NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release:For further information contact:
April 28, 2009
/
541-552-6347 / 541-552-6093
SOU Department of Theatre Arts presents
William Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labor’s Lost”
(Ashland, Ore.) – Southern Oregon University Department of Theatre Arts presents "Love’s Labor’s Lost" by William Shakespeare. Performances run at 8p.m. on Thursday-Saturday, May 21-23 and Thursday-Sunday, May 28-31. Matinees at 2 p.m. are set for Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31.
The King of Navarre and three lords who are his close companions decide to devote themselves to three years of study and not give in to the company of women. Their oath is put to the test in short order when the Princess of France and her ladies-in-waiting arrive on a visit to the King's court.
“It’s a luxurious dessert of a play about many things,” said director Dale Luciano. “It’s about the giddiness of being young and in love but having to come to terms with love’s obligations. It’s about making oaths and vows and learning how difficult it can be to keep them.”
Shakespeare’s classic use of wordplay, puns, and proximity to temptation brings the lords’ firmness of intention to the brink in this comedy. “Each character in the play uses language in a very distinctive way, ranging from ludicrous to beautiful,” said Luciano. “The characters use language like silly putty, twisting and shaping it to their own purposes. Their world is one where your ability to use words defines who you are.”
Gregg Land plays the King of Navarre. Jonathan Dyrud, Isaac Kosydar and Brennen Johnson play the King’s companions. Deborah Jensen is the Princess of France, and Juliana Slemenda, Mallory Wedding and Jenna Johnson play her ladies-in-waiting.
Scenic design isby Sean O’Skea, costume design by Katie Nowacki, lighting design by Laura Wiley, and sound design by Robbie Erickson. Curtis Goodman is assistant director and Bridget Carlson is the stage manager.
Dale Luciano has been a professor in the SOU Theatre Arts department since 1985. In that time, he has directed over 23 plays at SOU.
Tickets are $18 regular, $16 senior, $5 students. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the SOU Theatre Arts Box Office at 552-6348. More information is available at sou.edu/theatre/calendar.
-SOU-
Photo credit: Ezra Severin
Photo captions:
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Left to right: Jonathan Dyrud, Juliana Slemenda, Deborah Jensen and Gregg Land in William Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labor’s Lost” running May 21-31 at the Southern Oregon University Department of Theatre Arts.
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Deborah Jensen plays the Princess of France and Gregg Land plays the King of Navarre in William Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labor’s Lost” running May 21-31 at the Southern Oregon University Department of Theatre Arts.
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Left to right: Ryan West, Tara Watkins and Justin Samuel Cowan in William Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labor’s Lost” running May 21-31 at the Southern Oregon University Department of Theatre Arts.