SHAKESPEAREANS HERE APRIL 18-23

"Twelfth Night," "Hamlet" and "The Tempest" will be performed April 18 through 23 at Southeast Missouri State University during an event called Shakespearian Spring.

The plays will be presented by the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, an 11-person troupe that also will conduct free workshops and discussions on campus.

SSE uses few props and employs simple costumes and universal lighting that enables the performers and audience to interact. Founded in 1988, SSE tours year-round, performing three plays in repertory in 30 states and at more than 50 universities.

After finishing the May part of its tour, the company will perform in Paris, Germany and Scotland.

Area high schools have been invited to bring students to the plays, and high school actors will perform and participate in special events on April 22.

Tickets are $6 for non-students and $4 for university students, faculty and staff. Groups of 10 or more from on or off campus can buy tickets for $3 each in advance. Workshops and other events are free.

The schedule:

Tuesday, April 18

-- 10 a.m., "Page to Stage: Bringing Shakespeare to Life," University Center Ballroom

-- 2 p.m., "Shakespeare's Women on Stage," University Center Ballroom

Wednesday, April 19

-- 10 a.m., performance of "Twelfth Night," Rose Theatre

-- 12:15 p.m., after-performance discussion, Rose Theatre

-- 3 p.m., "The Many Dimensions of Shakespeare's Comic Characters," University Center Ballroom

Thursday, April 20

-- 10 a.m., "Directing and Re-directing Shakespeare," University Center Ballroom

-- 2 p.m., "Dealing with the Supernatural in `Hamlet' and `The Tempest,'" University Center Ballroom

-- 8 p.m., performance of "The Tempest," Rose Theatre

-- 10:15 p.m., after-performance discussion, Rose Theatre

Friday, April 21

-- 10 a.m., performance of "Hamlet," Rose Theatre

-- 12:15 p.m., after-performance discussion, Rose Theatre

-- 3 p.m., "Fight Scenes in Shakespeare," University Center Ballroom

-- 8 p.m., performance of "Twelfth Night," Rose Theatre

-- 10:15 p.m., after-performance discussion, Rose Theatre

Saturday, April 22

-- 11 a.m., "Having Fun with Shakespeare," presented for a special audience of writing award winners from grades 4 through 12 and their teachers and guests, and high school actors and their teachers, University Center Party Room and Ballroom

-- 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., high school actors performing scenes from Shakespeare with SSE members presenting comments and suggestions, University Center Party Room and Ballroom

-- 8 p.m., performance of "Hamlet," Rose Theatre

-- 10:15 p.m., after-performance discussion, Rose Theatre

Sunday, April 23

-- 2 to 4 p.m., birthday party for Shakespeare with SSE actors and other performers presenting "bits of the Bard," singing and playing period music and show tunes, giving demonstrations of stage combat, etc.