HAMLET Digital Program
HAMLET by William Shakespeare
Edited by the Folger Shakespeare Library
Adapted by Carolyn Silverberg
Edited by the Folger Shakespeare Library
Adapted by Carolyn Silverberg
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
“Who’s there?”
The very first line of Hamlet is a question, which is fitting for a play filled with them. Throughout, characters ask, wrestle with, and attempt to answer some of the biggest questions we face: What is truth? What is duty? What does it mean to act — or not act — in a world that refuses to give us clarity?
This is a play about questioning, about refusing to accept what is told to us simply because it’s said with certainty, about challenging appearances, institutions, memory, morality, and even ourselves. At its heart, Hamlet invites us — dares us — to not take things at face value.
But it’s also a story about being human. Underneath the royal titles and political stakes lie deeply relatable experiences: longing, grief, wonder, betrayal, love, and loss. Hamlet may be a prince, but he is also a son, a friend, a lover, a student, a seeker. And in his struggles, we may just find echoes of our own.
Hamlet was likely first performed at the Globe Theatre around 1600, with Richard Burbage — one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated collaborators and a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men — originating the title role. (While we have no definitive proof, many theorize Shakespeare himself may have played the Ghost.) The story, however, is older. It’s rooted in the medieval Scandinavian legend of Amleth and was adapted from earlier sources, including The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd and a now-lost play often referred to as the “Ur-Hamlet.” In Shakespeare’s hands, however, this tale of revenge, grief, and moral paralysis became something far more profound: a philosophical exploration of the human condition and a touchstone for actors and audiences for over 400 years.
Let me tell you — editing down a nearly four-hour play into what you are about to see was no small feat. But this remarkable cast has managed to expertly assist me in distilling Shakespeare’s sprawling, multifaceted masterpiece into a lean, urgent, and resonant performance, one that still holds “the mirror up to nature” with clarity and care.
Thank you for joining us. I hope this Hamlet stirs your questions, sharpens your perspective, and stays with you long after the final line is spoken.
— Carolyn Silverberg, Director
The very first line of Hamlet is a question, which is fitting for a play filled with them. Throughout, characters ask, wrestle with, and attempt to answer some of the biggest questions we face: What is truth? What is duty? What does it mean to act — or not act — in a world that refuses to give us clarity?
This is a play about questioning, about refusing to accept what is told to us simply because it’s said with certainty, about challenging appearances, institutions, memory, morality, and even ourselves. At its heart, Hamlet invites us — dares us — to not take things at face value.
But it’s also a story about being human. Underneath the royal titles and political stakes lie deeply relatable experiences: longing, grief, wonder, betrayal, love, and loss. Hamlet may be a prince, but he is also a son, a friend, a lover, a student, a seeker. And in his struggles, we may just find echoes of our own.
Hamlet was likely first performed at the Globe Theatre around 1600, with Richard Burbage — one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated collaborators and a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men — originating the title role. (While we have no definitive proof, many theorize Shakespeare himself may have played the Ghost.) The story, however, is older. It’s rooted in the medieval Scandinavian legend of Amleth and was adapted from earlier sources, including The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd and a now-lost play often referred to as the “Ur-Hamlet.” In Shakespeare’s hands, however, this tale of revenge, grief, and moral paralysis became something far more profound: a philosophical exploration of the human condition and a touchstone for actors and audiences for over 400 years.
Let me tell you — editing down a nearly four-hour play into what you are about to see was no small feat. But this remarkable cast has managed to expertly assist me in distilling Shakespeare’s sprawling, multifaceted masterpiece into a lean, urgent, and resonant performance, one that still holds “the mirror up to nature” with clarity and care.
Thank you for joining us. I hope this Hamlet stirs your questions, sharpens your perspective, and stays with you long after the final line is spoken.
— Carolyn Silverberg, Director
BIOS
ANDREW DELAURELLE (King Claudius) is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay theatre program. He has been involved with local theatre groups for several years and enjoys volunteering his time for good causes. He was most recently seen in productions of The Rainmaker and Boeing, Boeing, as well as the independent film Confessions of a Sailor. He wants to thank everyone for supporting local art!
JERAH DOXTATOR (Marcellus/Lead Player/Osric) is a local actor who has performed with many theaters, including (most recently) Abrams Spotlight Productions, PACT, and Cardboard Theatre. Recent appearances include: The Play That Goes Wrong (Trevor), Twelve Angry Jurors (Juror #6), and Godspell. He has also appeared with Play-by-Play in Twelfth Night, Macbeth, and Much Ado About Nothing. Jerah would like to thank Play-by-Play for this fantastic opportunity to perform with such passionate people, and his fellow cast members for showing him how much he's yet to learn about Shakespeare at every rehearsal. Thank you.
