One of William Shakespeare’s earliest works is set to delight audiences with romance, humor and the classic case of mistaken identity in The Comedy of Errors April 3-12, 2015. The University of Florida (UF) School of Theatre + Dance production will be held in the Black Box Theatre located in the Nadine M. McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion on the UF campus. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. April 3-4 and April 7-11, and at 2 p.m. April 12. Tickets are $17 for the general public and are $13 for UF students, faculty/staff and senior citizens.
In The Comedy of Errors, Syracuse merchant Egeon is in search of his shipwrecked wife and son after being condemned to death for traveling between Syracuse and rival city Ephesus. As he is led to his execution, he pleads his story before the Ephesian Duke and laments his other son, a twin, currently searching for the rest of his family around the world. Moved by the tale, the Duke grants him one day to raise funds to save his head. Meanwhile, the globe-trotting son, Antipholus of Syracuse arrives in Ephesus with his slave, Dromio, only to be mistaken for his long-lost twin brother, known as Antipholus of Ephesus. What ensues is a mesh of love, lawbreaking and farcical fare for all audiences to enjoy.
Director Dr. Judith Williams describes the play as “a roller coaster of a ride for audiences at its core,” citing “romance, confusion, marriage and family” as key aspects of the slapstick comedy.
On adapting classic thematic elements of the play to satisfy modern audiences, Williams says, “There are a few themes or ideas that were relevant both during the time the play was written as well as in the modern world. Money is a huge thing at the beginning of the play and in today’s world ‘money talks,’ as they say. I was also intrigued with the idea of marriage in this play. Has it or has it not really changed in regards to the standards of sexual behavior of men and women?”
Tickets are $17 for the general public, and are $13 for students, UF faculty and staff and senior citizens. Group rates are available for parties of eight or more. Tickets are available through the University Box Office located at Gate 1 of the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, by calling 352-392-1653 or at ticketmaster.com. The University Box Office is open Tuesdays through Fridays: 12-5:30 p.m. and Saturdays: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased at the Constans Theatre Box Office starting 45 minutes prior to the performance.
The Nadine McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion is located at 687 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611. Parking is available across the street from the UF Bookstore & Welcome Center on the University of Florida located on Museum Road.
About the School of Theatre + Dance
The School of Theatre + Dance is one of the University of Florida College of the Arts’ institutionally-accredited schools. Undergraduate students can pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting, dance, musical theatre, theatre production—including costume design, lighting design and scenic design—or a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance studies or general theatre. Minors are also offered in dance and theatre as well as certificates in arts in medicine and dance in healthcare. Student organizations, showcase programs and other intensives provide students with invaluable professional experiences. UF is home to three School of Theatre + Dance performance venues, including the Constans Theatre, Black Box Theatre and G-6 Studio. To learn more about the School of Theatre + Dance, including upcoming performance dates and ticket information, visit www.arts.ufl.edu/theatreanddance.
About the College of the Arts
The College of the Arts, previously known as the College of Fine Arts, is one of the 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The College of the Arts offers baccalaureate, master’s and Ph.D. degree programs in its three institutionally-accredited schools — the School of Art + Art History, School of Music and School of Theatre + Dance. The college is home to the Center for Arts in Medicine, Center for Arts and Public Policy, Center for World Arts, Digital Worlds Institute, University Galleries and the New World School of the Arts in Miami. More than 100 faculty members and approximately than 1,200 students work together daily to engage, inspire and create. The college hosts more than 300 performances, exhibitions and events each year. Faculty and students also exhibit and perform at other local, national and international venues. To learn more, visit www.arts.ufl.edu.
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Media Contact
Leah Craig, Public Relations and Marketing Manager
University of Florida College of the Arts
Office: 352.273.1489 | Cell: 904.419.3346
lcraig@arts.ufl.edu
