The ETSU Department of Theatre and Dance debuted a radio style performance of Shakespeare’s “King Lear” on April 23.
The performance is modeled after the 1930s “The Mercury Theatre on the Air” radio drama originally hosted by Orson Welles and John Houseman.
It is co-directed by faculty member Herb Parker and theatre and dance professor Bobby Funk. Parker will voice the lead.
“Reading the plays, recording all of this led really to our thinking of how the Mercury Theater produced many of their productions on, what was for them, just a natural platform in the 1930s, the radio,” said Parker.
This format allowed them to cast as many students as possible in acting and production roles. Sound effects are essential to this production style.
“It made sense very well for our particular casting because there are many wonderful women’s roles and also quite a few other roles that we decided to double cast because we had so many students show up to audition,” said Parker.
The production includes specifically chosen music, sound effects and the most popular scenes from the production.
“There are moments that Professor Funk and I have between scenes to talk about not only those scenes, but about the acting of Shakespeare,” Parker said. “And the nice byproduct from our Zoom rehearsals is that we were able to capture several moments of instruction where we worked with the students specifically.”
This will be Parker’s last production as an ETSU faculty member.
“I would say that it’s been a great pleasure and a great ride, and I can’t think of a better way to say au revoir as I move onto other pastures from ETSU,” said Parker.
Students can view the show for free on the Department of Theatre and Dance’s website (www.etsu.edu/theatre) until April 29.
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