Torie Hardee, staff writer
posted on April 20, 2006

Shakespeare will come to life Thursday as the Troy University Department of Speech and Theatre presents “Hamlet.”
“Hamlet” will be performed by Troy University students and faculty Thrusday, Friday and Saturday at the Trojan Center Theater at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are free with student I.D. and $5 for the general public.
Students wanting to reserve seats for the performance should purchase tickets immediately, because according to Cassie Robinson, production stage manager for “Hamlet” and the theater department, tickets for tonight’s show are close to being sold out.
“Hamlet is one of the greatest pieces of literature and theater.
“For our theater company to have undertaken it is a monumental task,” said Robinson.
“We have really risen to the occasion, and I think we’ve done the work justice,” Robinson added.
Lead characters include: Nathan Benton as Hamlet, Jason Ramsey as King Claudius, Erin Turner as Queen Gertrude, Jessica Hyatt as Ophelia, Darius Stubbs as Polonius, Chris Boucher as Laertes and Brett Warnke as Horatio.
Ed Hicks and Mike Orlofsky, professors of English at Troy, are also included cast members.
Usually, the audience sees the stars of a production on stage.
However, the leading lady in “Hamlet” may very well be one whom the audience cannot see at all.
Bethanie Wampol, a sophomore from Birmingham majoring in theater with a design contract, created all of the costumes for “Hamlet.”
Wampol has been the first student in several years at Troy University to design costumes for a Troy Theatre production.
Although she designed all of the costumes, Wampol doesn’t take full credit for the success.
“John Patton has been a very strong mentor, and I have also had a very strong constructive staff,” said Wampol.
Wampol’s interest in design began in high school and grew as she worked in set design at the Birmingham Children’s Theatre.
She said she has always had the desire to design, and hopes to have the opportunity to design sets for a future Troy production.
“I tend to create entire worlds,” said Wampol.
“I create not only what the actors are wearing but also the world they live in,” she said.
Wampol explained she is grateful for the opportunity given her because many schools only allow students to design within their art departments.
“The Department of Speech and Theatre has awarded me a much larger canvas,” said Wampol.