BINGHAM HARPER (Guildenstern) This is Binghams first production with Play-by-Play Theatre and he is absolutely thrilled for this production and opportunity. He is currently pursuing a BFA acting degree at the University of Wisconsin Stevens point. Bingham would like to thank his friends and family for the continued support and help while pursuing his passion for the arts.
SANIBEL HARPER (Rosencrantz) began performing at four years old and has been involved in over thirty stage and film productions throughout the Midwest since then. Sanibel is earning her BFA in Acting at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. This is Sanibel’s fourth production with Play-by-Play, as she has portrayed Donalbain/Gentlewoman/Seyton in Macbeth, Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, and Gregory/Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet. She would like to thank everyone involved with Twelfth Night for their encouragement and creative guidance along with her friends and family for their endless support!
JACOB MASSART (Horatio) is thrilled to be a part of their first Play-by-Play production as Horatio. Jacob is currently a senior at UWSP where they are working towards receiving their BFA in musical theatre and minor in dance. He is originally from Green Bay and so it is a pleasure to be back home and working with such great talent. Jacob has recently been seen in UWSP’s productions of Side by Side by Sondheim and Pirates of Penzance. Upcoming they are understudying in the fall at UWSP.
CHELSEA MURPHY (Ophelia) is thrilled to take on the role of Ophelia in her second show with Play-by-Play Theatre, after playing Olivia in Twelfth Night last summer. An Appleton born actor, she trained at the New York Film Academy, Playhouse West LA, and Renaissance School for the Arts. Her upcoming indie feature “Under a Melted Sun” drops later this year, and she directed the delightfully weird “Yucca Fest”, now streaming on Prime and Tubi. Thanks to the Hamlet team and to everyone who’s ever encouraged her to be just a little dramatic. @chelseajmurphy
DEBORAH (Deb) OETTINGER (Queen Gertrude) was born in California to parents who loved to roam and as a result lived on the east coast, west coast and now in the middle. She first fell in love with the stage in 8th grade when she got the lead in a one act play called The Ghost Wore White and is now following her lifelong dream of pursuing acting as her passion and vocation. This role (Queen Gertrude) has been on her bucket list for a long time, and she is so happy this is the show to be the 1st one with Play by Play.
MARTIN PREVOST (Barnardo/Player King/Gravedigger) is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s theatre program. He has most recently been seen in Play-by-Play’s Much Ado About Nothing, and GBTC’s Rumors and Murder by Misadventure. Martin is also a local playwright and director writing the recently performed shows Deeper Meaning, Captain Wallby’s Neighborhood, Mr. Nibbles the Amazing Talking Cat and Dreaming of a Dark Christmas with his 5th original show THE LAWSUIT being performed Aug 28-Sept 7 at Stage Ten Seventeen. He is proud to be a part of this wonderful cast.
MARY SPENCER (Francisco/Player Queen/Gravedigger) can’t wait to share Play-by-Play Theatre’s production of Hamlet with you, along with this outstanding cast. Mary’s last foray into Hamlet was some years ago as Ophelia in Southwest High School’s When Shakespeare’s Ladies Meet. Mary’s recent roles include Dot in Evergreen’s Lost and Found in IKEA, Jessica Farcry in the new original play Dreaming of a Dark Christmas, Valentine/2nd Officer in Play-by-Play Theatre’s Twelfth Night, and Mandy in independent film Angel of Light. Mary is thrilled to have you see this show, and is eternally grateful to those who support her, and quality local theatre!
ETHAN STOKES (Hamlet) is thrilled to be making his Play-by-Play debut! He’s currently pursuing his BFA in Musical Theatre at UW-Stevens Point. Recent credits include: The Pirates of Penzance (Frederic), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Leaf Coneybear), and Brigadoon (Charlie Dalrymple). He would like to thank each and every member of the cast and production team for making this such an amazing experience and a wonderful show! Warmest thanks for attending this show and supporting live art!
JOSEPH E. UMENTUM II (Laertes) graduated this year with their BFA in Acting from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Before following their plans to move to NYC, he has taken the opportunity to be a part of one of his favorite Shakespeare plays. He is beyond thrilled to be working on Play-by-Play’s Hamlet. This is his second show with them, the first being Romeo and Juliet roughly 4 years ago! Joseph is incredibly grateful that local Shakespeare productions are possible and hopes Shakespeare in the Park continues to prosper! josephumentum.com
STEVE WESTERGAN (Ghost of King Hamlet/Player Poisoner) is professor emeritus of humanities at St. Norbert College, where he has appeared in several Shakespeare productions: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, and As You Like It. He was in Play-by-Play’s Much Ado About Nothing in 2022, Macbeth in 2023, and Twelfth Night in 2024. He is grateful for the opportunity to work with very talented people on one of Shakespeare’s most famous and provocative plays.
