As You Like It
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Sara Holdren
The rules of romance are upended in As You Like It, a gloriously entertaining romantic comedy that gleefully interrogates traditional notions of gender, politics, and love. Shakespeare’s dizzying mash-up of romantic escapades, disguised lovers, and mistaken identities amuses and entertains as much as it provokes and challenges.
As You Like It is brought to life by the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival’s Professional Company, under the direction of Sara Holdren, a multitalented theatrical director who also serves as the theatre critic for New York Magazine. Fast, funny, and engaging, As You Like It promises to be a delightful night of theatrical entertainment.
In the wake of banishment and personal peril, irrepressible heroine Rosalind and hopeful hero Orlando find themselves in the forest of Arden, where Rosalind's long-exiled mother, Duke Seena, has created a new kind of community. As a merry cast of characters explore this place of possibility and freedom, true lovers run into strange capers, and in a moving and hilarious alchemy of disguise, desire, and even a bit of magic, Shakespeare asks how we might reimagine the world in which we live.
LEARN MORE:
- Digital Program
- Podcast: Director Sara Holdren on the Reduced Shakespeare Company Podcast
- Blog: "“As You Like It” and Finding “much virtue in ‘if’”" (8/7/24)
- Blog: "Setting the Scene" (8/16/24)
- "Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival presents romantic comedy ‘As You Like It’," South Bend Tribune, 8/18/24
- "Ragamuffin Bakery owner featured in Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival production," South Bend Tribune, 8/19/24 ($)
CAST:
The de Boys Household:
- ORLANDO, youngest son of Sir Roland de Boys: Felix Teich
- OLIVIA, Orlando’s older sister: April Sellers
- JACK, the middle brother: Dominic Keene
- ADAM, an elderly servant to the de Boys family: Mary Neufeld
The Court:
- DUKE FREDERICK, the usurping younger brother of the exiled Duke Seena: George Azcárate
- CELIA, his daughter: Abigail Gillan*
- ROSALIND, her best friend, daughter to the exiled Duke Seena: Julia Valen*
- TOUCHSTONE, the court jester: Brennan Caldwell*
- MONSIEUR & MADAME LE BEAU, a pair of married courtiers: Gabriel Armstrong, Morgan Ford
- CHARLES, the duke’s champion wrestler: Tim Merkle
- SECOND LORD, crony to Duke Frederick: Melíza Gutierrez
- FIRST LORD, likewise: Noah Sim
The Forest of Arden:
- DUKE SEENA, exiled former ruler and older sister to Duke Frederick: TayLar*
- AMIENS, one of her companions in exile; a singer: Gabriel Armstrong
- DIANA, likewise: Morgan Ford
- WILLIAM, likewise: Dominic Keene
- JAQUES, also a companion to Duke Seena; known for her melancholy: Sarah Scanlon
- A strange COMRADE of Duke Seena's group: Mark Young
- CORA, an old shepherd: Mary Neufeld
- SILVIUS, her young friend and fellow shepherd, smitten with Phebe: Noah Sim
- PHEBE, a shepherdess, not smitten with Silvius: Melíza Gutierrez
- AUBREY, a goatherd: Tim Merkle
- SIR OLIVER MARTEXT, a forest-dwelling priest: Mark Young
- A DEER: Mark Young
- HYMEN, the god of fertility, marriage, the forest: Mark Young
* This artist appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
PRODUCTION TEAM:
- Sara Holdren: Director
- *Olivia Louise Tree Plath: Stage Manager
- ^Elivia Bovenzi Blitz: Costume Designer
- ^Inseung Park: Scenic Designer
- Jen Rock: Lighting Designer
- ^Kate Marvin: Sound & Music Designer
- Greg Corbino: Puppet Designer
- Tiana Mudzimurema: Assistant Director
- Allison Pajor:Text Coach
- Sarah Scanlon: Intimacy Coordinator / Fight Choreographer
- Tobias Garcia: Assistant Props Master / Puppet Operator
- Leah Jordan: Props Master / Designer
- Kathy Reynolds: Assistant Production Manager / Mentor
- Carolyn Dell: Assistant Stage Manager / Puppet Operator
- Ella Robertson: Assistant Stage Manager / Puppet Operator
- Natalie Bowman: Cutter / Draper
- Erin Bryant: Cutter / Draper
- Emily Chidalek: Costume Shop Artisan
- Lynn Holbrook: Costume Shop Manager
- Deborah Mayers: Stitcher / Wardrobe Head Dresser
- Abigail Moody: Costume Shop Artisan
- Emma Rader: Costume Shop Artisan / Wardrobe Run Crew
- Naya Tadavarthy: Costume Shop Artisan / Wardrobe Run Crew
- Kathleen Werner: Stitcher
- Brenton Abram-Copenhaver: Assistant Technical Director
- Hayden Elowsky: Scene Shop Artisan / Carpenter
- Emma Greenfield: Scene Shop Artisan / Carpenter
- Jenna Sarrazin: Scene Shop Artisan / Carpenter / Assistant Scenic Artist
- Jeff Szymanowski: Technical Director / Scenic Artist
- Aimee Cole: Puppet Artisan
- Jason Swift: Master Electrician
- Matt Anderson: Sound Artisan / Sound Board Operator
* This artist appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
^ This individual is a member of the United Scenic Artists, Local 829, a union of designers and artists in the entertainment industry.
PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES:
- Tuesday, Aug. 20 - 7:30 p.m. EDT (Preview)
- Wednesday, Aug. 21 - 7:30 p.m. EDT (Final Dress)
- Thursday, Aug. 22 - 7:30 p.m. EDT (Opening)
- Friday, Aug. 23 - 7:30 p.m. EDT
- Saturday, Aug. 24 - 2:00 p.m. EDT
- Saturday, Aug. 24 - 7:30 p.m. EDT
- Sunday, Aug. 25 - 2:00 p.m. EDT
- Tuesday, Aug. 27 - 7:30 p.m. EDT
- Wednesday, Aug. 28 - 7:30 p.m. EDT
- Thursday, Aug. 29 - 7:30 p.m. EDT
- Friday, Aug. 30 - 7:30 p.m. EDT
- Saturday, Aug. 31 - 2:00 p.m. EDT
- Saturday, Aug. 31 - 7:30 p.m. EDT
- Sunday, Sep. 1 - 2:00 p.m. EDT