The Rochester Memorial School Drama Club will perform its 26th Shakespeare production, featuring “The Tempest” on May 2. Since 1988, the Drama Club has been performing Shakespeare under the direction of teacher, Danni Kleiman.
Each January 20-30 students are cast as the Bard’s most colorful characters in productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, and Hamlet. This year, students will delight audiences with a performance of The Tempest.
This magical play about a storm and a playful spirit includes Elise Mello as Prospera, Ceci Prefontaine as the spirit Ariel, Hannah Johnson as Prospera’s daughter Miranda, and Aidan Root as Ferdinand. The Tempest includes a cast and stage crew of 35 RMS students, and four students from ORR on the Senior Tech Crew.
This experience is unique for RMS students and gives them a chance to experience and learn the work of Shakespeare. They learn the importance teamwork, public speaking, stagecraft, and have fun along the way. One former sixth grade student was asked if he would audition for the TV show Zoom and he replied, “I can’t do television, I’m a Shakespearian Actor!” That pretty much says it all.
Ms. Kleiman designed the set for The Tempest. Community member Kate Tarleton designed costumes. In addition, the backstage crew is made up of senior tech members from ORR. These RMS alumni return to help with the production of the play and act as mentors. Members of the RMS staff, as well as members of the community, volunteered to pitch in with all aspects of the play to support this upcoming production.
Performance Schedule:
– In School Performance: Thursday May 1st at 1:30 pm
– Actual Performance: Friday May 2nd, at 7:00 pm
– Dress Rehearsals: April 28, 29 and 30, 3:15 – 5:15 pm at RMS
Tickets are $9 and can be purchased prior to the show by contacting Danni Kleiman at Rochester Memorial School at 508-763-2049, or at the door on the evening of the performance.
Please contact Tina Rood at 508-763-0597, or tinarood@comcast.net for any questions or to arrange a photo of this talented cast.