by Oliver Longenecker
The Process
Directed by Daniel Bird Tobin, our production of Hamlet began back in September with auditions, bringing in great interest both on the acting and technical side. Rehearsals began the following week. With the show cast, the long hours of design and construction began. After two months of hard work, we opened the show on Wednesday, November 13th, 2024. Four nights of shows, all sold out.
(Photo credit: Brian)
Meet the Cast
Hamlet: Nate Brantley
Ghost: Lauren Radeker
Gertrude: Annie Parks
Claudius: Ollie Gibson
Ophelia: Rosa Tamori
Laertes: John Calvin Gates
Polonius: Charles Naish
Horatio: Maggie Bowmann
Rosencrantz: Darian Wicker
Guildenstern: Jill Burnette
Francisco + Others: Rachel Crain
Barnardo + Others: Sophia Shannon
Marcellus + Others: Giana Lamarre
Meet the Crew
Lighting:
Eric Dahlgren (Lighting Designer)
Oliver Longenecker (Lighting Technician)
Elaina Ralston (Lighting Technician)
Dariona Gillen (Light Board Operator/Lighting Technician)
Sound:
Adie Harvey (Sound Designer)
Oliver Longenecker (Sound Board Operator)
Stage Management:
Chloe Beers (Stage Manager)
Ben Manno (Assistant Stage Manager)
Hadley Collins (Assistant Stage Manager)
Props:
McKenzie Snellgrove (Props Designer)
Adam West
Caitlynn Murphy
Scenic:
Matthew Hallock (Scenic Designer)
Eric Dahlgren
Caitlin Crum
Scenic Shop Staff
Costumes:
Kasee Arnett (Costume Designer)
Loki Edwards
Maggie Kincaid
Eunice Liu
Katia Marusich
Kailen McGregor
Hannah Morrison
Momo Ohki
Costume Shop Staff
Publicity
Erika Sengstack (Performing Arts Coordinator)
Kailen McGregor
Macy Stone
As big a scale as this show was, how did it all come together? What were the pieces that brought the walls up, the props in the actor’s hands, the lights that lit up the stage, and the sounds that immersed you in the experience?
We sat down with a couple of members of the crew and cast to tell us their experience working on this show, from sound, set, props, lights, and the challenges of building and working on such a large show.
“My thought process during Hamlet originally was, ‘wow, this is going to be super cool.’ And then we got the designs, then I started doing all the math, and I said, ‘oh no, this is going to be super big.’ Once it got rolling and looking at the list for the week, it was really stressful. I said, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to get this done.’ But, as we moved forward in the weeks, even each week individually, seeing everything, if almost by magic, by the hundreds of hours of student labor and professionals, our artists that came and helped, and all the student artists doing their work, watching it all come together it was just more and more exciting.” – Eric Dahlgren.
“At the first production meeting, we sat down and talked about what the feeling was. We realized the audience was going to be really close, so the sounds could be subtle. The atmosphere was kinda described as this ‘slowly fracturing’ place. It was described as ‘putting a new coat of paint over everything’, and that ‘everything is fine, everything is fine, don’t look behind the curtain’ type thing. I was told that sound was going to be the first thing that was letting you know that it wasn’t. So I had this I think pretty unique opportunity of being able to be the part of the atmosphere that makes you start to realize just how twisted the story is.” – Adie Harvey.
“I mainly followed Daniel and Matthew’s vision on it, because I feel like props are a thing that complements the scenic and directing design. But I definitely wanted it to feel like it stood out in the white canvas of the world of everything, and fit in with the costumes that Kasee made and designed in that color palette.” – McKenzie Snellgrove.
“[Hamlet] has felt so professional. I feel like I’ve been treated like an adult, and it’s just been a really awesome experience. I felt very comfortable. I’ve been able to work so hard, I’ve learned so much, and it’s just a really welcoming experience that I think you don’t get everywhere in every theater program, and I can’t speak highly of Daniel Bird Tobin enough. I mean, he’s just wonderful.” – Rachel Crain