Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure Preview

J. Todd Adams

Rick Peeples

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure

Adapted by Steven Dietz

Based on the original 1899 play by William Gillette

and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Directed by James R. Sullivan

As the Fall Season approaches, we’re once again opening the stage door to give you some behind the scenes peek at these new productions. Today’s preview is the first look at Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure; check back each day this week on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest as we bring you company interviews, as well as podcasts and photos.

Principal Characters:

Sherlock Holmes, played by J. Todd Adams: A world-renowned and brilliant English detective, Sherlock Holmes believes he is coming to the end of this career and life—but is he?

Doctor Watson, played by Brian Vaughn: Holmes’s loyal friend and trusted companion, Doctor Watson always patiently tries to help his friend and always gets pulled into adventures whether he wishes to or not.

Professor Moriarty, played by Rick Peeples**:** The villain, a genius of crime, and Holmes’s archenemy, Professor Moriarty is just as brilliant intellectually and logically as Holmes, which is why he is such a perfect counterpart to him.

Irene Adler, played by Melinda Pfundstein: A famous opera star, Irene Adler soon catches the eye of Holmes. He is enamored by her, but meets his match, as she is fiery and not one to be bested by his cunning and intellect.

Summary:

Could this be Sherlock Holmes’ final case? Could the logical detective who has survived poison, pistols, and other predicaments actually be laid low by his love for a woman? The villainous Professor Moriarty thinks so. And, despite the best efforts of Holmes and Dr. Watson, Moriarty may just be right. “The game is afoot, Watson—and it is a dangerous one!”

You can learn more information about the play at http://www.bard.org/plays/sherlock2014.html Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure opens September 18 in preview and runs through October 18. You can buy tickets at www.bard.org or by calling 800-PLAYTIX.

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Brian Vaughn

Melinda Pfundstein

Fall Season - Revel in Mystery, Comedy and Romance

Thomason as Gabriella & Mattfeld as Robert in Boeing Boeing

A scene from Twelfth Night

As the weather gets crisper and the nights get longer, the Utah Shakespeare Festival is gearing up for its fall season. The outrageous farce, Boeing Boeing, by Marc Camoletti opens September 17, and Steven Dietz’s adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure opens September 18. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, which opened in June, bridges the gap between summer and fall. All three shows will run in repertory in the Randall L. Jones Theatre until October 18.

“The fall season is an extension to our summer programming that offers patrons another glimpse into the Festival’s offerings,” commented Artist Director Brian Vaughn. “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure and Boeing Boeing along side Shakespeare’s very popular Twelfth Night, make for an exciting slate of plays that continue to explore variety, comedy, mystery, and love. These are all a part of our continued mission in bringing classic and contemporary drama to our audience. Plus, it is the most beautiful time to visit southern Utah. We have delightful drama all around.”

Boeing Boeing is about American playboy Bernard Lawrence, an architect based in Paris. He lives with his Italian, German, and American fiancées, all flight attendants for three different airlines. However, none of the women know about the other two, and this is exactly the way Bernard has designed it. Things begin to unravel when there is a change to the women’s flight schedules, making it increasingly difficult to keep them apart, and eventually bringing all three of them home on the same day. In addition, Bernard’s long-time friend, Robert Lambert, has arrived in town unexpectedly. He is brought in on the outrageous arrangement and finds himself trying to help Bernard and the sticky situation he is in. It is a bumpy, but hilarious ride in this farce, full of flirtatious hijinks, slamming doors, and utter confusion.

The world’s greatest detective has seemingly reached the end of his remarkable career in Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure when a case presents itself that is too tempting to ignore. The King of Bohemia is about to be blackmailed by a notorious photograph, and the woman at the heart of this crime is the famous opera singer, Irene Adler. With his trusted companion, Doctor Watson, at his side, Sherlock Holmes pursues first the case, and then the affections of Miss Adler—and in doing so, marches right into the lair of his longtime adversary, that malevolent genius of crime: Moriarty. Could this be Sherlock Holmes’ final case? Could the logical detective who has survived poison, pistols, and other predicaments actually be laid low by his love for a woman? “The game is afoot, Watson—and it is a dangerous one!”

