St. Joseph-Ogden High School Drama Director Chandler Dalton is challenging her actors.
The students are tackling Shakespeare this fall.
“When picking a play I have to take into account that I have to accommodate for a larger cast and this one wasn’t super cheesy,” she said. “I found that it would be a challenge for the kids since most of them have never performed anything Shakespeare.”
SJO Drama Department will be presenting “I Hate Shakespeare” on Oct. 21 and 22. The Oct. 21 show will take place at 7 p.m. and the Oct. 22 show will take place at 2 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased from an actor or purchased at the door. Adults cost $7, students cost $6 and seniors and kids under 12 are $5.
Even though the play isn’t a traditional Shakespeare show as it includes zombies, talking cows and a TV host, lots of characters do wear traditional Shakespeare costumes.
“We are very lucky to have Mahomet-Seymour High School nearby who have let us borrow some of their costumes,” Dalton said.
Dalton said the students spent their second rehearsal in the library where she went through the main plots of the Shakespeare plays mentioned in this play.
“The kids needed to understand the Shakespeare plays that are covered in the show before they turn them upside down and make them funny,” she said.
Despite the challenging material, Dalton said the students have risen to the occasion.
“The kids are having fun so far and are really enjoying it,” she said. I’m really impressed with their progress thus far.”
This is Dalton’s second year as Drama Director. She took over the program last year after the retirement of longtime Director Larry Williams. Last year, Dalton ran the program the way Williams did. This year, she made some changes.
“I’ve added some of my own personal touches to the rulebook and so far we haven’t had any problems,” she said. “I definitely feel like I’m a lot tougher on the kids with this show in particular because we plan on submitting it for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival.”
