Daily Independent (Ashland, KY)

Local News

February 20, 2009

Shakespeare comes alive

Professionals visit Russell Primary

RUSSELL — The costumes Dathan Hooper pulled out of the plastic bin were a motley collection of funny hats, scarves and masks.

But when the third-graders in Anne Herndon’s class slipped them on, they slipped right into character.



Minutes after Hooper introduced himself to the children, they were immersed in a fast and furious version of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Hooper pulled the children out of their seats, plopped hats on their heads, and walked them through their parts, helping them recite the immortal lines and sprinkling the production with explanatory asides.

Hooper is a member of the Louisville-based Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. He was one of two actors to spend most of the week at Russell Primary School in an outreach program aptly named “Shakespeare Alive.”

In four days he worked with children in 30 classes, from kindergarten through third grade, said school librarian Kathy Heaberlin.

Putting all the children in the spotlight kept them focused and engaged, Herndon said. “It just brings it to life for them,” Herndon said after the 45-minute performance.

Vital to the presentation was the blend of Shakespeare’s original lines with enough exposition to clarify the story line. “Once they know that Hermia has to marry the man her father has chosen, or die, the kids are hooked,” Hooper said.

“He was being funny and helping us out and telling us what the words were,” said Grant Bates, one of the third-graders. “He used Shakespeare kind of words.”

From the white veils worn by Hermia and Helena to the giant sunglasses perched on the noses of the fairies, Hooper chooses the costumes himself. “My whole idea is that when they see these things their imaginations will run wild,” he said.

When the hats go on, the ham comes out. And that’s good, Hooper believes: “It’s easier to work with them when they’re hams than when they’re shy.”

An early introduction to Shakespeare will stick with children, Herndon believes. Once they start studying him in earnest in middle and high school, they’ll remember their classroom production, she hopes. “They won’t be intimidated. They’ve already heard the language.”

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.

Text Only
Local News
  • Bankruptcy filings: 2/10/12

    Bankruptcy filings in the Eastern District of U.S. Bankruptcy Court include the following:

    February 9, 2012

  • Russell Independent School District

    A new gym floor at Russell High School will cost somewhere between $71,000 and $107,000, school board members learned Thursday.

    February 9, 2012

  • Workers reject contract offer

    Hourly workers at Marathon Petroleum’s Catlettsburg refinery on Wednesday rejected a contract offer from the company.

    February 9, 2012

  • UW campaign tops $780,000

    While the economy of this region continues to struggle, the people of northeastern Kentucky again proved this is a caring and giving area by easily surpassing the ambitious $750,000 for the 2011 campaign of the United Way of Northeast Kentucky.

    February 9, 2012

  • LRC plans to appeal judge’s ruling

    The leadership of the General Assembly announced Thursday it plans to appeal Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd’s ruling that the legislature’s plan to re-draw state legislative boundaries is unconstitutional.

    February 9, 2012

  • School personnel pleased to be in ‘unprecedented’ territory with snow days

    Mid-February usually is the time when school administrators start worrying about how many days they will have to tack on to the end of the year to make up for the ones missed because of snow.

    February 9, 2012

  • Opposition to planned sewer extension

    The Boyd County Fiscal Court could be removing $60,000 in grant money after complaints about the sewer project it would have funded.

    February 9, 2012

  • Business touts better living

    Yvette Pennington is a true believer in the power of living better as we live longer.

    February 8, 2012

  • Police beat: 2/9/12

    The following information was taken from Ashland Police Department reports:

    February 8, 2012

  • Safe Harbor benefits from Shop and Share Day

    Shop and Share Day brought a record number of donations to Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky.

    February 8, 2012

Featured Ads
Seasonal Content
AP Video
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
SEC Zone