The ABAC Baldwin Players are set to perform the play “Never Runs Smooth… Shakespeare on Love” this semester.
Cast members and characters are as follows: Jack, played by Peter Pinnow; Vi, played by Caroline Evans; Ben, played by Ryan Norton; Beth, played by Alena Norton; Tony, played by Ezzard Stewart; Sylvia, played by Brooke Tyra, Duke played by Ricky Day, and Randi played by Lauraleigh Shealey-Weeks.
Dr. Brian Ray, Professor at the School of Arts and Sciences, directs all the Baldwin Players’ plays. Ray grew up watching plays in grade, middle, and high school. He auditioned for his first play when he was a sophomore in high school and was a part of the school’s chorus for their musical.
Ray said, “It was so much fun. The rehearsals, learning the dances, learning the music, and getting involved with… I just had a great time with it.”
Ray was a part of the theatre throughout the rest of high school and now has a bachelor’s degree in theater. He has acted for 50 years now.
Ray went to the military for a few years. After that, he returned to the theatre, continuing his education in graduate school.
“It’s not my profession. It’s my passion,” Ray said.
Ray has also done numerous things with the Tifton community theater as well. In 2015, Ray was a part of the Tift “Haunted Theatre.” Ray also directed a play called “Barefoot in the Park.”
The process of becoming a director is a challenging one. Ray needed more experience directing, but when he came to ABAC, a change in position occurred. However, this was a good change. Since then, Ray has performed in 23 plays and two video productions at ABAC during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Jan. 22-23 auditions proceeded with a form consisting of height, eye color, and hair color and asking when they would be available. Ray asked the actors auditioning to prepare 6-10 lines of a Shakespeare play.
Ray asked each actor to say their lines; next, each actor was given a sample from the script, and they were asked to read it. The cast consists of a few ABAC students and primarily members of the Tifton community.
Jan. 27 was the first read-through of the script so that Ray could put on the finishing touches. The cast will have play practice three nights a week.
Ray said, “I’m excited to hear what they think about it.”
The first performance will be at the Howard Auditorium on March 28-30 at 7:00 pm. If you want to learn more about “Never Runs Smooth…Shakespeare on Love,” email Dr. Brian Ray at bray@abac.edu.
