prologues to give them a little more intensity or I will play music to cover up the stage transitions when there’s no dialogue happening,” Fogle said.
The cast list was released before winter break, which gave the actors an opportunity to memorize their lines. When school resumed, rehearsals in Gordon Wilson Hall began.
Actors rehearsed six days a week, Sunday through Friday, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Monday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students and seniors (over 65 years old). Tickets can be purchased at the door or online through the box office.
“Henry V” will run one last time Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. for a special performance for high schoolers.
The box office can be reached by phone at 270-745-3121 and by email at boxoffice@wku.edu.
See photos from the show here.
