On Wednesday, the Peck School of the Arts theater department will present its latest production “Pericles.” From the twilight of Shakespeare’s career, this piece chronicles adventure, love, and family through the tragedy of a devastating shipwreck and several extreme storms throughout.
For PSOA’s production, the sensation of the wreck is created through sound and movement, brought to life by the work and collaboration of PSOA theater students.
The Immersion of Sound
Taking the reins of sound design for “Pericles” is Ella Baird (Theater Production BFA, Junior) who is making her solo debut as a sound designer. Through this role, Baird has the difficult task of portraying multiple storms without the use of complex scenery.
To make the storm and wreck feel believable for the audience, actors on stage use practical sounds including a rain machine and thunder sheets. These sounds are slowly complemented by digital sounds that come from speakers throughout the theater, creating a deeper level of immersion for audiences.
Throughout the play, the storms get increasingly intense through a clever use of volume. That work is amplified by the actors on stage, whom Baird describes as “really responding” to the audio they hear.
“At one point, there’s a booming thunderclap that prompts Pericles to cry to the gods to stop the thunder,” said Baird. “There’s a strong element of collaboration there that is apparent through the whole show.”
Baird takes a step away from the sound booth when “Pericles” opens, leaving the work to a sound operator who has been carefully learning Baird’s cues throughout rehearsal.
“I’m glad I get to hand it off to somebody else,” said Baird. “I get to sit down, enjoy the show, and see how audiences respond to it… The show’s theme of familial love really resonates, and I hope audiences appreciate it, too.”
The Physicality of Acting
For this production, the actors create aspects of the set with their bodies.
“We are the boat, we are the waves,” said Natalie Gustafson (Theatre Performance BFA: Acting, Junior), who plays Marina, the daughter of the titular character. “We create the boat by holding hands, making different levels, and rocking back and forth. It’s really beautiful.”
Gustafson explains that this is not as simple as standing still to create a boat shape. Instead, the cast collaborates to move as one.
“It’s not just about being a boat, it’s about portraying emotion,” said Gustafson. “It’s a real bonding experience that takes a lot of work and coordination.”
The actors collaborate with the technical crew, reacting to the sounds from Baird and the lighting design, which sometimes creates the illusion of thunder and lightning in the theater.
“We’ve had to be very flexible and collaborative in this production,” said Gabe Rodriguez (Acting BFA, Junior), who plays Pericles. “The way we’re approaching this work is very physical… if there’s a boat on stage, we’re creating the boat with our movement.”
At the height of his acting training with Peck School of the Arts, Rodriguez feels he utilizes movement and his relationship with sound to convey what is happening in the story.
Rodriguez intensively studied “Pericles” and similar Shakespearean works, such as “King Lear,” to prepare himself for the physicality needed to perform his role.
According to Rodriguez, he has been supported by faculty and peers at PSOA who have trained alongside him. One of his most crucial preparations came during “Beach Day,” a once-a-year event when the theater department studies their physical and vocal craft on the beaches of Lake Michigan.
“I jumped in the water and started doing my lines,” said Rodriguez. “Feeling the energy that came from getting crushed by Lake Michigan and trying to fight through it proved really helpful.”
The magic of theatre comes together strongly for “Pericles,” helping students tackle big themes in the play that will resonate with audiences.
“Pericles is a story about fate and learning to live with what happens,” said Gustafson. “I hope audiences walk away appreciating the strength and willpower of human beings.”
“Pericles” opens on Nov. 6, 2024, and runs through Nov. 10, 2024, at the Mainstage Theatre. For more information and tickets, visit the PSOA events calendar.
Story by Jason McCullum ’25