Shakespeare is the bane of high school English students everywhere. But there is a reason the Bard of Avon is still popular. His works remain relatable and entertaining. This is why about a dozen Blackburn theater students jumped at the chance to attend a free Shakespeare workshop with Dr. Sharon Ammen, professor emeritus from St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana. Theater professor Carolyn Conover mentored under Ammen and knew her expertise could be used at Blackburn. Senior computer science and musical theater double major Jessica Cramer said, “You could easily tell that Sharon Ammen had a lot of experience, not only with Shakespeare, but also teaching and acting in general. She was filled with energy and enthusiasm for her art and you could tell that she is passionate about her work.”
The two-hour workshop (hosted by Ammen) took place on the Bothwell stage on Saturday, Sept. 9.
Ammen was a guest speaker the following day in Conover’s dramatic literature and acting class. Her lecture focused on May Irwin and other influential women of the Vaudeville era. Ammen is an expert on these topics and recently published a book called, “Singing, Shouting, and the Shadow of Minstrelsy.”
Most of the Shakespeare workshop attendees were students who will be performing in the Blackburn College Department of Music and Theatre’s rendition of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Conover explained, “Students and young actors are often intimidated by classical text, so it is very valuable to interact with the text in a way that feels like it’s possible. There is no need to be afraid of it. When we work to understand the core of what is being said, we can see very quickly how much we actually understand. Watching students make these discoveries for themselves is so exciting. When you can see them think, ‘Oh yeah! I get it!’”
Dr. Sharon Ammen lead a Shakespeare workshop in Bothwell on the weekend of Saturday Sept. 9
Ammen began with exercises to loosen up and familiarize herself with the actors. After this she led dramatic and theatrical readings, teaching the students about the importance of inflection and the way the old English is meant to be read. Conover wants the actors to take their workshop experience and apply it to their upcoming production. “We have already been applying some of the concepts in rehearsal, primarily the use of paraphrase and pulse,” said Conover. “Often, new actors are afraid to be big and fill the space, but these are large characters, and we need to fill them and do them justice! I always tell my actors that I don’t want to watch actors talking on a stage. I want characters who live in a world. That is our goal of the play.” The Blackburn College Department of Music and Theatre’s rendition of “Twelfth Night” will open on Nov. 2 and will run through Nov. 5.