Something is awesome in the state of Denmark

As Delaware Shakespeare Festival draws closer to tech week for Hamlet, I am reminded of my first conversation with DSF's Producing Artistic Director (also the show's director) David Stradley. We dicussed one of the many challenges that the project presented. How do you make a ghost frightening at 7:30 PM on a bright summer evening in the park? My reply was, as always, "With sound." Okay, I'm biased, but still...

David was interested in maintaining the established presence of live music for DSF's productions and his mind was already working overtime on the pros and cons of a solo cello. I reassured him that solo cello was a vast and fantastic landscape for the world of Hamlet. We agreed that it would also beautifully represent the "lone wolf" spirit of the show. David, unafraid of the daunting task of pulling off a ghostly opening in broad daylight, moved forward with the idea and found a composer and a cellist, both undergrads from the University of Delaware, to join us on the journey.

Today we brought in our cello player, Paul Gianakon, to begin his work as the sole musical voice of Hamlet proper. By that I mean, the sole instrument for both music and sound effects with the important exception of "the players" that perform The Murder of Gonzago. That piece found its own world - far removed from the typical Elizabethan take on the famous play-within-a-play. I couldn't be more excited! Hamlet, July 11-27 @ Rockwood Park, Wilmington, DE - Michael Hahn, Sound Designer