Twelfth Nightstarts with Viola and Sebastian separated at sea due to a shipwreck. Viola lands in Illyra and disguises herself as a man, Cesario, and enters the service of Duke Orsino, who is in love with Olivia. Viola, dressed as a Cesario, woos Olivia, but she starts to fall in love with Orsino, as Olivia starts to fall in love with Cesario. Confusion continues as Sir Andrew, Toby Belch and Maria conspire to make Olivia’s pompous steward, Malvolio, believe that Olivia has fallen for him. In the end, the hilarious cast of characters do find love, even when they least expect it. Director and Artistic Director David Ivers comments on the continuation on Twelfth Night: “As Twelfth Night continues to receive glowing response, the show is fluid enough to evolve in wonderful ways over time, ensuring returning guests a fresh viewing opportunity late in the season.”

Tickets are on sale for the Festival’s 53rd season, which will run until October 18, 2014. For more information and tickets visit www.bard.org or call 1-800-PLAYTIX.

Photos by Karl Hugh.

Vaughn as Watson & Adams as Homes in Sherlock Holmes, the Final**Adventure

The Band from Twelfth Night: Sam Clein, Hilary Stavros and Maggie Hollenbeck

This year’s production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night(playing through October 18) features original music and an on stage three-person band. We met with all three to learn more about them, the music, and what it’s like to be on stage versus in the orchestra pit.

Clein, Stavros, Hollenbeck

Tell us a bit about yourselves:

Sam: This is my 3rd season here. I started in 2012 playing keyboard inLes Mis. This season, I’m Music Director for Henry IV Part One, Measure for Measure, Twelfth Night; Bandleader for Twelfth Nightand Associate Conductor/Keyboard for Into the Woods. For Twelfth Night, I play piano/keyboard, glockenspiel, percussion and accordion.

Hilary: This is my 4th season. This season, I’m in Twelfth Night and The Greenshow. I play oboe, English horn, violin and percussion in Twelfth Night.

Maggie: This is my 1st season here and I’m also in Twelfth Night and The Greenshow. For this show, I play guitar, mandolin, accordion and percussion.

This show has original music. Tell us about that process.

Sam: Paul James Prendergast (PJP) was the composer and sound designer for the show.His primary compositions were the vocal songs, the one at the top of the show that Olivia sings and the ones that Feste sings.

Maggie: This is the most musical of all Shakespeare’s plays. All of Feste’s songs are in the script.

Hilary: Illyria is in what is now the Balkans. So the music is traditional Balkan folk music. He emailed us different Balkan flavored music, asked us to listen and pick out some stuff we liked and interpret based on that. That’s where the underscoring came from.

Sam: We experimented with different instrumentation amongst ourselves. PJP would say I love it or I hate it. Hilary got the scene change music together. Maggie’s been responsible for her own guitar solos and underscores. I came up with some entrance themes. End result, we all did it. It was a really cool experience.

Groovefest 2014
Saltwater Thieves and Aaron Galligan-Stierle

What’s it like being on stage?

Maggie:  We have to stay present, witnessing the action and giving our energy and attention to that. We’ve actually choreographed when we have to change instruments so we don’t pull focus.

The band, The Saltwater Thieves, also performed this year at Groovefest. 

You can see Twelfth Night from now through October 18. Tickets are available at www.bard.org or by calling 800-PLAYTIX.

Military Appreciation Days

Military Appreciation Days at the Utah Shakespeare Festival

Cedar City, UT –The Utah Shakespeare Festival will be celebrating our Armed Forces on Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13 by offering free tickets to the evening performances of Twelfth Night for military personnel and their families up to six. The Festival appreciates the sacrifices of the men and women who serve and wants to recognize their dedication and commitment to this country.

The Festival will be proud to welcome Utah’s 222nd National Guard and any other active or inactive service personnel, as well as their families. A valid military ID is required.

Twelfth Night starts with Viola and Sebastian separated at sea due to a shipwreck. Viola lands in Illyra and disguises herself as a man, Cesario, and enters the service of Duke Orsino, who is in love with Olivia. Viola, dressed as Cesario, woos Olivia, but she starts to fall in love with Orsino, as Olivia starts to fall in love with Cesario. Confusion continues as Sir Andrew, Toby Belch and Maria conspire to make Olivia’s pompous steward, Malvolio, believe that Olivia has fallen for him. In the end, the hilarious cast of characters does find love, even when they least expect it.

Twelfth Night is playing at 7:30 p.m. on September 12 and September 13. Military personal are invite to reserve tickets by contacting the Festival ticket office at 800-PLAYTIX or bard.org. A valid military ID will be required to pick up the tickets, and there is a limit of six tickets per family. Space is limited for this special event, so call soon to reserve your seats.

Tickets for the Festival’s 2014 season, which will run until October 18, are now on sale. The fall season includes Sherlock Holmes: the Final Adventure and Boeing Boeing as well as Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. For more information and tickets visit www.bard.org or call 1-800-PLAYTIX.

