By D. A. Blackburn
John Neville-Andrews has served as the artistic producer of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival for 13 of its 15 seasons. Photo: MSF archives
John Neville-Andrews serves as artistic producer of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. As he prepares to launch his 13th season with the festival, he took a few minutes out of his schedule to speak with Between The Lines about what's new for 2009, how the festival has coped with the state's struggling economy and the performers who aim to make the 15th anniversary season of the MSF one the best.
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival went through some pretty significant changes prior to last season's opening, including some additional dates in Grand Rapids. What's new for 2009?
Well, we're not traveling this year, unfortunately, probably due to the economy more than anything else, but we are presenting our own musical. Last year, while we were in Grand Rapids, we presented the University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society's production of "The Mikado" so that was a totally sort of separate entity. But this year we're presenting and producing "Side By Side By Sondheim" as our third presentation, along with "The Tempest" and "As You Like It." And, we have something which we're kind of pleased about, a little educational initiative; that is Free Shakespeare for Kids. On Thursday nights and Saturday matinees, one young person can come to the theater with a full paying adult, and get in free.
How much of an impact has this rough economy had on the festival?
Well, on the production side, quite a lot, actually. You may know that we usually have a structure on the stage that we bring in from storage. This year, we couldn't really afford to do that, because we had to cut back on a number of production staff, and it takes between 10 and 12 people for that structure to be transported and re-erected on the stage. So we're not using the structure this year, which in a strange way, has really opened up creativity. I looked at the structure and thought, "well I've got to do 'The Tempest' on here. How am I going to do it?" And I had decided one way, and then when the structure disappeared, I had to totally rethink the show, which has been incredible. It's been a wonderful journey. It's made me more creative, and more inventive.
This year, due to sort of economic situations, we've had to cut back on our production budget. We're only using two Equity actors in stead of four, so that obviously opens up some roles for non-union actors, but we were fortunate in that there were a bunch of non-union actors, who are not students, who came to the audition this year. So we've been able to fill in the Rosalind and the Orlando, and the Miranda and the Ferdinand in "The Tempest" quite nicely, with some fairly well experienced young people.
Are there any performers you see as particular highlights?
Well I think it's the man who plays Prospero (Ed Simone) who will be a standout. He's a wonderful actor, and in fact, he won a Wilde Award a few years ago for his portrayal of Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" I directed. So Ed's back to do Prospero, and it's an ideal role for him. He's has that grandeur, that wonderful way with the language and the stage presence that's really required for someone like Prospero.
The young lady playing Miranda (Jennifer Drew), who actually moved to Grand Rapids about six or eight months ago, has worked at the Orlando Shakespeare Festival and then the Oklahoma Shakespeare Festival, and I think she's going to be pretty good too.
And then, Bill Irwin, who's an Equity actor and teaches at the University of Michigan Flint, is playing Jaques in "As You Like It," and he seems to be turning out some really interesting sort of rehearsals for that role.
'2009 Michigan Shakespeare Festival'
This year's schedule features "As You Like It," "The Tempest" and "Side By Side By Sondheim," which play in repertory July 15-Aug. 1 at Baughman Theatre at the Potter Center, Jackson Community College, 2111 Emmons Road, Jackson. $28. On Saturdays, the children's play "Laffin' School" will be performed for free. 517-796-8600. http://www.michiganshakespearefestival.com
