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Bard in the Barn 2010 performance of "Troilus and Cressida." Pictured (l-r), guest artist Alex Freeman, Brian LeTraunik (MFA '10) and Caitlyn Herzlinger (MFA '11)
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Bard in the Barn Oct. 8 at Flack Barn

October 5, 2011

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MACOMB – "Unrehearsed Shakespeare" returns as the 6th annual Bard in the Barn festival, sponsored by Western Illinois University's Department of Theatre and Dance, will be held Saturday, Oct. 8 at the historic Flack Barn located at 1600N – Hwy. 136 in rural Macomb. Performances include a history and a tragedy – "King John" at noon and "Timon of Athens" at 3 p.m.

The concept of unrehearsed Shakespeare includes performance techniques that help create a relationship between the actors and the audience, according to Bill Kincaid, WIU theatre professor and head of acting.

"Unrehearsed Shakespeare performance attempts to recreate what it may have been like for Elizabethan audiences and actors to experience the work of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. The experience relies on a new understanding of the relationship between actors and audience, and a deep appreciation of the clues hidden in an acting text, which allow the plays to be performed without rehearsal," said Kincaid.

"The actors receive scrolls, with only their lines and their cues on them. The actors study their roles, from these ‘rolls,' or cue scripts, and use them in performance. The plays are performed without intermission and the audience is encouraged to move around if they want a better view, bring food, talk if they want, and certainly interact with the actors. In a theatre that originally held large crowds of unruly people, plays were designed to communicate with all elements of that audience. This includes cheering and jeering. In our 21st century attempt to recreate that dynamic, actors are trained to be fearless and daring in their work – and they have to be," Kincaid added.

Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and food.

Bard in the Barn originated in 2006 when Kincaid wrote a grant to the University Research Council, that gave him the ability to offer his students the opportunity to perform Shakespeare unrehearsed. That grant was followed by Performing Arts Society grants. Since then, Bard has become such a popular performance opportunity for the students that the theatre and dance department has initiated a class in unrehearsed technique for the first time this fall.

This year, among the 19 out-of-town guests coming to Macomb to perform in "King John" and "Timon of Athens," is a cast of theatre alums including: Zack Meyer (BA ‘09), Jared McDaris (MFA ‘10), Nicholas Schell (MFA ‘08), Mike Speck (MFA ‘05), Erin O'Connor (BA ‘11), Zachary Roberts (MFA ‘11), Glen Wall (MFA ‘09), Joshua Murphy (MFA ‘09) and Ashlee Edgemon (MFA ‘10). Faculty members DC Wright and Carolyn Blackinton will also participate. The annual unrehearsed Shakespeare event draws participants from as far away as Florida and Washington.

Individual tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students for one play or $8 for adults and $5 for students for both plays. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 201 S. Lafayette, or at the College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean's Office, Browne Hall 117. They will also be available before each performance at the Flack Barn. All proceeds will benefit the Lori Haney Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Western Illinois theatre and dance department.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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