126 MTSU THEATRE BRINGS CLASSIC ROMANTIC TRAGEDY TO LIFE IN NOVEMBER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 2, 2007
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, 615-898-2919

MTSU THEATRE BRINGS CLASSIC ROMANTIC TRAGEDY TO LIFE IN NOVEMBER
Accomplished Alumnus Lane Davies Returns to Campus to Guest Star in Romeo and Juliet

(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—MTSU Theatre and Dance will present one of the most famous and beloved of Shakespeare plays, Romeo and Juliet, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2-3 and Nov. 7-10 on the stage of Tucker Theatre in the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Building.
The tragic romance of Romeo and Juliet is based on real lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, who lived in Verona, Italy, and who died for each other in the year 1303 in an attempt to end an age-old feud between their families. At that time, the Capulets and Montagues were among the inhabitants of Verona. Reportedly, Shakespeare found the story of the star-crossed lovers in Arthur Brooke’s poem titled The Tragical Historye of Romeus and Juliet in 1562, and then penned his play based on his reading of the work.
“This is a true classic that students read in high school and people come to the play knowing,” said Dale McGillard, the show’s director. “They all come with a different expectation, which adds to the wonderful challenge to producing it.”
MTSU alumnus Lane Davies—who has appeared in a wide variety of television series including Married with Children, Scrubs and Seinfeld— will guest star in the role of Capulet. Davies, however, is perhaps most recognizable for his starring roles on soap operas such as Santa Barbara, where he played Mason Capwell, and General Hospital, where he played Dr. Cameron Lewis.
In addition to his television appearances, Davies also has a wide variety of Shakespearian credits including leads in Hamlet, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing and The Taming of the Shrew. He founded the Santa Susana Repertory Company in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and co-founded the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company in cooperation with California Lutheran University. Currently, he is working to help establish the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival, a summer theater company in partnership with MTSU and the Tennessee Repertory Theatre that will be housed at the Webb School in Bell Buckle.
During his time in the MTSU production, Davies also will teach a Shakespeare workshop for student cast members.
“I'm very excited about getting back to MTSU and working with the 'new guard'. After 35 years of mostly Shakespeare, soaps and sitcoms, it's nice to pass along some of what I've learned along the way” Davies said.
Regarding Davies’ return to campus, McGilliard said, “What a great experience it is for our students to work with a professional actor. His presence brings a lot to the table in terms of demonstrating talent, work ethic and the level of homework actors must do for this kind of production.”

• TICKET INFO: Tickets for Romeo and Juliet must be purchased at the door on the evening of the performance. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for MTSU staff and K-12 students. MTSU students will be admitted free of charge with a valid university ID. For more information, please visit the speech and theatre department Web site at www.mtsu.edu/~theatre.
In addition to evening public performances, a high-school matinee is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9. Following that performance, Davies will present a brief post-show lecture on titled Performing Shakespeare.
For reservations to the high-school matinee, teachers are asked to call Jeff Gibson, director of MTSU Theatre, at 615-898-5916. Tickets for this special matinee are $4 per student.



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