Henry Ford College Theater alumni in Shakespeare’s "Hamlet" Feb. 8-17

CAPTION: Concordia University’s production of Hamlet includes Elizabeth Reames (left) as Ophelia, HFC alumnus Timothy Pollack (center) as Hamlet, and HFC alumna Amanda Bates (right) as Queen Gertrude.

HFC adjunct theater professor Gerard Dzuiblinski is directing a 2-hour contemporary dress professional production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Feb. 8-17 at Concordia University in Ann Arbor.

There will be six public performances on the following dates:
• Friday, Feb. 8, at 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 9, at 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 10, at 2:00 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 15, at 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 16, at 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 17, at 8:00 p.m.

HFC develops professionals to work in the local theater industry and beyond

Six HFC theatre alumni and two HFC theater staff members are also involved in this play. The HFC theatre alumni include:
• Timothy Pollack, a recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, plays Hamlet.
• Amanda Bates is Queen Gertrude.
• James Piche, Concordia’s technical director, plays both King Claudius and the Ghost of Hamlet’s Father, King Hamlet.
• Andrew St. John plays both Laertes and the Player King in the play-within-in-the-play.
• Shardai Davis plays Polonius.
• Angie Lai, Concordia’s theatre production manager, plays the Player Queen in the play-within-the-play.

The HFC theatre staff includes:
• Emilee Willemsee, the play’s carpenter and painter. She’s also the carpenter for the HFC Theatre Program.
• Stephanie Baugher, the play’s lighting/scenic designer. She’s also the lighting/scenic designer for the HFC Theatre Program.

“This play demonstrates the talent, the training, and the ability of the HFC Theater Program to develop professionals to work in the local theater industry and beyond. We’re happy to have so many participants from HFC whom I’ve worked with over the course of 25 years be part of this ensemble,” said Dzuiblinski, who has taught at HFC for more than 30 years and is the director of theater at Concordia.

“Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice”

Set in Denmark circa the 17th century, Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father, King Hamlet, who asks him to avenge his death. Hamlet learns his father was murdered by his uncle Claudius, who then marries Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, and becomes the king of Denmark, usurping Hamlet’s right to the throne. Hamlet and Claudius play a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with one trying to kill the other.

One of Shakespeare’s best-known tragedies and his longest play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is considered one of the Bard’s most powerful and influential works. It is one of the most quoted plays in the English language (i.e., Hamlet’s renowned “To be or not to be…” soliloquy) and is performed regularly to this day. Its influence on literature and popular culture is incalculable. There are numerous homages, references, adaptations, and parodies of Hamlet.

Ticket prices

This contemporary production of Hamlet is sponsored by the Kreft Arts Program, which brings special events to the Concordia campus, in collaboration with the Experimental Performing Arts Association. This project also won grants from the Buhr and Jensen Foundations.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for students with valid photo IDs and senior citizens. To purchase tickets go to: www.cuaa.edu/events/details.php?id=32294.

For more information, contact Dzuiblinski at gadzuiblinski@hfcc.edu.