At Parkland College next week, you’ll be able to donate to a good cause and put a pro through his paces during a performance of Shakespeare on Demand.
The concept is crazysimple: shout out a scene you want to see one man and a few props perform, and he will attempt it solo, even if there are multiple parts. By all accounts (on his website), he’s pretty good at it. Of course, with a name like Tyrus Lemerande, it appears as though he was born to it.
Jason Peterson of Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School discovered Knighthorse Theatre Company while out east on Cape Cod. He says,
“…they were outstanding. I wanted to bring them to my students if I could. They were dynamic, creative, and fun, and offered insights into the meaning and impact of the plays as well. It seemed like a great educational opportunity.”
Peterson has a full two days planned for Knighthorse, with them performing for the students on Wednesday and working with the honors students on Thursday to help create 10-minute versions of Hamlet.
Unfortunately, the high school was only able to come up with $500 of the $1500 necessary to fund the venture, but the company has decided to take the risk and make the trip out here anyway. The $10 tickets to be sold for the public performance will hopefully make up the difference.
So bring 99 of your friends to the Tony Noel Building of Parkland College, room W-115, on Wednesday 11/30 at 7 p.m. Have $10 in hand and help bring the excitement and enrichment of live Shakespeare performance to English students and theatre kids.
Questions? Email Jason Peterson, he’ll be happy to provide more details.