Annual Shakespeare production gets big props
Garrison School eighth graders performed William Shakespeare’s The Tempest in front of students, faculty and staff on Thursday, March 7, and in front of family and friends Tuesday evening, March 12. The Tempest is about Prospero, an aging magician banished to a remote island who conjures up a storm to lure his old enemies to the island.
The Garrison School always puts a unique spin on the theme of the annual Shakespeare performance, and this year eighth graders selected a post-apocalyptic punk aesthetic for the setting and costumes of The Tempest. This production of the Garrison School’s custom theater-in-the-round stage also featured backgrounds created by the students and faculty as well as some innovative staging, including a giant windsurfing sail over 5 meters tall designed to simulate a ship caught in a storm.
“This production of The Tempest has the most scenery, the largest props and the most elaborate costumes the Garrison School has ever attempted for a Shakespeare production,” The Tempest director and English language arts teacher Ian Berger explained. “We hope the audience will feel as though they have been shipwrecked along with the cast.”
Following a more recent Garrison School tradition, this production of The Tempest featured a female Prospero dominating the island with her magical powers. Prospero was portrayed by eighth grader Chloe Davis.
Berger would like to thank the faculty, staff and parent volunteers who helped to make the performance a success. Special thanks go to Heather Campbell for helping design the costumes, running sound and choreographing the wedding scene; to Randi Davis for her help with the costumes and organizing the production; to Guidance Counselor Michael Williams for managing the lighting; to art teacher Coulter Young for designing the background for the production; and to Dick Timmons and Brian Brutting for their help with the staging and lighting.
