A trumpet sounded and a Shakespeare play began – just as they have begun for more than four hundred years. This moment, however, was an extra-special one for the Mississippi School of the Arts -- it was the first play presented by MSA Drama. We chose the first play written by this great Master to mark this occasion – what better way to start a tradition?
Shakespeare’s plays are the touchstone and wellspring of English language theatre – an actor is not considered worth his salt until he has mastered a role from one of these thirty-seven texts. We took a very “literal” approach to the production, striving to determine what Shakespeare wanted the actors to do. Much of this information is encoded in the text: The words, meter, and use of rhyme all serve to guide and instruct us in deciphering and interpreting his intentions.
Aegean / Dr. Pinch ...... Nicholas Anthony Hart
Duke Solinus / Balthazar ........... Reed Whitney
Officer / Jailer / Messenger ............ Isaac White
Merchant 1 / Merchant 2 .............. Elaine Allen
Antipholus of Syracuse .............. Stephen Davis
Dromio of Syracuse ................ Langston Darby
Antipholus of Ephesus ............ Carolyn Hardin
Dromio of Ephesus ................... Timbre Brewer
Adriana .................................... Amber Rhodes
Luciana .................................. Kerri Anne Key
Angelo, a Goldsmith ............... Marcus Roberts
Nell / Courtesan ........................... Luralee Lelli
Abbess / Aemilia ....................... Katie Redding
Announcer / Crowd ............ Rebecca Campbell
MSA Theatre Studio