Shakespeare Returns to Centenary University

The NextStage performed The Tempest, William Shakespeare’s final play, in the Little Theater from Thursday, Feb. 6 to Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. This is the third Shakespeare play performed at Centenary in three years, bringing Shakespeare fully back to campus.

The Tempest tells the story of Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, who was overthrown by his brother Antonio and Alonso, the King of Naples. The two cast Prospero and his daughter, Miranda, out to sea to land on a remote, magical island. 

Twelve years later, Prospero uses his powers to raise a tempest that causes a shipwreck carrying his foes and their kin. The storm separates the passengers into different parts of the island, thus setting the stage for Prospero’s revenge.  

“I directed Macbeth two years ago, Romeo and Juliet last year, and The Tempest this year in my time here at Centenary,” said Stephen Davis, the director of The Tempest. “To me, it's a great pleasure to be working on this piece and to be able to bring Shakespeare’s final play to life in the Little Theater with this group of students.” 

This play was performed by so many amazing and talented students who made this play into a masterpiece. 

“We get to come up with our own ideas because we’re given a lot of freedom with our character,” said Auriela Shanga, a theater performance studies major who played Miranda.

“I’ve been in a couple of Shakespeare plays before, but this is by far my favorite experience,” said Kai Vialva, a musical theater major, who played Alonso. “I think it’s because it's a story that a lot of people don’t know and that I think will need to hear.”

Many people know that Shakespeare’s writing and characters are ancient and intense. The cast was able to speak to this and use their phenomenal acting skills.

“Shakespeare is old, old English and it's harder for me to memorize it because my brain is not understanding it,” said Shanga, “but it came by eventually; it was not the easiest, but it’s a beautiful language.” 

“Playing Shakespearean characters have a different natural sense because they are timeless characters that can be transferred to the modern day. It's just about finding the balance,” said Jacoby Stewart, a theater performance studies major who played Antonio.

“Ariel is this magical and mythical creature,” said Raelyn Menon, a theater performance studies major who played one-of-three Ariel. “Getting to find that world with all three of us together was beautiful and a lot of fun.”

The play is so well done with amazing performances from the cast and an amazing set of costumes and sets. 

In addition to Shakespeare’s play, Jennifer Frantz, professor of American Literature, started a new course called Toil and Trouble: Shakespeare and the Supernatural. She took her class to see the NextStage student production of The Tempest on Friday, Feb. 7. 

“I found out that they haven’t offered a Shakespeare class in about seven or eight years at Centenary,” said Frantz. “I said to Dr. Erica McCrystal, anytime you are interested in bringing it back, I’d love to be a part of it.” 

Frantz is a big fan of Shakespeare and was excited that The Tempest would be performed at the university. This furthered her desire to teach a Shakespeare class this semester. 

“I could teach a class on so many things in Shakespeare, so many aspects of characters and themes, but I wanted to really bring in the fact that the community of Centenary was performing this particular play,” said Frantz. “I’m excited because I think this could be the beginning of something that could be more at Centenary.”

It is clear to say that Shakespeare is back in full swing at Centenary University!

If you are interested in taking classes like Toil and Trouble: Shakespeare and the Supernatural, email jennifer.frantz@centenaryuniversity.edu, and be sure to see more plays and musicals by the Centenary Stage Company and NextStage for only five dollars a student!