Davis & Elkins College alumna Kyia McGill has been cast as a member of the Rustic Mechanicals “Thundering Hearts Tour.” The troupe, amid their summer West Virginia Shakespeare in the Park(s) outdoor tour, will bring their latest show, “The Tempest,” to Citizens Bank of West Virginia Amphitheater on Saturday, June 22. The sponsors for this event include Citizens Bank of West Virginia, Tygart Hotel, Davis & Elkins College, and other anonymous donors.
“Performing with the Rustic Mechanicals at Davis & Elkins College is nothing short of exciting for me. Combining the two families I’ve been a part of for years now feels like a breath of fresh air and a warm hug. My time at D&E gave me the tools and opportunities to work with the Mechanicals, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic to share ‘The Tempest’ with the Elkins community that has supported me for so long.”
Produced by Jason A. Young and Directed by Jim Warren and crew, “The Tempest” is widely considered one of Shakespeare’s last solo plays – a lyrical tale of forgiveness, generosity and enlightenment.
Davis & Elkins College Assistant Professor of Theatre and Film, Lonnie Martin, says, “D&E Theatre and Film is always honored to host the Rustic Mechanicals. They’re a gift to our community and the West Virginia arts community at large.”
Established in 2014 by Celi Oliveto, the Rustic Mechanicals are the only troupe of actors in the state dedicated to touring the works of William Shakespeare and other classical playwrights. The Shakespeare in the Park(s) outdoor tour focuses on making classical works accessible to modern audiences, utilizing dynamic casting techniques alongside Shakespeare’s staging conditions. The organization has previously performed at D&E with “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and “Romeo and Juliet.” In the decade since the troupe’s foundation, the Rustic Mechanicals have embarked across forty unique tours, showcases, and stage-to-screen productions.
