The Shakespeare Players Opens OTHELLO At Highland Bowl July 1

The Shakespeare Players, a program of the Rochester Community Players, is presenting Shakespeare's tragedy Othello this summer as our 15th annual Free Shakespeare at the Highland Bowl. The production is being directed by Stephanie Roosa and produced by Patrick White. This production is co-sponsored by the Monroe County Parks Department.

Twelve performances of Othello are scheduled, from July 1 to July 16. All performances are free (donations are requested) and start at 8:00 PM. The performance will take place at the Highland Park Bowl, 1200 South Avenue, Rochester NY (corner of South Avenue and Robinson Blvd.) The performance schedule:

Friday July 1
Saturday July 2
Sunday July 3
Tuesday July 5
Wednesday July 6
Friday July 8
Saturday July 9
Sunday July 10
Tuesday July 12
Wednesday July 13
Friday July 15
Saturday July 16

People attending the production should bring a lawn chair or blanket. Insect repellent is recommended. Light refreshments and beverages will be sold at the performance. Regular Monroe County Parks Department alcohol policy applies to this production. If rain is threatening, please call 585-234-7840 for rain-out information.

The story: Othello, a "Moor" (African), has risen to lead the military in the powerful city-state of Venice. His third-in-command, Iago had loved and worshiped him. But when Othello appointed another (Casio) to be his lieutenant, Iago became secretly incensed and outraged when passed over for promotion . He vows revenge by any means available, and recruits a foolish, rich nobleman, Rodrigo, to assist him in his schemes. Meanwhile, Othello had secretly married Desdemona, the teenage daughter of a leading Venetian senator. Her father, Senator Brabantio, was angered, but Othello's military skills had become so valuable that the Duke of Venice overlooked his foreign, African origins and blessed the marriage. The relationship was built on rather shallow foundations: young Desdemona was in awe of Othello's marital exploits, and he, in turn, was moved by her hero-worship. Iago exploits the relationship, implanting in Othello's mind the false conviction that Desdemona was having an affair with Casio. Iago plays all the characters like a musical instrument, astonishing himself at how his improvised evil machinations (arguments and intrigues) turn others against Othello, and Othello against Desdemona, to tragic results. Othello is considered one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies, with Iago as an astounding character (a charismatic, intelligent evil doer), and the inter-racial relationship between Othello and Desdemona shockingly modern for a play written in 1603.

The production is being directed by Stephanie Roosa of Irondequoit, past president of the Penfield Players and founder of Out of Pocket Productions, a theater program that raises funds for charities. Jonathan Ntheketha (Othello), a resident of Greece, has performed with us in our last five Shakespeare Players productions: Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet (Highland Bowl 2007), Touchstone in As You Like It (Highland Bowl 2008), Horatio in Hamlet (Highland Bowl 2009), Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing (Highland Bowl 2010) and Macduff in Macbeth (MuCCC 2010.) Jonathan was married last summer and became a father just a week ago, but the show must go on! Jeffrey Jones (Iago), who lives in the City just a few blocks from the Bowl, is an English and Philosophy professor at Monroe Community College. Jeff appeared last summer at the Highland Bowl as Don John in Much Ado About Nothing. Samantha Mehert (Desdemona) may be only 18 years old, but she has performed with Geva and studied at the George Brown Theatre School in Toronto.

Desdemona Necklace raffle: Borrowing an idea from our friends at Shakespeare at Delaware Park, Buffalo, we will be holding a raffle during the run of Othello for the necklace our Desdemona will be wearing on stage. Lisa Helen Hoffman, one of our enthusiastic backers, has hand-crafted the necklace, and is donating it to the program.

Acknowledgment of support: This event is funded by the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York State Legislature.

About the program: The Rochester Community Players is one of the oldest community theater organizations in the United States, having continuously operated since 1925. Our Shakespeare Players program was started in 1994 and, since 1997, we have produced free Shakespeare productions at the Highland Park Bowl. Othello is our 630th RCP production, our 34th Shakespeare Players production, and our 15th annual free Shakespeare at the Bowl production. This Fall, we will be presenting The Merchant of Venice at MuCCC October 28 to November 19 (auditions Oct. 1 & 2.) We also operate the new Rochester Shakespeare Literary Society, a free program, open to the public, where Shakespeare fans meet on the second Sunday of each month at Barnes & Noble, Pittsford Plaza, at 12:00 noon, to discuss Shakespeare and Shakespearean productions being produced in Western New York.