Shakespeare’s The Tempest at BGSU Firelands

Huron, Ohio – Bowling Green State University Firelands College Theatre finishes its 46^th season in April with the presentation of “The Tempest,” by William Shakespeare, directed by Grechen Lynne Wingerter.

“The Tempest” is believed to have been written in 1610–1611 and is thought by many to be Shakespeare’s last solo play and possibly his farewell to the stage. Set on a remote island where he has been exiled for 12 years, the story features Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan and a magician, who plots to restore his rightful place of rule, using illusion and skillful manipulation.

Prospero, with the help of his trusty servant, the Ariel, an island spirit, uses his magic to conjure a storm – The Tempest – that brings Prospero’s usurping brother, Antonio, the current Duke of Milan, and the complicit Alonso, the king of Naples, to the island. There his orchestrations bring about the revelation of Antonio’s betrayal, the redemption of Alonso, and the marriage of Miranda to Alonso’s son, Ferdinand.

“The Tempest” has inspired the work of writers in poems and novels by T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Margaret Laurence, and Aldous Huxley; musicians in the composings of Tchaikovsky, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Pete Seeger; and artists in paintings by William Hogarth, Henry Fuseli, and John Everett Millais.

It has been adapted into film versions including the science fiction film “Forbidden Planet: in 1956, Peter Greenaway’s 1991 “Prospero’s Books” featuring John Gielgud as Prospero, and Julie Taymor’s 2010 film version which changed Prospero to Prospera (as played by Helen Mirren), and Des McAnuff’s 2010 Stratford Shakespeare Festival production which starred Christopher Plummer.

The BGSU Firelands Theatre ensemble cast features professional guest artist Peter Aylward as Prospero; BGSU Firelands students Branden Fox as Sebastian, Daniel Contreras as Ferdinand, Kalee McClure as Ariel, and Kelly Snay as Gonzala; BGSU Firelands faculty member Sue Ellen McComas as Juno; and BGSU staff member David Gilmore as Alonso.

Additional BGSU student cast members include Amy Salmons, Keli Daughtery, Michael McClure, Sonia Chenelle, Tony Kaiser, and Tyler Voltz.  Other cast members include Laura Homan, a junior at Perkins High School, playing Miranda; Ian London, of Sandusky, playing Caliban; Cody Noon, Milan, playing Stephano; Ryan Harris, Huron, playing Trinculo; and Jared Bruner, Sandusky, playing Antonio.

Area high school, middle school, and elementary school students, and local community members round out the ensemble including Megan Aylward, of Woodlands Elementary, Christopher Eirons, of St. Peter’s Catholic School, Connor McGinley of Edison High School, and Lynze Daughtery and McKenzie Streng, both of Sandusky.

Technical direction is by Gilmore and additional production staff includes, Lacey Miller, Sandusky, as costume designer; Rick Amezquita, Monroeville, as assistant director; and Kim Creque, Huron, as Henna artist.

Performances are scheduled for April 10, 11, 12, at 7:30 p.m. and April 12 and 13 at 2 p.m. in BGSU Firelands McBride Auditorium.