Let the games begin: Join NGU’s theatre department for this year’s production of Richard III
Trinity Adams, News and Feature Editor
“Richard III” is a beloved Shakespearean tragedy that follows the rise and demise of Richard III and his royal court. This is NGU’s first Shakespearean tragedy in four years, since their production of “Hamlet.”
Stage manager Seth Atkins, senior digital media major, said, “Richard, who is so thirsty for power that he will do anything to get it, which sometimes means killing friends, killing family and disowning his own mother.”
This production seeks to tell the story of Richard III not only through the actors but through the set design. The play will take place on a red and white marble chessboard, illuding to the mind games and manipulation that take place during the show.
“Richard is the ultimate game master of this chess game. The directors, Amy [Dunlap] and Bess [Park] are really leaning into the elements of the chessboard and how Richard takes these pawns, kings and queens, knights and bishops and moves them around so he can be in power,” Atkins said.
Audience members will be immersed in the game of chess when they walk in and see five and seven-foot-tall chess pieces hanging from the ceiling. This production will be done on what is called a corridor stage.
A corridor stage is where the stage is in the middle and the audience will be on either side, almost forming a hallway. Leading actor Logan Stewart, senior theatre education major, is excited about the show not only because it is his senior project, but because this is the last stage type he needs to perform on to graduate.
Stewart is a theatre education major. He will spend the spring semester student teaching which would usually be considered his senior project. Working alongside director Amy Dunlap, they were able to perform the Shakespeare show in the fall instead of the spring this year.
“She wouldn’t tell me what role I had until they actually announced the show [back in April], so I was super excited to find out that I would be Richard,” Stewart said.
Stewart shared that this role has been a lot different from previous roles that he has had due to the preparation to play Richard. In the play, Stewart’s character has visible physical deformities, but as the show progresses, the audience will see the mental decay into a wild boar.
“It’s a lot more emotionally taxing than other shows that I have been in because I haven’t had many serious roles. This one is a very heavy, serious role,” said Stewart. Stewart is known for playing more comedic roles such as Toad in last year’s production of “Frog and Toad” and Nick Bottom in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Stewart is also co-captain for NGU’s improv team, Required Chaos.
Although he has a lot of experience with acting, Stewart has perfected his craft for this show. He has spent countless hours preparing to perform with physical deformities and also physically preparing for a sword-fighting scene at the end of the show.
“In Shakespeare, Richard is considered one of the highest roles that a male can play, which is a very big honor for me,” Stewart said.
“Richard III” will open on November 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Billingsly Theater. The show will run November 14-16 and November 21-23. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the cast of “Richard III” looks forward to seeing you at this battle of wits.
