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Steel City Shakespeare presents As You Like It
Steel City Shakespeare opens its 2025 season of plays with the ageless comedy, As You Like It. The tale of mistaken identity, inconvenient love, brotherly hate, the witty wordplay is at times tender, poignant, ridiculous, outrageous, and even contemplative.
Steel City Shakespeare furthers its mission to promote joy through classic works and educational experiences. In this production, the audience gets to share in the burgeoning talent of teen interns both onstage and off. “I have learned much from this show…” states 8th grader Siena Forschein, who at 14 years old, has already taken on internship and costume/prop design roles. “...from how to choose the right costume pieces for the characters, to how to efficiently take stage direction notes in scenes where a lot happens at once.”
While the casting is minimalist in true Steel City Shakespeare form, there is no shortage of personality. Artistic director Jeffrey Chips shares that “Every character, big or small, is written with a sense of depth and dignity,” he states. “[Audiences] get to see some awesome extreme casting at work with five actors taking on a cast of more than a dozen characters, with lots of quick shifts and clever footwork to make it all happen.”
Recognizing the original musical compositions, Chips goes on to say, “I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a group of serious musical talents who will blow you away with their arrangements of popular folk tunes and original compositions.”
Bob Colbert, one of Steel City Shakespeare’s most frequently seen actors, shares, “It's more musical integration than any other show I've done with Steel City Shakes, and it is so much fun to collaborate with the rest of the cast to create stripped-down acoustic arrangements of these songs in a very folk/bluegrass/upper Appalachia kind of sound.”
Production Manager and Educational Director Lauren Scheller-Wolf appears in her sixth Steel City Shakespeare production as the lovestruck and deceptive Rosalind. “As You Like It can give us hope in the power of community at a time when that is desperately needed,” shares Scheller-Wolf. She continues, “As You Like It is really just Shakespeare’s version of a rom-com! It’s silly, funny, sweet, and heartwarming in turns. But it also somehow manages to say a lot about displacement, family, loyalty, our place in the natural world, culture shock, and, above all else, community.”
She appears alongside veteran actress Lexi Hellinger (Celia), who sees the strength and resilience of these characters. She states, “I hope the audience learns that sometimes it’s worth taking that risk! Rosalind and Celia leave everything behind for a chance for a new and different life.”
Mike Kirk, most recently seen as Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, returns to Steel City as a variety of comedic and nuanced characters. “Steel City’s approach to theater is one that is always promoting new ideas and fresh takes on art. I love to work here because I have always found myself heard and respected.” he states. “...all the world may be a stage, but that doesn’t mean the performance of life can’t be beautiful.”
Chips agrees. “If Steel City Shakespeare Center's mission is to engage and inspire community, As You Like It is about celebrating community, including all of its quirks, and even while enduring fundamental changes.” He continues, “...even though these two adjacent communities might seem like they sometimes exist on different planets, their common experiences and underpinning values share far more similarities than differences.”
In keeping with Steel City Shakespeare’s tradition, tickets are available in a “Pay As You Like It” manner. Suggested ticket donation is $20, however audience members are welcome to pay more or less if they so desire. “Our goal is to make theatre accessible to all,” states Hannah Moss, managing director and resident costume designer. “Art is not free, and we believe that our community will support us in continuing to share wonderful classic theatre.”
Performances are March 28, 2025 through April 6, 2025. Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 2pm. Please join us for a few hours of storytelling, song, whimsy, and a bit of truth.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2931716-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2931716-2
