MOBY DICK at Southwest Shakespeare Company

SOUTHWEST SHAKESPEARE TO PRESENTS AN AMERICAN EPIC

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—Southwest Shakespeare Company will be performing an adaptation of Moby Dick, March 20- April 4, 2026 at Mesa Arts Center. Herman Melville’s novel is a complex American story exploring themes like obsession, revenge, faith, and the nature of evil. This imaginative production by Mark Rosewinkel sculpts the story into a tight 80 minutes with a cast of four. Ideal for young and old, audiences can expect this important story to be told with music, movement and bravado.

“Southwest Shakespeare supports history, literacy and classics in every sense of the word. Moby Dick takes us on a journey as epic as Pericles and through all the madness of Lear. I can’t wait to see audiences stomp and sing along with us. ” says Keath Hall, Southwest Shakespeare Company Artistic Director.

Moby Dick tells the story of the whaling ship Pequod's voyage. A young idealistic man, Ishmael, serves as our narrator through his journey becoming a sailor. Concern begins to grow as we learn more about Captain Ahab and his monomaniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white whale that took his leg  As they face troubles and tempests, the fate of the crew remains dubious.

Public performances of the show will be presented at 7:30pm on March 20, 21, 27, 28, 2, 3, 4 and at 2pm on March 21, 22, 28, 29, and 4. There are special weekday matinees for student and senior living groups at 10am on March 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 1, 2, and 3.

The show will be directed by Hall and features acting talents of Justin Hosten, Tom Mangum, Braden Wahl, and Keath Hall

A Flachmann Seminar discussing Moby Dick will be presented Saturday March 21 at 9am at Mesa Arts Center, with a separate admission cost. This half-day seminar will be led by Dr. Susan Willis, who since 1985 has worked with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival as its resident dramaturg, a director on its MFA faculty, a public speaker, and author of study materials and program notes. Dr. Willis is also Professor Emerita of English at Auburn University at Montgomery. She holds degrees from Emory University and the University of Virginia and  has led Southwest Shakespeare’s Flachmann seminars since 2013. 

Show tickets range from $41.50-$71.50 with discounts for Seniors, Students and Educators. Mesa Arts Center is located in downtown Mesa at One East Main Street, Mesa. Tickets, more information and details are available at SWSHAKESPEARE.ORG.