FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (01/28/2002)

The Shenandoah Shakespeare Express returns to Lincoln on Monday and Tuesday,
February 11 and 12, for special performances of theater classics. William Shakespeare's King
Henry V will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on February 11 in the Centennial Ballroom of the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Nebraska Union. George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan will be
staged at 2:30 p.m. on February 12 in the Culture Center, 333 N. 14th Street, also on the UNL
city campus. Both shows will be followed by discussions of leadership issues that are
dramatized by the plays.
Based at the Shenandoah Shakespeare center in Staunton, Virginia, the globe-trotting
Express is an ensemble committed to bringing classic plays to life through adapting the
techniques of original Shakespearean theater. The actors of the SSE play multiple roles on a bare
stage, with minimal props, involving audiences that share the same light with the actors. These
young performers' modern acting styles make for quick, lively shows.
Their approach has won the acclaim of audiences and critics. The Chicago Sun-Times
noted that "Like MTV's 'Unplugged' concerts, which stress vocals and lyrics over high-tech
sonic effects, Shenandoah Shakespeare Express emphasizes the playwright's language and the
actor's versatility." The SSE has been praised for providing "fresh, fine theatre . . . pure
Shakespeare, richly alive" (Boston Globe). In past visits, the SSE has thrilled Lincoln audiences
with its vigorous humor, its immediate rapport with theater-goers, and its inventive links between
the history of the past and present-day popular culture.
One of Shakespeare's most enduring historical dramas, Henry V delivers a complex look
behind the scenes at a young English monarch's attempt both to prove himself and to unify his
subjects by waging war on France. Is Henry merely a political opportunist or is he a genuine
military hero? Shakespeare provides ample evidence for both views. Robert McClure tackles
this challenging, deeply ambiguous role, under the direction of Betsy Rudelich Tucker. In Saint
Joan, George Bernard Shaw continues his ongoing debate with Shakespeare, exploring the later
consequences of Henry's campaign in France and providing remarkable insights into the mind
and heart of Joan of Arc, the charismatic young maiden who led her countrymen's fight against
English rule. Shaw's play combines satiric wit and deeply felt admiration as it depicts a woman
who defied the conventions of her day, who paid the ultimate price for that defiance, and who
was later declared a saint. Tiffany Givens portrays the Maid of Orleans, under the direction of
Shenandoah Shakespeare co-founder and Artistic Director Jim Warren.
After both shows, Professor Stephen Buhler of UNL's Department of English will
moderate discussions of the different and often problematic kinds of leadership presented by
each play. There is no admission charge for the performances or discussion sessions.
These events are hosted by UNL's Leadership for Institutional Change initiative, which is
funded by a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. For further information, please call (402)
472-1784.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PRESS RELEASE,
OR AN INTERVIEW ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THESE EVENTS,
PLEASE CALL STEPHEN BUHLER AT (402) 472-1784
OR CONTACT HIM AT sbuhler1@unl.edu