UK Theatre and Dance presents Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2024) — “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
William Shakespeare’s timeless comedy “As You Like It” comes to life in the Guignol Theatre for two weekends, Nov. 14-16 and 21-24. The University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Dance invites audiences to escape into the enchanting Forest of Arden, where love, identity and self-discovery blossom amid laughter and disguise.
In this classic comedy, Rosalind and her cousin Celia leave the constraints of the court and flee into the forest, where they find freedom from society’s rigid expectations. As they encounter new faces and explore unexpected relationships, they also rediscover the power of trust and transformation that nature brings.
“‘As You Like It’ has been produced countless times and people keep coming back to it because it’s so delightful, and because it presents such complex, rich and familiar dynamics between the characters,” said director Christina Ritter. “We’re exploring the play’s unabashed celebration of romantic love and its reminder to us that there can be renewal when we retreat to nature and let the forest work its magic.”
This production is part of UK Theatre and Dance’s “Season of Sustainability,” and has incorporated several steps to reduce waste normally associated with theatrical productions. For example, 75% of natural wood shapes used on stage were harvested from the UK Sustainability Office and Arboriculture’s initiative to use trees felled on campus, and 62.6% of the lights used are LED fixtures that use less than 30% of the energy required to power their incandescent counterparts. The use of moving lights drastically reduced the number of fixtures required for the show, as these fixtures can serve multiple functions throughout the show, saving hours of labor for students during the hang and focus process.
Performances will take place in the Guignol Theatre located in the Fine Arts Building, 465 Rose St. “As You Like It” runs two weekends beginning Nov. 14-16, and Nov. 21-24.
Tickets are $14.40 for students and $20.59 general admission at SCFATickets.com or at the Singletary Center for the Arts ticket office, 859-257-4929.
Donut Days Bakery is a season sponsor.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.