As You Like It will be running April 29th through May 7th at Donahue Academy performed by juniors and seniors at that school. Peter Atkinson, the play's director, says the production will be enjoyable even for many younger theater-goers.
Mr. Atkinson, who graduated AMU in 2015, is in his second year of teaching at Donahue and directed Romeo and Juliet last spring which launched the school's Shakespeare in Performance program.
Although last year many of his students had previous theater experience, he noted that is not so much the case this year, which has enabled him to enjoy working with them "from the ground up."
"They love Shakespeare – once they get that Shakespeare isn't talking about things that don't apply to them, that his jokes and his humor and his wit are about the same things they talk and joke about on the playing fields and in the classroom, they suddenly buy into it hook, line and sinker. And that's all the more true since we add contemporary music, like Aerosmith."
Mr. Atkinson has been accepted into Columbia's M.F.A. program next year, but says plans are underway to keep Donahue's Shakespeare program "strong and thriving."
"I want to come back in ten years and see that the students at Donahue are still doing incredible work with Shakespeare."
Performances of "As You Like It" are at 7 p.m. April 29, 30, May 4, 5, 6, 7, and are free. Those having reservations, which may be made through the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy website (www.donahueacademy.org/student-life/shakespeare) must arrive 15 minutes ahead of time to ensure their seats.
As You Like It will be running April 29th through May 7th at Donahue Academy performed by juniors and seniors at that school. Peter Atkinson, the play's director, says the production will be enjoyable even for many younger theater-goers.
"They love Shakespeare – once they get that Shakespeare isn't talking about things that don't apply to them, that his jokes and his humor and his wit are about the same things they talk and joke about on the playing fields and in the classroom, they suddenly buy into it hook, line and sinker. And that's all the more true since we add contemporary music, like Aerosmith."