Maltz Jupiter Theatre Students Present HAMLET at Lighthouse ArtCenter Today

So you've seen William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

But have you seen it produced and performed entirely by local students, and environmentally staged 'in the round' at a landmark museum?

Under the guidance of industry professionals at Florida's largest award-winning not-for-profit regional theatre, area students (ages 11 - 19) are spending their summer at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre participating in a free summer mentorship program to produce the show. The show will take place Saturday, August 24, and will be centrally staged "in the round" at Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta.

One of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, Hamlet follows Prince Hamlet of Denmark as he struggles with the death of his father and a ghostly visit, then sets out on a quest for truth, justice and ultimately revenge. Hamlet's journey reminds us all "to thine own self be true."

Known as the Youth Artists' Chair, the project aligns high school students with individual Theatre staff members for one-on-one mentoring and guidance during the creation process of the show. Through the project, students produced the drama The Laramie Project on the Theatre's stage in 2012 and The Good Times are Killing Me in 2011.

The student creative team consists of: Victoria Pavlock (producer), 16, of Jupiter; Kiel Peterson (director), 16, of Jupiter; Neal Simpson Zabriski (stage manager), 17, of Jupiter; AshLeigh McDonald (lighting designer), 16, of Jupiter; Gabriela Abadia (props designer and scenic designer), 16, of Palm Beach Gardens; Julius Kukla (sound designer), 17, of Jupiter; and Annelise Hillmann (marketing director), 15, of Tequesta.

The show's director and producer also cast the show's young performers. They are: Matthew Paszkiet (Hamlet), 15, of Jupiter; Olivia Perrin, 16 (Polonius), of Jupiter; Roberto Marin (Claudius), 18, of Jupiter; Charly Hamann (Gertrude), 16, of Jupiter; Rachael Greenfeld (Horatio), 16, of Jupiter; Antonio Chicco (Laertes), 17, of Lake Worth; Lauren O'Keefe (Ophelia), 16, of Jupiter; Eva Gluck (Rosencrantz), 13, of Delray Beach; Leandre Thivierge (Guildenstern), 11, of West Palm Beach; Emily Rynasko (First Player), 15, of Hobe Sound; and Caiti Marlowe (Second Player), 17, of Lake Worth; and Skyler Sajewski, 13, of Palm Beach Gardens (Third Player).

Kiel, a junior at Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, said attendees can expect a dynamic, high-energy adaptation of the drama that will be accessible to people of all ages, particularly his peers.

"Since we're producing Hamlet 'in the round,' we're being creative with our use of space and choreography," he said. "Audiences can expect a fair share of surprises in an unforgettable performance space."

The students are producing the classic drama as adapted by award-winning Florida playwright and director T. Scott Wooten, featuring 42 roles portrayed by 12 actors.

"As teenagers, producing Hamlet has been very exciting for us," Kiel said. "It's a story we don't normally tell, and yet many of the issues that young people face are here in the story - grief, parental relationships, betrayal and more. I feel proud of the show we've produced, and we look forward to people of all ages coming to see it."

Tickets are on sale now for Hamlet, which will take place today, August 24, at Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children/students.

For information about the show and to purchase tickets, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call (561) 575-2223.

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