Sarah Greenman- Guest Blogger

Meet Festival company member Sarah Greenman. Sarah is playing Granny/Giant/Cinderella’s Mother in Into the WoodsandLady Middleton in Sense and Sensibility

Have you ever worked at the Festival before? If so, for how many years and in what roles/capacity?

My husband has worked at the Festival as voice and text coach for the past six seasons, but this is my first time in the acting company. 

What brought you to Utah Shakespeare Festival?

USF is the perfect fusion of high quality theater, gorgeous natural surroundings and outstanding people. USF has made it possible for both my husband and I to work in our field and bring our children along for the ride. Cedar City is a dreamy place for our family of four to spend the summer. My 6 year old takes swimming and karate lessons, my 3 year old enjoys the many parks. And my husband and I have the extraordinary opportunity to share the stage together. What’s not to love about USF?

What brought you to your field and what keeps you doing your craft?

I come from a theater family. Storytelling is what we do and my parents were very supportive of my choice to pursue the arts - I am also a painter and a writer. The thing that keeps me going is my core interest in people. I am infinitely fascinated by the big “why”: why do we say what we say, act how we act, live how we live, want what we want. Theater strikes at the center of these questions for me.

Sarah Greenman (Left), Bri Sudia, Cassandra Bissell in Sense and Sensibility. Photo by Karl Hugh. 

Where’s your home base?

Although I was born and raised on the Central Coast of California, I am now residing in Dallas, TX.

What’s your education/training background?

I attended Southern Oregon University in Ashland, OR before transferring to the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA. Then I finished my degree at Mills College with a degree in literature and creative writing. 

What are you looking forward to the most this summer?

Nurturing relationships with the amazing acting and artistic company here at USF. The crews, the stage managers, the design teams, the actors, the staff and audiences - so many people to discover and know better. What a gift!

How will you spend your time off while here?

I will spend my time enjoying my two sons and the gorgeous weather. Dallas is not kind during the summer months, but here - here it is heaven!

What is your favorite musical/play/Shakespeare play?

I fell in love with Twelfth Night - my most favorite of Shakespeare’s plays - while playing Viola about 15 years ago.

But I also dearly love Three Sisters by Chekhov, Humble Boy by Charlotte Jones, and Sweeny Todd by Sondheim.  

What is your dream role?

Mama in Gypsy, Mrs. Lovett in *Sweeny Todd,*Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Constance in *King John -*oh there are so many!

What is your dream show to design/craft?

In my work as a playwright and writer, I dream of adapting two of my favorite books for the stage - The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and The Alienist by Caleb Carr

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

The ability to dispel hatred would be very cool. However, flight is also very tempting.

Amanda Mills and Kelli Lennox- Guest Bloggers

Kelli Lennox

**Kelli Lennox ,**Stage Crew

Have you ever worked at the Festival before?

No I have not worked at the Festival, this is my first year!

What brought you to Utah Shakespeare Festival?

I was drawn to the Festival because of the amazing shows that are produced and the professional association with the company. 

What brought you to your field and what keeps you doing your craft?

This is my first year as a stage hand but I love theatre because it inspires people and through theatre I hope to uplift and inspire those around me. Also being a stage hand, you get to create the magic backstage that inspires the audience, so I enjoy being part of the mystery. 

Where’s your home base?

Gahanna, Ohio 

What’s your education/training background?

I just graduated with a B.A. in Theatre from Ashland University.

What are you looking forward to the most this summer?

Working with people from all over the United States and hopefully making some lifelong friends and connections. 

Who/What inspired you to pursue your dream of acting/designing?

I have always loved theatre, I would rather look back on my life knowing I at least tried going after my dreams, than looking back and regretting I didn’t try because of fear. My parents have taught me that I should do what I love and reach for my dreams.  

How will you spend your time off while here?

Hanging out with friends and possibly making a couple trips to Las Vegas to see some of the shows there!

What is your favorite musical/play/Shakespeare play?

Musical- A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder

Play- Peter and the Starcatcher

Shakespeare play- A Midsummer Night’s Dream

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

Flying so I could go anywhere I wanted and see the world!

**Amanda Mills,**Ticket Office

Have you ever worked at the Festival before?

I have not! This is my first year. I have seen every show since 2011, though.

What brought you to Utah Shakespeare Festival?

The Festival has a great atmosphere. It’s friendly, it’s family oriented, and it’s high quality.

What brought you to your field and what keeps you doing your craft?

