William Shakespeare's witty, playful and totally magical As You Like It is a compelling romantic adventure in which Rosalind and Orlando's celebrated courtship is played out against a backdrop of political rivalry, banishment and exile in the Forest of Arden. This production is performed by students in the Theatre Arts programs of the College.
AS YOU LIKE IT is directed by John Basil, music composed and directed by Bruce Lazarus with vocal coaching by BarbAra Adrian marks the concluding fall production at Marymount's Division of Fine Arts. The production will play 5 performances only; Wednesday, November 18, through Sunday, November 22 at the Theresa Lang Theatre (221 East 71st Street).
AS YOU LIKE IT will feature Scott Basten (Corin), Melissa Benoist (Rosalind), A.J. Cote (Jacques), Tommy Hettrick (Amiens), George Iliopoulos (Duke Frederick), Adam Kerbel (Adam), Erica Knight (Celia), Justine Kunstler (Phebe), D'Marcus Langrum (Silvius), Mike Longo (Orlando), Michael Miller (Oliver), Eric Mossman (William/Lord), Kiley Reid (Audrey), Ryan Rinkel (Touchstone), Austin Ruffer (Jacques De Bois/Lord), Ryan Russell (Dennis/Lord), Alec Signorino (Charles the Wrestler/Lord), Shashoni Walton (Hymen), Noah Weary (D.F. Lord/Music/Dance), Johnny Weissgerber (Duke Senior), Jordan Westfall (Sir Oliver Martext).
The creative team for AS YOU LIKE IT includes: Sara Tice (Assistant director), Lilly Wild (Assistant Director), Ron Piretti (Fight Choreographer), Michelle Foster (Stage Manager), Katie Chai (Assistant Stage Manager), Joshua Hillman (Assistant Stage Manager), Cati Pishal (Dramaturge), Rebecca Stump (Dramaturge), Rob Dutiel (Set Director), Aaron Switzer (Scenic Designer/Assistant Set Designer), Ray Recht (Lighting Director), Gretchen Engle (Lighting Designer), Amanda Rosen (Assistant Lighting Designer), Kirche Zeile (Costume Designer), Mary Fleischer (Producer), Owen Spruill (Student Producer), Ross Champpell (Operations Director), CatrIona Jones (Administrative Secretary).
JOHN BASIL (Director) is the Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at Marymount Manhattan College. He founded the American Globe Theatre in New York City in 1988, and since then has served as its Producing Artistic Director and regularly teaches its Playing Shakespeare course. John has taught Shakespeare and acting at Rutgers University, C.W. Post Long Island University, Penn State University, Asolo Conservatory, Bradley University, University of Colorado, University of Wyoming, and Columbia Teachers College. In addition he has taught Shakespeare workshops at the high school level and for the NYC Arts Connection's outreach program, Children of Hope. He has directed for the American Globe Theatre, Riverside Shakespeare Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Sarasota Opera, in addition to guest artist positions at several universities. John is the author of Will Power, How to Act Shakespeare in 21 Days(Applause, 2006).
Bruce Lazarus (Music) studied composition at Juilliard with Vincent Persichetti and Andrew Thomas, earned his B.M. and M.M. in music composition, and studied piano and composition privately with Donald Waxman. He went on to earn his Ph.D in music theory at Rutgers University. Lazarus's recent projects include the choral cantata The night is full of noises for Rebecca Scott, Director of Cantabile Chamber Chorale in honor of Cantabile's 20 th anniversary; Far Corners for flutist Laurel Zucker, for premiere at the 2007 New American Music Festival at University of California in Sacramento and inclusion on Zucker's forth-coming CD Inflorescence IV; a song-cycle, White Boxes with Strings for soprano and piano on an original text; a new work for flutist Barbara Siesel, and continued work on Messier Catalog of Star Clusters and Nebulae , a full-evening interstellar adventure for solo piano. A new CD of Lazarus's chamber music - produced by Eric Somers of Sandbook Studios - is due for release in summer 2008. Recognition for Lazarus' work include residencies at Yaddo, and composition awards and fellowships from Meet the Composer, American Guild of Composers, and the New Jersey Council on the Arts. Lazarus is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Music at Marymount Manhattan College and Music Coordinator for Mark Morris Dance Group.
