No need to get away from Long Island this summer.
Escape in your own town, to the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras with Northeast Stage’s take on William Shakespeare’s “Othello.”
Performances are set for 7 p.m. throughout July, at Patchogue, Riverhead, Greenport and Westhampton locations. They’ll kick off with a Southold show on July 15.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket and bask in the warmth of a summer evening at one of the seven free outdoor productions, running just over two hours, listed here.
Northeast Stage, an over 40-year-old nonprofit, has been putting on Shakespeare-in-the-Park since the summer of 1998. The organizations first show was “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at Mitchell Park in Greenport and in 2016, it expanded to put on shows at additional outdoor venues.
“Othello,” tells the story of a military leader, Othello, who was manipulated into believing that his wife, Desdemona, was unfaithful. Iago is the perpetrator of the deceitfulness, in convincing Othello that his wife is having an affair with Lieutenant Michael Cassio.
The performance plays on matters of jealousy and trust, while showcasing love and murder.
“The themes in Othello are very applicable to now,” says Amie Sponza, president and co-founder of Northeast Stage.
“Othello” is a first for Northeast Stage, despite the show being planned for 2024.
The cast quickly pivoted to a production of “Hamlet,” last year, when their lead and this year’s Othello, Justin Harris broke his shoulder.
Amy Ippolito, who is set to play Desdemona, depicted Hamlet – proving a unique take on the character, who is typically played by a man.
Another way Northeast Stage has gone against the grain, is with its rehearsal techniques, honing in on Shakespearian style.
In the cast’s Tuesday through Friday sessions – now Monday through Friday, as shows approach – they read from rolls, as opposed to an ordinary script, to embody the feel of Shakespeare’s original writing.
The foundation for the summer series was built on ideas like these.
“We proposed as part of our grant application, that we were going to implement Shakespeare’s original practices, in which the actors were given rolls,” says Sponza “They only had their roll – that’s where ‘roles’ came from – it was a scroll of paper with their lines on it.”
The cast for these summer shows is composed of locals and creatives from all different backgrounds.
“There are some new faces, some that have come from North Fork Community Theater, who have never done Shakespeare before, and they’re kind of being enfolded into the group and learning,” says Sponza. “But we try always to have a variety of levels of talent, so that we can lift those who are newer.”
As for its set, Northeast Stage keeps it basic, letting the performance speak for itself. The outdoor venues allow for a trunk, small tables and props. The organization also uses a sound system, lights and music to enhance the shows.
Throughout the rest of the year, the Northeast Stage puts on affordable performances, many of which are at North Fork venues, to raise the money for their summer series along with the help from corporate sponsors, donations and grants.
To learn more, or to buy tickets for a fall production, click here.
