All in the Timing
St. Louis Actor's Studio Directed by Elizabeth Helman Winner: Best Comedic Ensemble Best Romantic Couple Emily Baker and Shaun Sheley Nomination: Best Comedic Actor Shaun Sheley |
Director Wild Oats
at St. Louis Shakespeare |
![]() Fight Coach Municipal Opera of St. Louis (MUNY) production of Oklahoma Choreographer Ginger Thatcher (Assistant to Susan Stroman 2002 Broadway Revival) ![]() http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/reflection-opera-theatre-gives-richard-lionheart-royal-treatment Fight Choreographer for the American Premier of Richard the Lionheart at Opera Theatre St. Louis Director: Lee Blakeley Starring: Tim Mead Susannah Biller Brandon Cedel |
Hamlet opens in Delaware Park Thursday June 20th
![Picture](/uploads/5/5/1/0/5510713/2089879.jpg)
Photo by Chris Scinta
Falls Native Shaun Sheley stars in Shakespeare in Delaware Park's "Hamlet"
By Michele DeLuca [email protected] Night & Day
Night & Day — Nobody produces “Hamlet” unless they already have an actor in mind to star in the challenging Shakespearian production.
That’s according to Saul Elkin, founder of Buffalo’s Shakespeare in the Park, who, when he decided to produce “Hamlet” as his opening play this summer, knew just who he wanted in the title role — Niagara Falls native Shaun Sheley.
“The only reason to do ‘Hamlet’ is if you have an actor to play it,” said Elkin, an much lauded actor in his own right, who explained that Sheley has the acting skills and the physicality for the role.
“Shaun also happens to be very experienced in stage combat,” Elkin added. “There’s a fight scene at the end of the play that is really breathtaking to watch, even now in the early stages of rehearsal.”
For Sheley, a graduate from the theater department at Niagara University, who has been acting and teaching in St. Louis, Mo., coming home to take the role is an opportunity not only to see family and friends, but to play the part of a lifetime.
“Every actor wants to play Hamlet,” he said. “I’ve always been fascinated with the role. When I was at Niagara, I used to bug everybody to do ‘Hamlet.’”
One of the reasons he loves the play, he said, is that the plot is as good as any Hollywood movie.
“For me, Hamlet is a detective in this play. He’s solving a murder mystery, trying to figure out who killed his father,” Sheley said. The plot involves a prince whose murdered father appears as a ghost and says he was killed by Hamlet’s traitorous uncle, Claudius, who becomes king and forces Hamlet’s mother into marriage.
The role shapes the actor more than the actor shapes the role, Sheley noted. “People say you can come in with all your plans about Hamlet, but eventually the character is going to take you,” he said. “He’s going to mold you to him, you’re going to go on this wonderful ride in this imaginary journey, its’ been fun so far.”
By Michele DeLuca [email protected] Night & Day
Night & Day — Nobody produces “Hamlet” unless they already have an actor in mind to star in the challenging Shakespearian production.
That’s according to Saul Elkin, founder of Buffalo’s Shakespeare in the Park, who, when he decided to produce “Hamlet” as his opening play this summer, knew just who he wanted in the title role — Niagara Falls native Shaun Sheley.
“The only reason to do ‘Hamlet’ is if you have an actor to play it,” said Elkin, an much lauded actor in his own right, who explained that Sheley has the acting skills and the physicality for the role.
“Shaun also happens to be very experienced in stage combat,” Elkin added. “There’s a fight scene at the end of the play that is really breathtaking to watch, even now in the early stages of rehearsal.”
For Sheley, a graduate from the theater department at Niagara University, who has been acting and teaching in St. Louis, Mo., coming home to take the role is an opportunity not only to see family and friends, but to play the part of a lifetime.
“Every actor wants to play Hamlet,” he said. “I’ve always been fascinated with the role. When I was at Niagara, I used to bug everybody to do ‘Hamlet.’”
One of the reasons he loves the play, he said, is that the plot is as good as any Hollywood movie.
“For me, Hamlet is a detective in this play. He’s solving a murder mystery, trying to figure out who killed his father,” Sheley said. The plot involves a prince whose murdered father appears as a ghost and says he was killed by Hamlet’s traitorous uncle, Claudius, who becomes king and forces Hamlet’s mother into marriage.
The role shapes the actor more than the actor shapes the role, Sheley noted. “People say you can come in with all your plans about Hamlet, but eventually the character is going to take you,” he said. “He’s going to mold you to him, you’re going to go on this wonderful ride in this imaginary journey, its’ been fun so far.”
