Home / Arts and Entertainment / Hamlet's Southern Baptist Twist Hits New Bedford Stage
Hamlet's Southern Baptist Twist Hits New Bedford Stage
23 Jul
Summary
- Hamlet reimagined in a present-day American South Baptist church setting.
- Free outdoor performances run August 13-15 and August 20-22.
- Production prioritizes paying all members of its cast and crew.
This August, New Bedford will host a unique staging of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" by the Reverie Theatre Group at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum. The production reimagines the classic tragedy within a modern-day Baptist church in the American South, delving into themes of power, morality, and corruption.
Directed by Omar Laguerre-Lewis, the free outdoor performances are scheduled for August 13-15 and August 20-22. Special sensory-friendly matinees will take place at 2 p.m. on August 16 and August 23. These adapted performances aim to accommodate neurodivergent audience members, families with young children, and others who may find traditional theater settings challenging.
The Reverie Theatre Group emphasizes its commitment to supporting the local theater community by ensuring that every person working on the production is paid. This initiative underscores the group's dedication to valuing artistic contributions.
Funding for this production comes from various sources, including grants from the Acushnet, Dartmouth, Mattapoisett, and New Bedford Cultural Councils, supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Additional support is provided by the City of New Bedford through its Arts, Culture & Tourism Fund, facilitated by New Bedford Creative, and the Stoico Foundation.
The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum, a National Historic Landmark, provides a fitting backdrop for this historic play. The museum itself preserves the history of three prominent New Bedford families and their domestic staff through period rooms.
