“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” is one of two plays being prepared for this year’s 20th annual Kern Shakespeare Festival.
It will be presented in 1959 America, but will keep to the original language of Shakespeare. Costumes will include jeans and full skirts instead of tights and they will be worn to the music of Buddy Holly.
The other production is the tragedy, “Richard III.”
Both plays will be held in the BC Indoor Theater at 8 p.m.
“Richard III” will be performed on Oct. 8, 10, 16, 18, 22and 24.
“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” will be showcased on Oct. 9, 11, 15, 17, 23 and 25.
“Richard III” is co-directed by Randy Messick and Pamela Soler. Messick has been part of the Shakespeare Festival for 20 years. He is active with every aspect of the production from picking the plays to selecting guest directors to help with the production. Messick will also star in the production as Richard III.
According to Messick, the crew began working on the plays during the summer, but rehearsals began about a month ago. The cast is now having daily rehearsals Monday through Friday from 4 to 10:30 p.m.
“The rehearsals are going good,” said Guinevere Park-Hall, stage director and production manager for both plays. “The air conditioner is broken in the north theater. Everyone is complaining about that, but it is going good. It is always an exciting process to see it go from paper to the stage.”
Bob Kempf will direct. “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” He has been with the festival off and on since its inception. Kempf is a part-time teacher at BC.
According to Kempf, he not only teaches the actors how they should perform the lines, but he also helps them handle the language of Shakespeare.
Kempf worked as an actor in Los Angeles for 15 years before coming to Bakersfield.
He appeared in movies, commercials and television shows, such as “Seinfeld” and “ER.” Kempf will be sharing his theatrical abilities with BC through his performance in “Richard III” as the character Buckingham.
“The artistic director and I went to college and graduate school together,” said Kempf. “We have always enjoyed working together.”
Park-Hall assists Messick and balances communication between the artistic director, show director, costume director and others.
“I am very passionate about the festival,” said Park-Hall. “It gives students a taste of professional theater and it gives the community a chance to experience repertory theater.”
According to Messick, along with the Shakespeare Festival, three more plays will be performed this school year.
The plays include “The Laramie Project,” “Chicago” and “Cabaret.” Kim Chin is directing “The Laramie Project,” which will be performed in November. Auditions for “Chicago” begin at the end of the semester.
“It is great to keep Shakespeare’s plays alive,” said Kempf. “It speaks to every type of person, whether you are a professor or a student. He wrote for the masses.”