![Picture](/uploads/5/5/1/0/5510713/8441012.jpg?352)
Photos by John Lamb
As Mr. Rochester, the noble-hearted, secretive man who hires Jane to be governess to his ward, Shaun Sheley combines rectitude and dash, the heroic combination that Brontë practically bottled.
From his first moments onstage (falling off a horse) to his last entrance (blind and gravely injured), Sheley gives us the wounded hero in all his allure.
He never calls attention to himself because he’s too busy being attentive to others, yet he’s impossible to ignore. Mr. Rochester, honest Jane tells us, is not good-looking. Sheley, in keeping with most reader’s private edits, makes her a liar in this regard.
Judy Newmark St.Louis Post Dispatch
Sheley provides wonderful counterbalance as Rochester, barely recognizable from his recent performance in Talley’s Folly but equally successful as he was in that fine effort. His interpretation is more subtle than forceful, resulting in a deeper and more affecting persona.
Mark Bretz Ladue News
Sheley's Rochester is impetuous at times, but always sincere, which only heightens the empathy I felt for him when his secret is revealed. Sheley does a nice job of conveying shame and despair while desperately trying to hold onto his chance for happiness. Tina Farmer KDHX Radio
As Mr. Rochester, the noble-hearted, secretive man who hires Jane to be governess to his ward, Shaun Sheley combines rectitude and dash, the heroic combination that Brontë practically bottled.
From his first moments onstage (falling off a horse) to his last entrance (blind and gravely injured), Sheley gives us the wounded hero in all his allure.
He never calls attention to himself because he’s too busy being attentive to others, yet he’s impossible to ignore. Mr. Rochester, honest Jane tells us, is not good-looking. Sheley, in keeping with most reader’s private edits, makes her a liar in this regard.
Judy Newmark St.Louis Post Dispatch
Sheley provides wonderful counterbalance as Rochester, barely recognizable from his recent performance in Talley’s Folly but equally successful as he was in that fine effort. His interpretation is more subtle than forceful, resulting in a deeper and more affecting persona.
Mark Bretz Ladue News
Sheley's Rochester is impetuous at times, but always sincere, which only heightens the empathy I felt for him when his secret is revealed. Sheley does a nice job of conveying shame and despair while desperately trying to hold onto his chance for happiness. Tina Farmer KDHX Radio
![Picture](/uploads/5/5/1/0/5510713/1252445.jpg)
Synaesthetic Theatre and Center for Embodied Performance August 5 - 18, 2013 New York City
ACROBATICS OF THE HEART a two-week immersion in Grotowski-based trainingA two-week immersion in Grotowski-based physical acting training with master teacher Stephen Wangh (author of An Acrobat of the Heart and The Heart of Teaching) and co-teachers Erica Fae, Wendy vanden Heuvel, and Raïna von Waldenburg.
ACROBATICS OF THE HEART a two-week immersion in Grotowski-based trainingA two-week immersion in Grotowski-based physical acting training with master teacher Stephen Wangh (author of An Acrobat of the Heart and The Heart of Teaching) and co-teachers Erica Fae, Wendy vanden Heuvel, and Raïna von Waldenburg.
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1212-meghanmaguireandshaunsheleynewjewishtheatrestalleysfolly.mp3 | |
File Size: | 17293 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Thought and reason, like delicate tools in the hands of Mr. Sheley, work together to gradually create something like a great courtroom drama, till an old heartbreak is revealed along with the same jaw-dropping emotion you get when a witness finally confesses to some heinous crime under cross-examination. Except here, it's one of those moments so intensely personal, directed so beautifully and performed with all the shock of a stark detective novel, that you can almost smell the ozone after a lightning strike. Richard Green Talkingbroadway.com
Playing Hamlet at Shakespeare in Delaware Park 2013 June 20th -- July 14th
Who Killed Woody Allen at the Triad in NYC Friday February 24th and Saturday the 25th!!
Teaching, teaching and, teaching. Movement, Stage Combat, Theatre History, and Michael Chekhov Technique.
Teaching, teaching and, teaching. Movement, Stage Combat, Theatre History, and Michael Chekhov Technique.
Recent Work
Reading of Waiting for Godot, still pushing to direct this locally. Director in Hot City Theatre's New Playwright Festival reading of Shake and be Saved by Christopher Wall. The Winners (professional premier) at Hot City Theatre The acting was convincing, strong and sustained. In such an intimate space, there is nowhere for an actor to "hide". Every nuance of movement, no matter how small, and of vocal expression is on display, up close and personal. Shanara Gabrielle as Cassie, Shaun Sheley as Kurt and Sasha Diamond as Tiffany did a superb job. Dennis Corcoran KDHX Movement and violence for the premier of Falling at Mustard Seed Theatre, and Godspell |