MENU
category: Campus News

Carson-Newman student to debut theater adaptation of acclaimed “Shakespeare Saved My Life”

(March 30, 2016)—Carson-Newman University’s theatre program will host the debut production of “Shakespeare on the Range,” a stage play adapted from the celebrated book “Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard” by Dr. Laura Bates. Performances will be April 8 and 9 and 7:30 p.m. and April 10 at 2 p.m. in Phoenix Theatre.

The play was written and directed by Carson-Newman senior Momo Smith. It follows Bates’ work with a group of inmates in Indiana’s supermax Wabash Valley Correctional Facility using Shakespeare to facilitate discussion on themes such as revenge, criminality, honor and love.

The story the book tells is something I wanted to see on stage because that is how I like to tell stories,” Smith says. “It is powerful, and relatable if you are in a prison or a classroom—Shakespeare is limitless.”

Bates will be on hand for the theatre debut. A professor at Indiana State University, Bates’ work has garnered national media buzz. She has been featured on National Public Radio, Huffington Post and National Geographic.

Associate Professor of Theatre Kyle Biery says all theatre students at Carson-Newman are required to direct, design and co-produce a production as a degree requirement.

“For many, that means choosing a script from an established playwright,” Biery says. “But for Smith, an aspiring storyteller, putting someone else’s words on stage did not satisfy.”

A talk-back session will follow the Saturday performance with Bates, Smith and members of the production team.

Tickets are available at the door at $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens over the age of 60.

Phoenix Theatre is located on the first floor of Henderson Humanities Building on Carson-Newman’s campus.

Previous Post

Carson-Newman's Underwood the subject of art exhibit at Malone University

Next Post

Celebrated artist Seth Haverkamp to lead May Portrait Painting Workshop

Related Posts

  • Campus News

    Samaritan House Family Ministries named Non-Profit of the Year

    Samaritan House Family Ministries was selected as the Non-Profit of the Year for Jefferson County. The ministry is a component of Carson-Newman University’s Appalachian Ministries of the Smokies (AMOS). The […]

  • Campus News

    Carson-Newman takes top honors in national marketing and advertising awards

    Carson-Newman University’s Marketing and Communications Office was among the top winners in multiple categories in the 2022 Collegiate Advertising Awards. The Collegiate Advertising Awards is a national program recognizing higher […]

  • Campus News

    Carson-Newman students spend Spring Break helping others, sharing the gospel

    “God is at work.” That was the consensus following Carson-Newman students’ return to campus after serving on GenSend mission trips. Thirty-six students along with members of the C-N community forwent […]