SCHOOL DESK

A midwinter performance

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The College of Mount Saint Vincent is getting in touch with its Shakespearean roots with a little help from a new theater-company-in-residence.

In 1842, Edwin Forrest, a famous Shakespearean actor, built a castle designed to resemble Macbeth’s Scottish fortress.

The Fonthill Castle currently houses the Mount’s admissions and financial aid offices. 

But now it also inspires students preparing for an upcoming production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Red Monkey Theater Group, a non-profit performing arts company, moved into the newly built theater in Founders Hall this fall and will debut a modern remake of the classic with the help of Mount students in January. 

Stacey Cabezas, 21, a senior, is playing Tom Snout, a tinker and actor, and Peaseblossom, a fairy.

Ms. Cabezas said rehearsing beside paid professionals in her first non-school production has taught her a lot. She’s recently directed shows while serving as president of the CMSV Players, the College of Mount Saint Vincent’s student performing arts club. 

“With the students, I kind of direct more. I’m the head honcho. So it’s really humbling,” she said. “It’s really exciting to be the youngest person in the production. I’m the only student actor.” 

Bragilyn Ates, 20, a junior studying communications, said she was inspired to get involved with Red Monkey after she saw her theater teacher, Brad Crownover, in the company’s production of Uncle Vanya. She opted to work as an assistant stage manager to explore directing and get a closer look into what happens behind the scenes. She’s helped organize props, work the stage curtains and mark when an actor switches from one character to another in the script.

“One of the things I want to do is be a producer and direct ... I thought why not see how they do their work?” she said.

Stravenski Sylvain, 21, a junior also acting as an assistant stage manager, said it’s refreshing to see how much work and practice professional performers put into shows.

“To me, it’s a way of getting a little taste of Broadway,” Mr. Sylvain said.

college of mount saint vincent, midsummer nights dream, william shakespeare, theater, play
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