Shakespeare in LA

Dani Ramos as Ariel and Michael Kachingwe as Prospero in The Tempest. Photo credit: Tom Zasadzinski

Southern California Shakespeare Festival, a professional company in its 8th season operating under an Equity guest artist contract at Cal Poly Pomona, is continuing performances of The Tempest through September 30. The Festival is known for its non-traditional casting and this year, African American actor Michael Kachingwe is playing the sorcerer, Prospero, a role that usually goes to an older white man. Last year, Kachingwe played Queen Margaret opposite Lisa Wolpe as the King in Richard III. 

The Tempest (1611) is popularly believed to be the final piece written for the stage under the sole authorship of William Shakespeare. Some think he saved the best for last. This great romantic comedy has it all: danger, intrigue, politics, revenge, a mighty sorcerer, and his beautiful daughter who falls in love for the very first time with the handsome prince so conveniently shipwrecked near her beach home. The play still exerts an influence over popular culture four centuries later, ranging from “Forbidden Planet” to “Gilligan’s Island” to “Lost.”

In addition to Kachingwe, the multi-ethnic cast, directed by Sam Robinson, includes Dani Ramos, Phoenix Lee, Kiersten Tanopo, Andrea Lopez, Marissa Pitts, Adriana Flores, Andy Nguo, Kimberlee Stone, Jorge Flores, Job Barnett and Luis Arredondo.

The production team for the The Tempest includes – Costume designer: Corinne DiTullio. Set and sound designs: David Montanez. Lighting design: Jessica Gallegos. Festival Artistic Director: Linda Bisesti.

Performances are Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Also Friday, September 21 at 8pm at the Studio Theatre on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Building 25, Pomona , CA 91768. Tickets are $15. Seniors, students, faculty, staff: $12. For reservations please call (909) 869-3800 or go to www.southerncaliforniashakespearefestival.org.