Odessa Arts, Odessa College, and the Texas Shakespeare Festival have announced the return of in person performances for this year’s Odessa Shakespeare Festival.
The festival starts Monday and runs through Friday with school performances of “As You Like It,” and “Twelfth Night.” The shows will be at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Odessa Arts Executive Director Randy Ham said there are a few spots left.
“Over 1,000 students from across the Permian Basin will be able to experience live theater, by professional actors, on our replica of Shakespeare’s Globe,” Ham said in a news release. “It is an opportunity that is unique to West Texas.”
Matthew Simpson, director of development for the Texas Shakespeare Festival agrees.
“Our road show travels all across East Texas in the fall, performing in schools, but nothing compares to closing the tour out with a week-long residency at The Globe. Seven actors from the Texas Shakespeare Festival Roadshow juggle multiple roles and backstage responsibilities during the week, making sure the performances go off without a hitch,” he said.
Ham said it’s important for students to experience live theater.
“Theater, especially Shakespeare, is meant to be experienced live. Many students read these works in class, but by only reading the text, you can miss body language, inflection and stage settings that can completely alter the meaning the playwright original intended,” Ham said.
“By witnessing these works in the setting of the Globe, performed by professional actors, students get a more holistic learning experience,” he added.
Ham said the show is made up of new cast members.
Public performances for the shows will be held on Friday and Saturday evening, and the roadshow will conduct several acting workshops as well. “Twelfth Night” will be staged at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 and “As You Like It” at 7 p.m. Nov. 20.
Tickets are $10/adults, $5/students. Odessa College faculty, staff and students are free for public performances with ID.
Tickets and information can be found at: odessashakespeare.org
