Drama school dean Stan Wojewodski Jr. says the graduating acting class, shown above, has the talent to meet the challenge of performing Shakespeare's "RIchard III."

Graduating actors to perform in 'Richard III'

The malevolent machinations of one of Shakespeare's most notorious villains unfold in "Richard III," now on stage at the Yale Repertory Theatre. The special project, which features students from the School of Drama's graduating acting class, is directed by Stan Wojewodski Jr., dean of the school and artistic director of the Yale Rep. It will run through Saturday, April 8. Twisted in both mind and body and lusting for power, Richard of Gloucester charts a ruthless course of murder and trickery to gain the throne. Once he is king, Richard becomes riddled with paranoia, fearing for his safety and position. The strife leads to a war in which Richard exclaims that he'll trade his kingdom for a horse. "In 'Richard III,' Shakespeare has grafted tragedy onto a full-blooded melodrama," says Wojewodski. "At the top of the play, Richard is the quintessential arch villain. ... But by the play's end, he has assumed the stature of a tragic hero railing against implacable Fate to his ultimate cost. "This juxtaposition creates not only the play's major challenge, but its tremendous power as well," adds the Dean. "The jarring of these two styles has the force of bombardment -- an intense release of energy. That is what makes the choice of this play so right for the very talented third-year class of actors at the drama school." The drama students who will appear in the play are (in alphabetical order) Sidné Anderson, Rick Bank, James Bellavance, Paul Vincent Black, Brennan Brown, Eric Martin Brown, Keith Davis, Robert L. Devaney, Alexa Fischer, Geraldine Guo, John Woo Taak Kwon, Lael Logan, Harvey Gardner Moore, Amy Morse, Ronald Dean Nolen and Alicia Roper. They will be joined on stage by New Haven-area actors Robert Iulo, Robert Libetti, David Mason and Joe Tantalo, as well as Martin Peters, a fifth-grader at Wintergreen Magnet School in Hamden, and David R. Spears, a fourth-grader at Helen E. Grant Elementary School in New Haven. Wojewodski is now in his ninth year at the Yale school and theater. His directing credits at the Yale Rep include "Pentecost," "Candida," "First Lady," "Edward the Second" and last season's "Hay Fever." He has also staged productions at Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, and at regional theaters throughout the United States. The artistic team for "Richard III" includes scenic designer Scott Pask; costume designer Katherine Roth; lighting designer Jennifer Tipton; and composer and sound designer Fitz Patton, a second-year drama student. Rounding out the artistic team are production dramaturgs Cynthia T. Brizzell and Sean Libby, speech consultant Barbara Somerville and vocal consultant Walton Wilson. The fight scenes are directed by Rick Sordelet. Show times are 7 p.m. on Monday and 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays, March 25 and April 1 and 8, and Wednesday, April 5. Tickets are $10-$34; discounts are available for students, senior citizens and groups. For more information, call the Yale Rep box office at (203) 432-1234. T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S Yale study shows cocaine vaccine is safe, effective Film echoes voices from Yale's Holocaust archive Student scholars win prestigious honors USA Today names Rodberg to College Academic Team Marshall awarded annual Paul Mellon Fellowship Psychiatrist shares her stories with children throughout the world Endowed Professorships Professors and former trustee are honored by Phi Beta Kappa 'High priest' of political writers is next Poynter Fellow Graduating actors to perform in 'Richard III' Storytellers to spin yarns from around the world at festival Better pest controls may result from researchers' discovery Noted businessman talks about the world of wine Changed procedures would make for a more effective international court, judge contends MEDICAL SCHOOL NEWS Researchers will test new ways to curb transmission of HIV Study pinpoints dizziness as 'geriatric syndrome Procedure helps quiet auditory hallucinations Team shows protein's potential for treating mental disorders Former Yale treasurer and attorney John E. Ecklund dies Yale's Slater keeps St. Patrick's Day parade moving smoothly Exhibit features artist's series of biblical images Conference to explore 'Rebuilding Societies in Transition' Scholar describes Canada's difficult 'balancing act' Colloquium will aid those who are interested in establishing language-study centers Yale SOM event will focus on strategies for the 'new economy' Memorial service is scheduled for noted geologist Karl Waage Renewable energy is topic of conference Campus Notes Yale Scoreboard In the News Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus| Calendar of Events|Bulletin Board Classified Ads|Search Archives|Production Schedule|Bulletin Staff Public Affairs Home|News Releases| E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page