Working in the Ticket Office is fun because I get to be around a lot of people who love theater. I actually want to be a writer. I enjoy meeting people and getting to know their stories.

Where’s your home base?

Syracuse, Utah

What’s your education/training background?

I’m an English major (Creative Writing emphasis) at Southern Utah University.

How will you spend your time off while here?

I write murder mysteries, so there will certainly be some of that happening. Also, I will be working on my Honors thesis on the economics of magic in fantastic literature.

What is your favorite musical/play/Shakespeare play?

Musical: The Scarlet Pimpernel

Play: The Importance of Being Earnest

Shakespeare play: The Tempest

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

The ability to never need sleep. I would be so productive.

Help Families in Need During the Fall Food Drive

Cedar City, UT – The Utah Shakespeare Festival is holding its 11th annual fall food drive from September 5 to October 18. Thanks to the generosity of the surrounding community, last year the Festival was able to donate 3667 pounds of food to the Iron County Care and Share.

Local residents can participate by donating six items of nonperishable food per individual on the day of the performance directly to the Festival and receive a half price ticket to any Tuesday through Thursday performance. This offer is also valid to Twelfth Night on Friday and Saturday on September 5, 6, 12 and 13. Food donation barrels will be located in the Randall L. Jones Theatre lobby next to the ticket window.

“When we first began our fall season many years ago, we wanted to thank our community and give something back,” said Executive Director R. Scott Philips. “We thought a food drive for the less fortunate in our community was the perfect vehicle. Over the years we have donated thousands of pounds of food to Iron County Care and Share through this important program.”

Residents of Iron, Washington, Kane, Garfield, Sevier, Piute, and Beaver counties in Utah are eligible for the discount, as well as patrons from Lincoln County, Nevada. All residents should bring proof of residency and six nonperishable food items for each discounted ticket they wish to purchase. This offer is good Tuesday through Thursday on the day of the performance only. There is a limit of four discounted tickets per resident I.D.

Tickets for the Festival’s 2014 season, which will run until October 18, are now on sale. The fall season includes Sherlock Holmes: the Final Adventure and Boeing Boeing as well as Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. For more information and tickets visit www.bard.org or call 1-800-PLAYTIX.

The Iron County Care and Share was founded in 1984 by a group of local churches of different denominations to address the issue of hunger in our community. Working with partners in the community, neighboring counties, and in the state, the Iron County Care and Share is able to help homeless and low-income individuals and families work toward self-sufficiency. The Iron County Care and Share is located at 900 North 222 West Cedar City, Utah.

Connor Bond- Guest Blogger

Ashdown as Prince Hal & Bond as Edward Poins. Photo by Karl Hugh

We have many new faces to our acting company this year and one of them includes Connor Bond. He will be in Henry IV Part 1 as Poins and inSense and Sensibility as Robert Ferrars. Below are his comments on being at the Festival for the first time. 

What brought you to Utah Shakespeare Festival?

This is my first time at the Festival, but I heard from so many fellow actors what a wonderful place it was to work. It’s been amazing getting to actually work here. The community is awesome. I was reminded what a small world it is coming here because I already knew a few people in the ensemble before I even got here, including three classmates from my recently graduated MFA class.

What brought you to your field and what keeps you doing your craft?

I started out as a jazz musician, playing tenor saxophone, and then decided I wanted my practicing to be in a community creating a piece, instead of alone in my room most of the day. I still play saxophone a lot, especially in productions, but acting provided a technique I could develop through myself and not through an outside instrument. 

Where’s your home base?

I am originally from Portland, Oregon. The great Northwest!

What’s your education/training background?

I got my BA in drama and minor in music from the University of Portland and then immediately went on to get my MFA in acting from the University of California, Irvine. 

What are you looking forward to the most this summer?

I’m most looking forward to being outside. Riding my bike, going on hiking adventures, and of course acting outside on the Adams. There is something supremely fulfilling and wholly connective about performing theatre (especially Shakespeare) out in wind, sky and trees that reminds you why you started acting in the first place. 

Who/What inspired you to pursue your dream of acting/designing?

My family was probably my biggest influence. My mother was always pushing us to be apart of productions from a young age and my father is a videographer for Oregon Public Broadcasting, so I grew up in a television studio essentially. 

What is your favorite musical/play/Shakespeare play?

My all-time favorites areJesus Christ Superstar,**Waiting for GodotandJulius Caesar.

What is your dream role?

I have many, but a big one is Brutus in Julius Caesar.

What is your dream show to design/craft?

I would love to one day direct The Creation of the World and Other Business by Arthur Miller. 

