The Texas A&M Department of Performance Studies’ summer theatre program, Blueprint Theatre, announces its production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest with a “Comic Books and Superheroes” themed twist.
In a truly family friendly adaptation of the original, this production combines comic book and super hero fun in the form of exaggerated characters and technical concepts. In the true camp style that is fabulously larger than life, this comical show is guaranteed to be fun.
The story of an exiled ruler and his magical kingdom, The Tempest is an old take on a familiar family soap opera. Island-bound Prospero plots to bring his enemies to him so that he can have his long-anticipated revenge. He doesn’t count on the love that grows between his daughter, Miranda, and the son of his enemy, Ferdinand.
One of Shakespeare’s last plays, The Tempest is considered some of his most advanced and complicated poetry.
Directed by graduate student Evleen Nasir, the play is re-imagined with role reversals throughout: all male roles will be portrayed by women and vice-versa. This element of girl-centric mega-villainy is juxtaposed by the fun, campy nature of the production.
“This version of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest takes the original story of patriarchal domination and flips it on its head, so that women are the ones in charge,” Nasir says. “It is a fun and quirky romp around a magical island as the evil sorceress Prospero and her spirit minion Ariel wreak havoc on the stranded royals of Milan.”
Featuring a 16-foot tall tree and Lego piece-assembled boat, The Tempest dazzles with technical theatrical surprises. This production offers moments of “magical” lighting and musical pop culture references.
Blueprint Theatre opens its 2012 Summer Season on June 20 with The Tempest, followed by Eurydice on June 21. The plays run on alternating days, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm through July 14. Performances are free and open to the public at the Fallout Theatre (Room 140 in the Blocker building on campus). Seating is limited.
For more information, please call the Department of Performance Studies at 979-845-3355.
