William’s Window opens Thursday, Oct. 1 at PJC
Published or Revised September 30, 2015
At top, Assistant Stage Manager Stormy Wilhite checks costumes before the first performance Tuesday morning, one of several put on for free before area school groups. The Kids assemble at the beginning of William’s Window. From left are Rachel Dean as Mollie, Candace G. Weist as Elizabeth, Amber Nelms as Sandy, Miriam Castro as Taylor, and Sydney (Alexis) Pollard as Andy. The play runs Oct. 1-4 in the Ray Karrer Theater.
“William’s Window” opens the 2015-2016 drama season at Paris Junior College this Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. This delightfully buoyant play is designed to introduced Shakespeare’s plays to younger audiences, but may be enjoyed by all ages.
Lasting about an hour, the story by Marina Stockdale begins with a group of children playing. One is reading a book and clearly enjoying it. When another asks what she is doing, she responds: “I’m in the midst of a fog and surrounded by witches.”
The play segues from “Macbeth,” to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Henry IV Part I,” and “Taming of the Shrew.”
“This play is really energetic,” said Jared Jenkins, who plays several of the Shakespeare characters. “It has a lot of different views and styles. We have put Shakespeare’s plays into the modern day and have a twist to Romeo and Juliet we think everyone will love. We put a lot of thought and work into it. I would love to be in the audience watching it.”
“The way we’ve done this play,” said Cameron Beshirs, who also takes on several roles, “it can be entertaining for all ages. Kids are going to love it, but parents can get into it just as much. Even people who have been dedicated to theatre for years will appreciate the way we’ve put this together.”
“The way that we act and the way the voices come across, you can understand Shakespeare’s language,” said Jenkins.
“Even for someone who doesn’t understand Shakespeare,” Beshirs said, “it would be hard not to fall in love with it and want to watch more of it.”
“It’s going to be a challenge for us not to laugh,” said Jenkins.
The play will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 1-3, and 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 in the Ray Karrer Theater, located in the Administration Building. Tickets are $8 or free with current PJC ID. For information or tickets call 903-782-0420 or email pjcdrama@parisjc.edu.
Cast
The Kids: Taylor - Miriam Castro; Andy - Sydney (Alexis) Pollard; Elizabeth - Candace G. Weist; Mollie - Rachel Dean; and Sandy - Amber Nelms.
Shakespeare’s Characters: Lysander/Cobweb/Romeo/Hal/Lucentio - Cameron Beshirs; Witch 1/Quince/Page/Bardolph/Baptista - Saveuyon Brown; Snout/Hostess 1/Biondello - Rose Cooper; Starveling/Juliet/Speaker 2/Maria - Kimberly Cortes; Witch 2/Puck/Benvolio/Speaker 1 - Kayleigh Forbes; Demetrius/Flute/Capulet/Falstaff/Petruchio - Jared Jenkins; Helena/Mustardseed/Hostess 2/Bianca - Tristen Lindsey-Jessee; Snug/Titania/Speaker 3/Kate - Raven Maxwell; Witch 3/Hermia/Peaseblossom/Nurse/Peto - Ashley Palmer; Bottom/Tybalt/Poins/Old Man/Hortensio - Dalton Smith; and Moth/Page/Lady/Oberon - Haley Strode.
Crew
Stage Manager - Heather Collins; Assistant Stage Manager - Stormy Wilhite;
Crew/Board Operators - Joseph Gilmore, Keitron Reed; Set design - Robyn R. Huizinga; Set Assistant and Tree Design - Joseph Gilmore; Set Construction - students in the Theatre Practicum and Stagecraft classes; Light Design - Alex Peevy; Lighting Assistant - Dalton Smith; Costume Design - William Walker; Costume Assistant - Cameron Beshirs; and Props - Stormy Wilhite.