If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

I would want to be able to change the laws of gravity. I actually created this superhero as a comic book character. He had ancestry to Sir Isaac Newton. 

Mary Jane Schaefer, NAPP Playwright

During August, the Festival features the New American Playwrights Project (NAPP). Playwrights submit their plays and only three are selected for a staged reading, with Festival company members directing and acting. Each play has three readings.

This week, we feature Hamlet’s Shakespeare by Mary Jane Schaefer. The play focuses on Will’s reaction to the death of Hamnet Shakespeare, his only son.

We talked with Ms. Schaefer to learn more about her and her inspiration for the play.

Mary Jane Schaefer

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I first read Romeo and Juliet when I was twelve years old and I fell madly in love with the play and the playwright. In college I performed a lot of Shakespeare. I’ve since acted professionally, taught, been a dramaturg and written many plays, including a monologue “The Great Will Shakespeare Speaks” that’s been performed in Canada and on the grounds of the Shakespeare Festival Theater in Stratford, Connecticut. 

What was your inspiration for this play?

The kernel of the play came from a 24-hour playwriting festival, where a topic, actors, and director were assigned. The goal was to write a ten-minute play that would be performed 24 hours later. My assigned topic was “Shakespeare in the Dark”.  From that nugget, I wrote this full- length play*: Hamlet’s Shakespeare.*

Rick Peeples- Actor in Hamlet’s Shakespeare

Ericka Haaland- Actor in Hamlet’s Shakespeare

What do you expect as a result of this experience?

I’ve seen some of director, Henry Woronicz’s, work and I feel I’m in very good hands. I’m eager to see what his emphasis will be and what he’d like changed. I’d like to hear how the script sounds, how the actors respond – what they’re comfortable and uncomfortable with.  And, of course, I’d very much like to hear from the audience, especially what they would name the play because I don’t think this title is the final one.

Being here is a tremendous experience for me, as well as a wonderful honor. I want to participate as fully as possible, get to know people, and enjoy this great Festival.

Why should our patrons attend this play reading?

I think my play presents a new and dramatic impression of what Shakespeare might have been like as a man. I used a form of Elizabethan English to create an illusion of being there, in his world, in his mind, so we feel what he might have been going through while he wrote *Hamlet,*after his son’s death.  

Hamlet’s Shakespeare will be directed by Henry Woronicz. Actors include Bailey Duncan, Ericka Haaland, Sara Griffin and Rick Peeples. Performances are August 22, 23 and 29, 10am in the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at www.bard.org or by calling 800-PLAYTIX

Dan Borengasser, NAPP Playwright

During August, the Festival features the New American Playwrights Project (NAPP). Playwrights submit their plays and only three are selected for a staged reading, with Festival company members directing and acting. This provides an opportunity for the playwright to make changes, both during rehearsals and as a result of feedback received during the talkbacks after the first two performances.

This week, we’re featuring Breakout by Dan Borengasser. “Roach” Rhinowsky and Russell Sloan share a jail cell, but they don’t agree on much. Then the prison adopts a theatre program as a form of rehabilitation, and the two concoct a shared goal. They decide the play the inmates will produce Hamlet, will be the perfect distraction for a breakout.

We chatted with Dan to learn more about him and his play.

Dan Borengasser

Tell us about your background.

I was with a film and video production company. I wrote scripts with them. We made commercials and corporate videos. After retiring, I continued writing screen plays and then stage plays. I’ve entered many contests and had readings all over the world. One play, *The Gospel According to Bowser,*has been produced and performed in New York, LA, Florida, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Cassandra Bissell-one of the actors in Breakout

What is the inspiration for “Breakout?”

After listening to an NPR program about Shakespeare in prison, I wrote a ten-minute screenplay called *Breakout.*I entered in a contest and the film was made. Then I decided to expand it to a full-length stage play.

What’s the difference between writing a screen play and a stage play?

Screen plays tend to be more streamlined and action driven. Stage plays are more dialogue driven. Pacing is important because the audience needs time to absorb the material.

What do you expect as a result of this week?

I expect to do some rewriting. I’ll see what works and what doesn’t and get it back out there. This workshop experience is unusual in that I have the opportunity to get live feedback from the director, actors and audience.

Why should our patrons attend this play?

It’s a rare opportunity to see a work in progress and provide feedback that could affect the outcome, the final product.

Breakoutis directed by Quinn Mattfeld. Actors include Cassandra Bissell, Drew Shirley and Kipp Moorman. Performances are August 15, 16, 28 at 10am in the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at www.bard.org or by calling 800-PLAYTIX.