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William Shakespeare, of course, wasn't around to host “Saturday Night Live,” but “The Shakespeare Project,” the upcoming production from the Coffeyville Community College theatre department, provides the next best thing, applying the variety show-sketch comedy approach to the Bard’s most notable works.

Adapted by James Zager, the script, for example, treats the balcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet” as a cell-phone call, sets the “fight” scene from “The Taming of the Shrew” in a wrestling ring, and stages Mark Antony’s eulogy in “Julius Caesar” as a press conference.

“I think it’s important before our students cycle out of here in two years that they have the opportunity to perform a classical work,” said Allen Twitchell, theatre director. “This is a less-intense and, hopefully, fun and exciting way to do that.”

The show runs from April 15-18 with curtain at 7:30 p.m. each night. Admission is free to the public.

The ensemble cast includes Bailey Gregory, a sophomore from Lebanon, Mo., and graduate of Labette County High School; Kylie Smith, a sophomore from Gardner; Katlyn Weve, a sophomore from Wichita; Megan Woodfield, a sophomore from Salina; and Hannah Emberton, a freshman from Coffeyville.

In addition, the show features musical numbers directed by John Gray with Kristi Reedy as accompanist, transitional music from “wandering minstrel” Robert Vanfossen, a sophomore from Buffalo.  Also performing monologues (recorded or otherwise) are faculty members Johnie Greenfield (as Mark Antony from "Julius Caesar"), Salina Meek (as Portia from "The Merchant of Venice"), Troy McCloughan (as Hamlet from "Hamlet") and Donald Partain (as Richard III from "Richard III").

Weve doubles as the technical director, with Nick Schnoor, a freshman from Coffeyville, on lights and sound, assisted by Lemere Toles, a sophomore from St. Louis.

“And, don’t be surprised if ‘Gary Busey’ (wink, wink) shows up to give us his interpretation of a Shakespearean monologue,” said Twitchell.