Sandburg Presents Modern-Day Take on ‘Othello’ April 20-23

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GALESBURG — The Carl Sandburg College Humanities and Fine Arts Department presents a modern-day spin on a Shakespeare classic with its spring play, “Othello,” from April 20-23 in the Fine Arts Theater (Room F118) on Sandburg’s Main Campus in Galesburg, 2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd.

The tragedy is set in motion when heroic Black general Othello (played by Andrew Dortch) appoints Cassio (Dieter Horton) and not Iago (Aiden Nolan) as his chief lieutenant. Jealous of Othello’s success and envious of Cassio, Iago plots Othello’s downfall by falsely implicating Othello’s wife, Desdemona (Ashley Cruz Lopez), and Cassio in a love affair. With the unwitting aid of his wife Emilia (Jenilee Smith) and the willing help of fellow malcontent Roderigo (Adithya Vindo), Iago carries out his plan. 

A free preview for students, faculty and staff with a Sandburg ID will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 20. Show times for public performances are 7:30 p.m. April 21-22 as well as a matinee performance at 2 p.m. April 23. Tickets are $5 each and are available at the door starting 30 minutes prior to each show.

For more information, contact Sandburg theater instructor Robert Thompson at 309.341.5287 or rthompson@sandburg.edu.

“OTHELLO” CAST
Iago — Aiden Nolan
Roderigo — Adithya Vinod
Othello — Andrew Dortch
Desdemona — Ashley Cruz Lopez
Brabantino — Brais Sotelo Gonzalez
Bianca — Cadence Hulick
Cassio /Duke of Venice — Collin Sevigny
Lodovico — Dieter Horton
Montano – Manoah Kasongo Wemba
Emilia — Jenilee Smith

PRODUCTION STAFF
Director — Robert Thompson
Stage manager — Dani Lopez
Costume designer — Gary Mustain
Sound designer — Richard Schlosser
Props master — Sunny Nolan
Props/lights — McKelvey Bugner
Lighting — Victoria Peacock
Crew — Stephane M. Massamba
Set painting — Kennedy K. Korir Jr. 

Othello rehearsal
Andrew Dortch, playing the role of Othello, holds Ashley Cruz Lopez, playing Desdemona, while rehearsing a scene for Carl Sandburg College’s production of “Othello.” A modern take on the Shakespeare tragedy is onstage April 20-23 at Sandburg.

Othello rehearsal
Cast members of Carl Sandburg College’s production of “Othello” rehearse a scene earlier this week in the Fine Arts Theater. A modern take on the Shakespeare tragedy is onstage April 20-23 at Sandburg.