Pigeon Creek Shakespeare presents Hamlet

The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company will present Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Dog Story Theater, 7 Jefferson SE in Grand Rapids.  Performances will take place April 6, 7, 13, and 14 at 8:00 p.m., and April 8 and 15 at 3:00 p.m..  Tickets are $14 for adults and $8 for students and seniors, and are available online at www.dogstorytheater.com.

Hamlet follows the story of the title character, the prince of Denmark, who arrives home from his university to find that his father is dead, and his uncle has married his mother and taken over the throne.  When his father's ghost appears, demanding revenge, Hamlet must decide whether he will fulfill the ghost's demands.

Pigeon Creek's production is directed by Scott Lange, a frequent actor and director with the company.  The title role is played by Kat Hermes, continuing Pigeon Creek's ongoing practice of cross-gendered casting.  Company executive director Katherine Mayberry says, "We often employ cross-gendered casting because it is part of the tradition of Shakespeare's plays.  In Shakespeare's lifetime in England, the professional acting companies were all men, and so the female roles in the plays were played by male actors.  We love to experiment with this challenge to the actors, and so audiences will often see men playing female roles and women playing male roles in our shows."  Mayberry points out that many women in theatre have felt driven to tackle the role of Hamlet, beginning with Sarah Bernhardt, famous Shakespearean of the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Joining Hermes in this current Pigeon Creek production are Jacqueline Frid, Mark Gmazel, Maggie Hinckley, Jacquie Jones, Ashley Normand, Anthony Snead, Chris S. Teller, Kate Tubbs, Riley VanEss, and Sophia Ann Zorn.  Scott Wright directs the play's fights, Brie Roper directs music, and Mary Beth Quillin is the production's stage manager.

Along with the performances at Dog Story, Pigeon Creek’s production will also visit venues in Muskegon, Spring Lake, and Jenison.  For full details about all dates and venues, visit the company’s website at www.pcshakespeare.com.

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