ERIC D. WESTPHAL (Polonius) has a theater degree from Lawrence University in Appleton and a radio broadcasting degree from Gateway Technical College in Kenosha and is excited to join Play-by-Play Theater for his 5th summer Shakespeare production. He has worked with numerous theater groups in the greater Green Bay area and throughout the state. Corporate cutbacks has left this former afternoon Green Bay radio personality looking for a new career path where he can best utilize his excellent communication, marketing, event management, and community engagement skills to help an area business or nonprofit achieve success. Reach out to him at [email protected].
MAGGIE SERGOTT (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be a part of Play by Play’s Shakespeare in the Park for the third year in a row! She has loved learning to understand Shakespeare and how many different things are influenced by his plays. She would love to thank Prudence, her cat, for understanding the late nights needed for the rehearsal process.
CAROLYN SILVERBERG (Director) earned her MA in Shakespeare from Royal Holloway University of London and her BA in Theatre from St. Norbert College. She has directed Play-by-Play’s Shakespeare shows since 2019, and their production of tick, tick… BOOM! Carolyn has also performed with & directed for numerous local organizations as well as has been a Shakespearean guest speaker for: The Monday Shakespeare Club, Collegiate School (NYC), St. Norbert College Theatre Studies, Kimberly High School, Ashwaubenon High School, Preble Players, and the Muscota New School Bard Club (her elementary school in NYC where her love of Shakespeare began). She is currently participating in the ballroom dance fundraising event NEW Dancing with Our Stars.
For dad, always. carolynsilverberg.com
PLOT SYNOPSIS
Late at night, guards on the battlements of Denmark's Elsinore castle are met by Horatio, Prince Hamlet's friend from school. The guards describe a ghost they have seen that resembles Hamlet's father, the recently-deceased king. At that moment, the Ghost reappears, and the guards and Horatio decide to tell Hamlet.
Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, has married Hamlet's recently-widowed mother, becoming the new King of Denmark. He explains the military and political conflict between Denmark and Fortinbras of Norway. Hamlet continues to mourn for his father's death and laments his mother's lack of loyalty. When Hamlet hears of the Ghost from Horatio, he wants to see it for himself.
Elsewhere, the royal attendant Polonius says farewell to his son Laertes, who is departing for France. Laertes warns his sister, Ophelia, to stay away from Hamlet as he thinks too much of his attentions towards her.
The Ghost appears to Hamlet, claiming indeed to be the ghost of his father. He tells Hamlet about how Claudius murdered him, and Hamlet swears vengeance for his father. Hamlet decides to feign madness while he tests the truth of the Ghost's allegations.
According to his plan, Hamlet begins to act strangely. He rejects Ophelia, while Claudius and Polonius spy on him, hoping to find the reason for Hamlet's sudden change in behavior. Claudius then summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, old friends of Hamlet, to find out what's got into him. Their arrival coincides with a group of travelling actors that Hamlet happens to know well. Hamlet plans to have them perform a play before the King and Queen with scenes that mimic the murder of his father.
At the performance, Hamlet watches Claudius closely to see how he reacts. The play provokes Claudius, and he interrupts the action by storming out. He immediately resolves to send Hamlet away. Hamlet is summoned by his distressed mother, Gertrude, and on the way, he happens upon Claudius kneeling and attempting to pray. Hamlet reasons that to kill the King now would only send his soul to heaven rather than hell. Hamlet decides to spare his life for the time being.
Polonius hides in Gertrude's room to protect her from her unpredictable son. When Hamlet arrives to scold his mother, he hears Polonius moving behind the arras (a kind of tapestry or curtain). He stabs the arras and, in so doing, kills Polonius. The ghost of Hamlet's father reappears and warns his son not to delay revenge or upset his mother.
Hamlet is sent to England. During his journey, Hamlet discovers Claudius has a plan to have him killed once he arrives. He returns to Denmark alone, sending his companions Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths in his place.
Laertes secretly returns to Denmark seeking justice for his slain father, while his sister, Ophelia, having been rejected by Hamlet, is now desolate at the loss of her father – she goes mad and drowns.
On the way back to Denmark, Hamlet meets Horatio in the graveyard (along with some gravediggers), where they talk of the chances of life and death. Ophelia's funeral procession arrives at the very same graveyard. Hamlet confronts Laertes.
