Drury University is home to a vast student body that are intriguing, ambitious, individualistic, and a delight to know. To showcase these varying personalities, the Mirror has created Panther Profiles as a spotlight on those within the campus to share their memories and experiences at Drury University.

Drury’s Theatre Department is preparing to showcase William Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest” on March 10 through 13 with all shows at 7:30 p.m., and one matinee performance Saturday, March 13 at 2 p.m. The show will be in the Wilhoit Theatre located in the Breech School of Business building, as well as the box office where tickets are available for purchase. The box office is open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday to purchase tickets. Student tickets are only $3.

In the second edition of Panther Profiles, the Mirror is focusing on the stars behind the scenes of this show; Director Dr. Mick Sokol, stage manager Autumn Mondt and assistant stage manager Ahilyn Aceves. Each of these individuals is more than ecstatic to share their experiences thus far on the stage of “The Tempest.”

The director of the show is Dr. Mick Sokol. Although Sokol has worked at the university for the past twenty years, “The Tempest” is the first time he has ever taken on a Shakespeare play.

Photo via Dr. Mick Sokol.

In an interview Sokol clarified how this show is relevant to the student body, “I tried to change as few words as possible to preserve the beauty of the language, but some phrases just don’t translate to 2021 so I tweaked a little here and there. Most importantly, I trimmed about 40% of the play. Back in Shakespeare’s day, the audience was rather loud and raucous, more like what we might associate with a football game. Because people might miss something important, the plays tended to repeat a lot, which isn’t necessary for our (hopefully) attentive audience.”

Another integral member behind the scenes of the production is “The Tempest’s” stage manager and theatre major, Autumn Mondt. Mondt is exhilarated for students and the Springfield community to see the altered and intriguing Shakespeare play.

Photo via Autumn Mondt.

Mondt’s last play here at Drury University will be this production and it is extremely bittersweet. When asked to recall a favorite memory from this show Mondt stated, “This crazy group of actors make me laugh almost every rehearsal. I keep a log of quotes from random things that happen. It is a tradition that I started with my first show here. I will be able to look back at them later on and be able to remember all the fun we had getting to a wonderful production even during a pandemic.”

Assistant stage manager and criminology and psychology major, Ahilyn Aceves, is the final Panther Profile for this edition. Aceves originally chose to attend Drury University for the behavioral science program but fell in love with theatre here.

Photo via Ahilyn Aceves.

Aceves has many memories and thoughts about the past six weeks of working on the show and cannot wait for the audience to see what they’ve been working on.

Furthering Sokol’s comment of how a college-age generation will enjoy this Shakespeare show, Aceves stated, “With every rehearsal, I enjoy the show more and more. With Shakespeare, it’s always hard because of the old English, but the actors take the show to a whole other level. The reimagined show takes inspiration from the 60s while using 21st century Bob Dylan music. All the design elements together make for an interesting time.”

Sokol, Mondt, Aceves and all those within the cast and crew of “The Tempest” production are prepared to showcase what they all have been working on so diligently. Tickets are available for purchase in the box office from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The box office phone number is (417) 873-7255.