Archive: Arts & Entertainment

ITHACA, NY - "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely playersŠ"  This famous quote is just one sumptious small crumb in the festive feast of language that comprises William Shakespeare's sparkling romantic comedy As You Like It. Set to be staged at the Cornell Schwartz Center April 24-May 3, As You Like It features one of the Bard's most inspired heroines, Rosalind. Fleeing from Court and disguised as a boy, Rosalind uses her wit, wisdom and wily feminism to learn life lessons on love and human nature.


"This beautiful, bittersweet play is especially relevant in a college setting, as it shows us the heart-breaking and ultimately uplifting journey of a group of people trying to find their place in a world that doesn't want them," said Guest Director Neal Freeman. A 1997 graduate of Cornell, Freeman last directed Vincent in Brixton at Cornell in 2006 and is a freelance director in New York.

As You Like It is liberally laced with music and song. Cornell's production will feature a live violinist and original music composed by musician John Winn of Richmond, Virginia. With costumes reminiscent of the turn of the 20th century, the production touches on such ideas as women's liberation, when the advent of recreational bicycling suddenly allowed women the freedom to wear trousers, and traditional gender roles, turned on their ear by a disguised Rosalind and a sexually ambiguous Touchstone, here played by a woman.

The cast is comprised of 14 undergraduates and six Equity actors, including Allison Buck (Rosalind), Amanda Idoko (Celia), Joshua Burlingham (Orlando), Ansel Brasseur (Oliver), RPTA Carolyn Goelzer (Touchstone), RPTA Jeff Guyton (Duke Frederick, and RPTA Paul Hebron (Duke Senior).

As You Like It is designed by Kent Goetz (scenery), E.D. Intemann (lights), Sarah Bernstein (costumes), and guest designer Don Tindall (sound).
Evening performances of As You Like It are April 24-26 and May 1-3 at 7:30 PM. One matinee will be offered at 2 pm on May 3. A post-show discussion with actors and designers will be held May 1.

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