A duel is arranged between Hamlet and Laertes. During the match, Claudius conspires with Laertes to kill Hamlet. They plan that Hamlet will die either on a poisoned rapier or with poisoned wine. The plans go awry when Gertrude unwittingly drinks from the poisoned cup and dies. Then both Laertes and Hamlet are wounded by the poisoned blade, and Laertes dies.
Hamlet, in his death throes, kills Claudius. News arrives that Fortinbras has returned in victory from the Polish wars and shall soon take Denmark. Hamlet dies in Horatio’s arms.
Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, has married Hamlet's recently-widowed mother, becoming the new King of Denmark. He explains the military and political conflict between Denmark and Fortinbras of Norway. Hamlet continues to mourn for his father's death and laments his mother's lack of loyalty. When Hamlet hears of the Ghost from Horatio, he wants to see it for himself.
Elsewhere, the royal attendant Polonius says farewell to his son Laertes, who is departing for France. Laertes warns his sister, Ophelia, to stay away from Hamlet as he thinks too much of his attentions towards her.
The Ghost appears to Hamlet, claiming indeed to be the ghost of his father. He tells Hamlet about how Claudius murdered him, and Hamlet swears vengeance for his father. Hamlet decides to feign madness while he tests the truth of the Ghost's allegations.
According to his plan, Hamlet begins to act strangely. He rejects Ophelia, while Claudius and Polonius spy on him, hoping to find the reason for Hamlet's sudden change in behavior. Claudius then summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, old friends of Hamlet, to find out what's got into him. Their arrival coincides with a group of travelling actors that Hamlet happens to know well. Hamlet plans to have them perform a play before the King and Queen with scenes that mimic the murder of his father.
At the performance, Hamlet watches Claudius closely to see how he reacts. The play provokes Claudius, and he interrupts the action by storming out. He immediately resolves to send Hamlet away. Hamlet is summoned by his distressed mother, Gertrude, and on the way, he happens upon Claudius kneeling and attempting to pray. Hamlet reasons that to kill the King now would only send his soul to heaven rather than hell. Hamlet decides to spare his life for the time being.
Polonius hides in Gertrude's room to protect her from her unpredictable son. When Hamlet arrives to scold his mother, he hears Polonius moving behind the arras (a kind of tapestry or curtain). He stabs the arras and, in so doing, kills Polonius. The ghost of Hamlet's father reappears and warns his son not to delay revenge or upset his mother.
Hamlet is sent to England. During his journey, Hamlet discovers Claudius has a plan to have him killed once he arrives. He returns to Denmark alone, sending his companions Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths in his place.
Laertes secretly returns to Denmark seeking justice for his slain father, while his sister, Ophelia, having been rejected by Hamlet, is now desolate at the loss of her father – she goes mad and drowns.
On the way back to Denmark, Hamlet meets Horatio in the graveyard (along with some gravediggers), where they talk of the chances of life and death. Ophelia's funeral procession arrives at the very same graveyard. Hamlet confronts Laertes.
A duel is arranged between Hamlet and Laertes. During the match, Claudius conspires with Laertes to kill Hamlet. They plan that Hamlet will die either on a poisoned rapier or with poisoned wine. The plans go awry when Gertrude unwittingly drinks from the poisoned cup and dies. Then both Laertes and Hamlet are wounded by the poisoned blade, and Laertes dies.
Hamlet, in his death throes, kills Claudius. News arrives that Fortinbras has returned in victory from the Polish wars and shall soon take Denmark. Hamlet dies in Horatio’s arms.
|
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His birthday is most commonly celebrated on April 23rd which is also believed to be the date he died in 1616. Shakespeare was a prolific writer during the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages of British theatre. Shakespeare's work includes 38 plays, 2 narrative poems, 154 sonnets, and a variety of other poems. Shakespeare’s legacy is as rich and diverse as his work; his plays have spawned countless adaptations across multiple genres and cultures. His plays have had an enduring presence on stage and film. William Shakespeare continues to be one of the most important literary figures of the English language. |
SPECIAL THANKS
Heritage Hill
Elizabeth Jolly & Diana Fligelman
Downtown Green Bay & Olde Main Street Inc.
Titletown
Abrams Spotlight Productions
The Fireside Theater
Evergreen Productions
Kaitlin "Kit" Honkanen
The Art Garage
Studio 12
Our Donors!
Elizabeth Jolly & Diana Fligelman
Downtown Green Bay & Olde Main Street Inc.
Titletown
Abrams Spotlight Productions
The Fireside Theater
Evergreen Productions
Kaitlin "Kit" Honkanen
The Art Garage
Studio 12
Our Donors!