Auburn Theatre & Dance faculty take leading roles at Shakespeare Festivals

Charlotte Tuggle | 8/28/2024

Actors Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha and Alia Shakira discuss the Utah Shakespeare Festival's production of Katori Hall's "The Mountaintop." Video by Dallas Smith Digital Studios.

Auburn University Theatre & Dance faculty traveled across the country this summer to bring the Bard's work to life at the states' annual Shakespeare Festivals.

The Utah Shakespeare Festival has showcased William Shakespeare's plays and more each summer since the 1960s to crowds of more than 100,000 patrons.

Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha – an actor, director, producer and assistant professor at Auburn – stars as Martin Luther King Jr. in "The Mountaintop" and as Peter Shaw in "Silent Sky."

"The opportunity to be part of this festival is not only a professional honor but also a deeply personal one," Murtadha said. "The festival's dedication to high-quality storytelling and fostering a community around theatre resonates deeply with my own values as an actor."

Those values include an environment of creativity, passion and connection. Murtadha said the Utah Shakespeare Festival holds a special place in American theatre, not only for its commitment and contemporary work, but for its world-class performances.

"What I've enjoyed the most so far—and what I am continually looking forward to—is the collaborative spirit of the festival," Murtadha said. "Being able to work alongside such talented peers and under the guidance of visionary directors has been incredibly rewarding, and I'm excited about the artistic journey ahead."

Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha as Peter Shaw in Silent Sky — Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha (right) as Peter Shaw in "Silent Sky" at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Credit: Karl Hugh

Across the country, in east Texas, Lecturer Lindsay Rae Taylor and Associate Professor Andrew Schwartz were instrumental in the Texas Shakespeare Festival's 39th season.

The Texas Shakespeare Festival (TSF) is east Texas' only professional theatre company. For Taylor, who studied Shakespeare in Performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, performed at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles and specializes in Shakespeare and directing, this summer was a dream come true.

"I had been in contact with the artistic director, Meaghan Simpson, for a couple of years, with the dream of securing a spot as a director in their summer season, and she was able to offer me a place in the company this year as the director of 'Much Ado about Nothing,'" Taylor said. "This play just so happens to be one of my favorites, so the stars truly could not have aligned in a more magical way."

"Much Ado about Nothing" is a Shakespeare play known for its romance, comedy and relatable, memorable characters, and set, in this version, in post-WWII America.

Lindsay Rae Taylor directing actors on stage — Lindsay Rae Taylor (bottom left) directed "Much Ado about Nothing" at the Texas Shakespeare Festival. Credit: TSF

Taylor worked with a large team to bring the new version of the production to life, and said she looks forward to bringing her connections and experience back to benefit her students at Auburn.

"During the academic year, I mostly work with student actors, stage managers and designers, so to continue a version of teaching through production during the summer months helped me grow as an acting professor here at Auburn," Taylor said. "And now, with an understanding of how TSF operates, I want to encourage our students in the Department of Theatre & Dance to apply and get involved next summer."

TSF featured "Much Ado about Nothing" and "Julius Caesar" by Shakespeare, as well as other works, including "Sweeney Todd," "Peter and the Starcatcher," "Tinker Bell" and "Jane Eyre."

Andrew Schwartz served as the festival's text coach and vocal director. He was responsible for bringing together the classical texts, directors' visions and acting choices.

"TSF's season is naturally grounded in Shakespeare's works, but they also present contemporary and commercial offerings, giving their audiences a little bit of everything," Schwartz said. "Everyone is extremely friendly and dedicated. It is a very supportive environment, and the audiences are wonderful."

Actors dancing onstage during Much Ado about Nothing — TSF's performance of "Much Ado about Nothing" was set in post-WWII America. As the text coach and vocal director, Andrew Schwartz helped interpret the classical text for a new setting. Credit: TSF

TSF is supported by Kilgore College, and like the Utah Shakespeare Festival, offers educational and community engagement opportunities. Schwartz said the people at Shakespeare Festivals, from Auburn faculty to audience members, are supporting performances with purpose.

"Personally, I love that TSF is very interested in education as part of their mission statement," Schwartz said. "They really commit to creating and inspiring the next generation of theatre artists while producing professional work."

Find more information about Theatre & Dance in the College of Liberal Arts.

Tags: Theatre and Dance Faculty Arts and Culture Community, Outreach and Engagement