By News and Internal Communications

By Santana Peralez

EDINBURG, TEXAS – Politics, violence, ambition, revenge – just part of a normal day for Shakespeare.

Now the Department of Theatre at UTRGV is bringing the drama with The Bard’s weighty “Coriolanus,” opening Friday, March 25, as part of its 2021-2022 theater season. The play will run March 25-27 and April 1-3 at the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre, Liberal Arts Building South, on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus.

This Shakespearean tragedy is based on the life of Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus, who is thrust into an election after a great military victory. How will he balance his ambitions with those of his family and the needs of the people of Rome?

“We felt this play spoke to a lot of current events,” said Dr. Brian Warren, associate professor of theater and the director of the play. “Politics was one of the current events, along with the issue of military leaders not making good political leaders.

“We are here to educate, and this is one of Shakespeare’s works that is sometimes overlooked,” he said. "Some who think they know Shakespeare might never have heard of this play.”

“Coriolanus” has a cast of 30, which hasn’t happened since before the pandemic.

“We rarely had more than 30 actors in the cast, so a lot of new students are involved, which is exciting,” Warren said.

Among those 30 actors is Luis Macias, a senior studying theatre performance, in the titular role.

“The show is very ambitious, the costumes are amazing, and the set looks really nice,” Macias said.

Macias has been in several UTRGV productions, he said, and while he is excited, he is also sad that it will be his final production at UTRGV.

“Please come watch the show, we’re excited to have you back,” he said.

That feeling of excitement is shared by Lina Ortiz, a freshman pursuing a degree in film production and stage manager for the play.

“To be a stage manager in this big production, I really did not expect it but I'm very thankful to my friends and teachers who have supported me throughout,” Ortiz said. “This show is interesting, and I can’t wait to see how everything comes together in the end.”

 

SHOW DATES AND TIMES

• March 25-26 and April 1-2, 7:30 p.m.
• March 26 production will include an ASL interpreter, 7:30 p.m.
• March 27 and April 3, 2 p.m.

Tickets are free and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, visit www.utrgv.edu/theatre, contact the Box Office at (956) 665-3581, or email theatreboxoffice@utrgv.edu.