UMD Theatre kicks off 2016 season by honoring Shakespeare

BY LAURA GRUHLKE | The Statesman Beginning on Feb. 4, UMD’s theatre program will be putting on a production of Shakespeare’s “All’s Well That Ends Well.”

Known as one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays,” the cast has been working extra hard to make this production a great one.

The story of “All’s Well That Ends Well” revolves around a young woman named Helena, played by freshman Erin Hartford, who is on a quest to find a way to marry a nobleman.

Director Kate Ufema spent three and a half months working on this particular adaption of the Shakespeare play for UMD. Ufema said that one can either take this play as a drama or as a comedy, and for her adaptation she chose to go with comedy.

One cast member sticks out from the cast of 16.

Chancellor Lendley “Lynn” Black stars as the King in his first major center stage role.

“He was the caveat,” Ufema said. Meaning that if they could have not cast the chancellor as the king, she would have not chosen this production.

“He’s the King, no doubt about it,” Ufema adds.

Director Kate Ufema went on to mention how proud she is of the students in this production and how for some of the cast it is their first time doing a Shakespeare play.

There has been a lot of time put into working with the text and delivery of UMD’s rendition of “All’s Well That Ends Well” to ensure that even if an audience member isn’t familiar with Shakespeare they will be able to follow along.

“All’s Well That Ends Well” will be opening on February 4 and runs through February 13. Tickets for the play are available online on the UMD Theatre website or in person at the box office located in the Marshall Performing Arts Center on campus.

 

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