DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA AND DANCE February 18, 7 p.m.* February 19 and 20, 26 and 27, 8 p.m. February 21 and 28, 2 p.m. 67th Annual Hofstra Shakespeare Festival As You Like It
by William Shakespeare directed by Kara-Lynn Vaeni Join us for a performance of one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, in which “All the world’s a stage/And all the men and women merely players.” Set mostly in the Forest of Arden and featuring Rosalind, one of his greatest female heroines, the play explores the human and social condition, in which actors and audience alike seek true love and make attempts to learn the roles that will help them most to succeed. *Reception at 6 p.m. This performance will be followed by a talkback with cast and crew. Black Box Theater, New Academic Building
Wednesday, February 10, 11:30 a.m. As You Like It Symposium Black Box Theater, New Academic Building
Wednesday, February 24, 11:15 a.m. Acting Shakespeare Lecture Series The Robben Island Bible
A staged reading of the verbatim theater piece The Robben Island Bible, followed by a talkback with the playwright, Matthew Hahn. The Robben Island Bible centers around South African Sonny Venkatrathnam, a political prisoner on Robben Island from 1972 to 1978. Venkatrathnam asked his wife to send him The Complete Works of William Shakespeare during a time when prisoners were briefly allowed to have one book other than a religious text. The book’s “fame” resides in the fact that Venkatrathnam passed the book to a number of his fellow political prisoners in the single cells. Each prisoner marked his favorite passage in the book and signed it with the date. It contains 32 signatures, including those of Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada and Mac Maharaj, all luminaries in the struggle for a democratic South Africa. The selection of text provides fascinating insight into the minds, thinking and soul of those political prisoners who fought for the transformation of South Africa. It also speaks to the impact of Shakespeare on the human spirit regardless of place or time. Co-sponsored by the Hofstra Cultural Center Fortunoff Theater, Monroe Lecture Center Related Event: Monday, February 22, 7 p.m. Reading of The Robben Island Bible at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, 405 West 55th Street (at Ninth Ave.), New York City. For more information on the New York City reading, call 516-463-6681.
Thursday, February 25, 8 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 2 p.m.* The Play’s the Thing A One-Hour Hamlet
by William Shakespeare adapted and directed by Jean Dobie Giebel Hamlet comes home from school to attend his father’s funeral and finds that his mother is about to marry his uncle; his girlfriend’s father says she has to break up with him; and, worst of all, he’s seeing ghosts. What else could go wrong? *Special Performance with The Hofstra Collegium Musicum. For more information, see page 22. Fortunoff Theater, Monroe Lecture Center
Wednesday, February 17, 11:30 a.m. The Play’s the Thing Symposium
Fortunoff Theater, Monroe Lecture Center
April 8 and 9, April 14-16, 8 p.m. April 10 and 17, 2 p.m. Peer Gynt
by Henrik Ibsen directed by Marta Rainer Sweeping adventure, heartbreaking romance, madmen, trolls and the devil himself all make an appearance in Henrik Ibsen’s poetic masterpiece about a lovable rogue who spends his life roaming around the world in an attempt to be somebody, anybody, except himself. Challenging the limits of theatrical convention, Peer Gynt is a feast for the eyes, the ears and the heart. Black Box Theater, New Academic Building
Wednesday, April 6, 11:30 a.m. Peer Gynt Symposium
Black Box Theater, New Academic Building
April 14-16, 8 p.m. April 16 and 17, 2 p.m. Spring Dance Concert
The Spring 2016 Faculty Dance Concert features Hofstra faculty choreographers and special guests to be announced. John Cranford Adams Playhouse
Wednesday, April 6, 11:30 a.m. Spring Dance Concert Symposium John Cranford Adams Playhouse
April 29-May 2, 7 p.m. The Student Rep (A Festival of Student Performances) $ festival of student acting, directing and dance, presented over four days. An exciting Black Box Theater, New Academic Building
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Events are subject to change. For an up-to-date listing of events, times and locations, please refer to the Hofstra events calendar at events.hofstra.edu.
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