Christopher Plummer, one of the greatest actors of our time, will star in William Shakespeare’s “the Tempest” on screen in high definition beginning on Thursday, June 14 at USCB Center for the Arts.
BY Experience, the network that distributes the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD presentations, captured the performance at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada as a part of its Global Live Cinema Events. The live stage play was filmed live over a two-day period with eight cameras in high definition and will have its international debut on June 14.
“Christopher Plummer is quite simply one of the greatest actors of our time, both on stage and on screen,” said Des McAnuff, Artistic Director for Stratford Shakespeare Festival. “The opportunity to see him as Prospero in The Tempest, one of the greatest roles ever written and one he has longed to play, is nothing short of historic.”
“The Tempest” pits the desire for revenge against the demands of love and asks the question, is man capable of creating a brave new world? The story’s focus is Prospero, the banished Duke of Milan. Marooned on a distant island with his daughter, Miranda, played by Trish Lindstrom, Prospero has spent 12 years perfecting his magic arts. Now, with the help of the spirit, Ariel, played by Julyana Soelistyo, he raises a storm at sea and brings within his grasp the enemies who robbed him of his dukedom.
The total running time of the presentation is two hours and 35 minutes, which includes a 20-minute exclusive interview with Plummer and McAnuff, captured live and hosted by Barry Avrich, the executive producer of “The Tempest” live capture. The Q & A reunites the star and artistic director in a lively and insightful discussion about the challenges of filming live theatre for cinema screens. Members of the audience ask diverse questions about Plummer’s career as well as about the production. It is a not-to-be-missed addition to the theatrically dazzling presentation of “The Tempest.”
For more information and to see video clips of the production go to BY Experience website at www.thetempesthd.com .
USCB Center for the Arts will feature two showings of “The Tempest” on Thursday, June 14 and Tuesday, June 26, both beginning at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $18 for Adults and Seniors, and $10 for Students and OLLI members and are available in advance by calling the CFA Box Office at 843-521-4145, Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 2 pm. Tickets are also available one hour prior to curtain. Check out the new Center for the Arts website www.centerforthearts.com .
