GSC Broadway in Barnesville Presents “The Tempest” Directed by Jef, SL Holbrook of Argo Navis Studios, Hosts Community Brunch

By Karolina Philmon, GSC Marketing Manager

On Thursday, April 13, Gordon State College Humanities and Fine and Performing Arts springs into theatrics with their opening night performance of “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare with two additional night performances on April 14-15, all beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts Theatre. On Sunday, April 16, GSC dining services will host a community brunch in the Highlander Hall at noon followed by a matinee performance of the play at 2 p.m.

The two-act play chronicles a crew of men that are shipwrecked on a magical island and tormented by an old man and his slaves. According to Shakespeare.org.uk, the play follows Prospero as he uses magic to conjure a storm and plague the survivors of a shipwreck, including the King of Naples and Prospero’s treacherous brother, Antonio. The King’s young son Ferdinand, thought to be dead, falls in love with Prospero’s daughter Miranda. Their celebrations are cut short when Prospero confronts his brother and reveals his identity as the usurped Duke of Milan.

“I'm really excited for audiences to see ‘The Tempest.’ Our production team is larger for this show. As always, Amanda Edgerton has created some fabulous costumes for our actors. But this time we also have Aaron Gottleib, our multimedia designer and Ham Calhoun, our student lighting design who have both leveled up our spectacle with an immersive experience that I don't think has ever been seen on our stage before,” said Tony Pearson, GSC professor of theatre and the production’s director of technical and scenic design.

GSC’s production of Shakespeare’s play is directed by partner duo Jef Holbrook and SL Holbrook as the co-director. Both are Atlanta-based actors represented by Atlanta Models and Talent (SAG-AFTRA). Both appeared in the 2022 musical comedy, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Jef is the animator and creator of The Cricket graphic novel series and plays Drew on Netflix’s Season 4 of Cobra Kai. SL appeared as a co-star in Hulu’s “Candy” and NBC’s “Good Girls.” The duo are producers of their production company Argo Navis Studios.

“Jef Holbrook's immersive directing style seamlessly melds the profound with the inanity of clowning. Aaron Gottleib and Jef Holbrook's mixed media design is unexpected, Tony's inspired set is magical and our disciplined, passionate students who have been rehearsing several nights a week since January are more than ready for audiences,” said Lisa Cesnik Ferguson, GSC artistic director of theatre.

Admission to “The Tempest” is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for children 12 and under, or free admission with packaged food for GSC Highlander House. Complimentary admission for all Gordon students, faculty and staff. Sunday Brunch and a Show is $13.61 and includes a menu filled with breakfast bites, grill and deli options, pizza and assorted desserts.

"I'm very proud of the student's work on this production,” Jef said. “Shakespeare isn't easy and they are handling it like true professionals. It's an honor to step in for this show and to collaborate on this work with the students."

The 2023-24 GSC theatre season is made possible in part through a generous grant from Upson EMC in Thomaston, Georgia and Board of Trustees member, Dan White, with the endowed Constance H. Chinery Fine and Performing Arts Support Fund.

"We really pushed the students movement-wise and acting-wise to fill the fantastical nature of the world and they rose to the challenge," SL said.

 

Reserve your ticket: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/9040948a4ab29a2f58-gscpresents1