Release Date: October 2, 2009
Kennesaw State presents Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors"
For media inquiries: Cheryl Anderson Brown, Director of Public Relations,
770-499-3417 or cbrown@kennesaw.edu
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KENNESAW, Ga.—The KSU Department of Theatre and Performance Studies presents William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” at the Howard Logan Stillwell Theater on Oct. 20-25. Directed by Assistant Professor Harrison Long, this classic Shakespearean play tells of the comedic mishaps of two sets of identical twins who were each accidentally separated at birth.
Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, arrive in the home of their twin brothers, Antipholus of Ephesus and his slave, Dromio of Ephesus. Soon after, the Syracusans stumble upon the families and friends of their twins, which eventually creates a domino effect of wrongful beatings, accusations of identity theft, madness and demonic possession.
In the KSU production, Ephesus is an island located in the Mediterranean, much like the one seen in “Casablanca,” and is under the rule of World War II-style fascism. Harrison Long describes Ephesus as “a place where many cultures collide. While fascism tries to force everyone into a single culture, religion and political doctrine, there is a strong counter impulse.” The relationships of master-servant, husband-wife, parent-child and native-alien are tested as the island faces pressure from the fascists to enforce draconian law.
Many of the cast members even visited Casablanca during the summer while participating in the Casablanca Theatre Festival. “The students’ research has been incredibly valuable to this process,” says Long. “The cast members have a personal understanding of the Moroccan culture, which is influencing our production.” He looked to classic films such as “A Night in Casablanca,” “Morocco,” and a few Abbot and Costello films to add aesthetic value to the play.
Long says, “The play is about transformation on the personal, relational and societal level. Transformation is essential for each of the characters, their relationships and for society itself to discover their own true natures.”
Tickets are $18. Performance times are 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. For more information, contact the KSU Box Office at 770-423-6650 or online at www.kennesaw.edu/arts.
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A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more than 21,000 from 142 countries. The third-largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw State offers more than 65 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates in education and business.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.