Bringing “the greatest works to the greatest number,” the nationally recognized Aquila Theatre, will bring its touring stage production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest to the George Mason University Center for the Arts on Friday, January 23, 2015 at 8 PM.
The Aquila touring productions are generally on college campus venues. The Tempest arrives on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University and its nearly 2000 seat Center for the Arts Concert Hall on January 23rd. This is just a few days after Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of The Tempest ends its extended run at the Sidney Harman Hall.
This column builds upon my September 2014 DC Theater Arts article about the Aquila Theater’s fall 2014 appearances in the area including its performance of The Tempest at the Hylton Center in Manassas.
Now, for those where cost may be an issue to take in a live performance; there is a special rate for children and youth through grade 12: half price for a ticket. George Mason University offers George Mason University students with ID a special rate as well. Check with the George Mason box office for details: (888) 945-2468, Near-by, on campus parking is available. There are light refreshments available before and during intermission at the Concert Hall.
There is also a pre-show discussion about the production about 45 minutes before the curtain sponsored by the Friends of the Center for the Arts. The discussion will be lead by Rick Davis, Professor of Theater, and Executive Director, Hylton Performing Arts Center.
I asked Shakespeare scholar and George Mason University Professor Robert Matz from the Mason College of Humanities and Social Sciences some questions about The Tempest via email.
David: Why does The Tempest endure?
Robert: The Tempest is both a revenge fantasy and a tale of forgiveness. So we enjoy the experience of getting back at someone, without feeling bad about it! It’s also almost a parable—a less happy one—about European encounters in the new world, which gives it a lot of historical resonance. Finally, the language is absolutely beautiful.
Why should Millenials see a production of The Tempest, especially if they have never seen a live production before?
Well, I think anyone will enjoy a production of The Tempest, millennial or not. It’s a blend of sea adventure, revenge plot, love story, low comedy, and high myth and magic. There’s tons of variety in the play. It’s also a very theatrical, even spectacular play. It comes from a kind of Renaissance drama that emphasized elaborate stage sets, special effects, costume, sound, music, and dance over more ordinary plot and dialogue. People used to the kind of spectacle one finds in TV, film, or video games should feel at home in The Tempest, with the added excitement of seeing it live.
The Tempest will be performed on Friday, January 23, 2014 at 8 p.m. at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts – 4400 University Drive, in Fairfax, VA. For tickets, call the box office at (888) 945-2468, or by purchasing them online.
