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Our Revels Now Are Ended

VWU bids farewell to Hofheimer Theater, closing as it opened, with The Tempest


University News | October 18, 2018

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,  
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

William Shakespeare
From The Tempest, Act 4 Scene 1


Edward D. Hofheimer Theater first opened its doors in fall 1981 with William Shakespeare's “The Tempest.” And this fall—as Virginia Wesleyan prepares for the spring 2019 opening of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center—Hofheimer Theater will close this mainstage space as it opened, with a revisit of the Shakespearean classic. Directed by Batten Professor of Theatre Dr. Sally Shedd, VWU's fall 2018 production of "The Tempest" will hit the stage October 24-28.

Earlier this month, during Homecoming and Family Weekend, theatre and music alumni came home for an Arts Showcase—a retrospective of programs in Hofheimer Theater through the years. The weekend featured a special panel with Dr. Rick Hite, Emeritus Professor of Theatre, Dr. Stephen Mansfield, University Archivist and Vice President and Dean Emeritus, Shirley Hurd, actor/director and wife of late theatre professor Bentley Anderson, and current music and theatre faculty. It also provided audiences with previews from “The Tempest” and performances from the VWU Choirs, Jazz Ensemble, and Orchestra.

Theater Opening in 1981

According to Dr. Mansfield’s book “Wisdom Lights the Way, Virginia Wesleyan’s First Half Century," major developments energized the campus community at the outset of the fall 1981 semester. The formal opening of the Fine Arts Building addition, including Hofheimer Theater, was accompanied by a series of lectures; ballet and other musical performances; an exhibit from the Chrysler Museum Institute of Glass; and theatrical offerings—including "The Tempest"—all celebrating the place of the arts on campus. The theater wing contained a “black box” space that Dr. Hite and Dr. Anderson had advocated as the most versatile theater setting until a larger facility could be constructed in the future. Since 1973 the Theatre Department has offered eleven Shakespeare plays as mainstage productions.

Three Dramaturgs Offer Their Talents and Creative Insights

Dr. Martine Kei Green-Rogers ’02 and Mariah Taghavie-Moghadam ‘17 return to campus to serve as dramaturgs, along with Kerstin Holman ’19, for this fall's production of "The Tempest"—and for those who aren't exactly sure what a dramaturg is, it is defined as “a theatrical professional who brings an objective eye and creative input, along with deep research, to a theatrical work."

It is rare that there is more than one dramaturg on any show, however, this production of “The Tempest” brings the talents and creative insight from three. The trio collaborated to share their perspectives about the plot, story, and themes of "The Tempest," and to answer the standard dramaturgical queries—Why this play? Why now?

“I think we can compare the current production to the first production,” noted Holman. “When you look at the pictures, I am pretty sure there were no people of color in the 1981 production and that cannot be said at all for this current production. That shows growth in the diversity of the family of Virginia Wesleyan."

“A new community will soon begin with the christening of a new building,” said Green. “We are closing out this particular space with something familiar, but also illustrating that something has changed about us since the first time the first show was presented in this building."

"All of the characters in “The Tempest” deal with issues of enslavement and freedom," continued Green. "Their discoveries of what enslaves them and the keys to their freedom, is part of what makes this Shakespeare story so interesting. I wonder if one of the things we should leave the audience to think about is, 'What is the key to your freedom. . .?' If I had a mic, I would drop it.”

With this production, Hofheimer Theater's “revels now are ended.” Join the cast, crew, and campus community for this heartfelt and magical farewell.

"The Tempest" by William Shakespeare
Hofheimer Theater
October 24-27 (Wednesday-Saturday) at 7:30 p.m.
October 28 (Sunday) at 2:00 p.m.

Reservations: www.showtix4U.com; or email theatretix@vwu.edu