“For all theater artists, ‘Hamlet’ looms. It is the play that most reminds practitioners of the power and potential of the theater itself. And thus, it is the obvious first play for our new venture,” said Carl Forsman, co-artistic director of the Piedmont Shakespeare Company and professor at the School of Drama at UNCSA. “Of course, there is a play within ‘Hamlet’ that seeks to prove how powerful the theater can be; when Hamlet asks the players to do a play about a King being murdered, he watches Claudius to see if his reaction betrays his guilt!

“Likewise, we all go to Hamlet and observe our own conscience: Have we lived in service of those who ask for help, have we allowed our morality to aid or hinder our devotion, have we loved truly and without reservation? It can feel like there is no part of the human experience the play doesn’t touch on: family, revenge, romance, ambition, power, grief,” Forsman added. “If you aren’t sure what theater is for, I think ‘Hamlet’ can remind us all. I cannot wait to share this masterpiece of theatrical invention and reflection this summer.”