"Off the page, onto the stage" - University Theatre presents "An Evening with Billy Shakes"

Scenes from a dozen of Shakespeare’s most popular plays will be performed as Youngstown State University Theatre presents “An Evening with Billy Shakes.”

The virtual production, directed by Matthew Mazuroski, associate professor of Visual and Dramatic Arts, is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18, with performances 7:30 p.m. each day and 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.

The production will be available at https://www.showtix4u.com/events/YoungstownStateUniversity. Tickets may be purchased at the same site: single viewer $10; group viewing $25; YSU students, faculty, staff free with Banner ID.

Scenes will be performed from As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, Measure for Measure, Hamlet, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Othello, Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Julius Caesar.

"In my opinion, more people have been turned off to the power of live theatre by poor renditions of Shakespeare than by any other means,” Mazuroski said. “I think ninth-grade English Literature classes that have students read Shakespeare without getting the plays on their feet is another culprit. Our sole focus throughout the design and rehearsal process is to bring the language and characters of Shakespeare off the page and onto the stage and to remove the barriers between the text and the audience."

The cast includes YSU students Meganne Evans, sophomore BFA in Theatre major from Boardman, Ohio; Samantha Gurd junior BFA in Musical Theatre major from Poland, Ohio; Mitchell Sharp, sophomore BA in Theatre Studies major with a minor in Musical Theatre from Beloit, Ohio; Destinee Thompson, junior BFA in Theatre/Musical Theatre major from Akron, Ohio; Adam Dominick, junior BFA in Musical Theatre major from Lancaster, Ohio; Lexi Denney, senior BFA in Musical Theatre major from Canfield, Ohio; Madeleine Pomeroy, senior BA in Theatre Studies major with a minor in Puppetry from Youngstown, Ohio; Machiah Davis, sophomore BFA in Musical Theatre major from Cleveland, Ohio; Kamryn Deja, sophomore BFA in Musical Theatre major with a minor in Puppetry from Ambridge, Pa.; Nicolas Wix, senior, BFA in Theatre major from Warren, Ohio; Kyle Hudson, freshman BFA in Musical Theatre major from Minerva, Ohio; Elise Vargo, sophomore BFA in Musical Theatre major from Westerville, Ohio; Hannah Rosser, junior BFA in Musical Theatre major with a minor in Forensic Science from Austintown, Ohio; Morgan LaCamera, senior BFA in Theatre major from Lowellville, Ohio; and Nate Montgomery, senior BFA in Theatre major from Columbiana, Ohio.

Technical staff includes Scenic Designer Todd Dicken; Production Manager and Technical Director Ryan Fitzpatrick; Sound Designer Johnny Pecano; Sound Operator Thomas DeLuca; Costume Designer Katherine N. Garlick; Properties Designer Wendy Akers; Lighting Designer James Oakry; Video Production Coordinator/Editor Miles Garrett; Videographers Matthew Mazuroski and Miles Garrett.

More information at 330-727-7514.