Post-apocalyptic Staging Of 'hamlet' Offered At Una March 11-14

Feb. 05, 2010

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

Check out the trailer! FLORENCE, Ala. - Earth has been shaken by an apocalyptic disaster. Generations later, the unstable and still-recovering human race unearths, and later performs, a surviving copy of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." This is the setting for the University of North Alabama's March 11-14 production of one of the Bard's most famous tragedies. "In this post-apocalyptic world, the human race exists as a feuding society struggling to re-establish order and governance," said Charlton James, assistant professor of theatre and director of the play. "This setting lends itself well to the telling of the 'Hamlet' story and its implications for society." James added that the UNA staging of "Hamlet" will be enhanced with multimedia features as well as a thrust stage, reminiscent of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. "Hamlet" will take stage at 7:30 each evening March 11-13 and at 2 p.m. March 14 in the Norton Auditorium backstage area. General-admission tickets are $10 each and $5 for UNA students and employees. Seating is limited. The March 12 performance will be followed by a forum discussion of "Hamlet" and the post-apocalyptic staging of the play. The discussion will be led by James; Dr. Leslie Peterson, Shakespearean scholar and assistant professor of English; and members of the "Hamlet" cast and production crew. The "Hamlet" production crew includes: Brinna Brown, of Florence - DramaturgMatt Bryant, of Gallant - Stage managerRance Czermak, of Florence - Costume designerJake Faulkner, of Russellville - Sound designerBryan Hall, of Russellville - Props designerLiza Montgomery, of Florence - Makeup designerTim Spearing, of Hazel Green - Assistant directorClay Thomas, of Ardmore - Digital media artist Brad Thompson, of Athens - Digital media artist The "Hamlet" cast includes: Michael Baldwin, of Birmingham - HoratioJames Baxley, of Florence - MessengerBryan Becklean, of Muscle Shoals - Francisco/Clown 2Jake Faulkner, of Russellville - GhostJulia Gilchrist, of Florence - Osric/EnsembleBryan Hall, of Russellville - Marcellus/Clown 1Forrest Harlan, of Florence - GuildensternCydney Harper, of Birmingham - BernardoLesley Harper, of Madison - VoltimandChelsea Hughes, of Sheffield - GertrudeBrittany James, of Russellville - OpheliaMark Keeton, of Trinity - ClaudiusMatt Mallard, of Decatur - PoloniusAndrew Maxwell, of Rogersville - LaertesLiza Montgomery, of Florence - Player QueenR.J. O'Connell, of Florence - HamletKat Purcell, of Trinity - CaptainMorgan Putman, of Greenhill - CorneliusMax Raybon, of Florence - RosencrantzJacob Sheppard, of Russellville - FortinbrasJosh Shuffield, of Fayette - Priest/AmbassadorDrea Swafford, of Alabaster - ReynaldoRachael Terrell, of Danville - Servant/EnsembleAtticus Wright, of Loretto, Tenn. - 1st Player/Player King Faculty involved in the production include James as director, Jason Flynn as digital media director and Dr. David Ruebhausen as technical director and scene designer.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.