KMC Onstage presents: ‘A Shakespeare Sampler’

Christine June
U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern


***image1***Shakespeare comes to Kaiserslautern in ‘bits and pieces.’ 
Actually, it’s scenes from 12 plays written by William Shakespeare and presented by KMC Onstage in June. 
“A Shakespeare Sampler” consists of scenes of comedy and tragedy woven together by sonnets, and is an original production from the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s Entertainment Director, Richard Roberts.

“I put this together because I think it’s a great show for people who are afraid or think they don’t like Shakespeare,” said Mr. Roberts, who has put on similar Shakespearean productions at the Roadside Theater in Heidelberg.

Scenes from well-known Shakespearean plays, such as “Othello” and “Much Ado About Nothing” are connected or commented by the sonnets in the two-hour production.

***image2***“They (scenes) are not always the ones you expect,” said Mr. Roberts. 
He cites the two scenes from “Romeo and Juliet,” where not one of them takes place on a balcony or even features both of the main characters.

“It’s scenes with Juliet and the nurse, which are very interesting scenes,” said Kerri Pangman, Mannheim American High School computer science teacher, who portrays the nurse in both scenes.

The whole idea behind this production is to highlight these scenes and sonnets on love, laughter and life that audiences might have missed in the full version of these well-known Shakespearean plays, said Mr. Roberts.

***image3***The production runs from June 1 to 17 at KMC Onstage, Bldg. 3232 on Kleber Kaserne. Performances are 7:30 p.m. June 1, 2, 7, 9, 15 and 16, and 3 p.m. June 10 and 17. Cost is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, ages 12 and older, and $8 for children, ages 6 to 11. For details, call KMC Onstage at 483-6626.