Renowned NYC actor John Bergdahl has joined the cast of the Sherman Players production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest to be performed in late June through early July. Shakespeare's timeless tale is one that has been beloved for centuries. Being one of his last works, Shakespeare delves into the themes of betrayal, courtship and exoneration all the while entertaining with comical and magical scenes and characters. The plot centers around a magical deposed Duke, Prospero, who, while rearing up his child, Miranda, governs an enchanted island with the help of his spirit servant, Ariel. The beginning of the play depicts a tempest that brings his then enemy brother and his entourage to the island along with Trinculo, a court jester and a drunken butler, Stephano. The clown and butler friends team up with a disgruntled native servant, Caliban, to depose Prospero from his reign over the island. Other plots and courtships pepper this tale, all told with the ancient and beautiful language that brings Shakespeare alive.
John Bergdahl is a performer and filmmaker, seen most recently as Antigonus and the old shepherd in South Brooklyn Shakespeare’s production of The Winter’s Tale. Previous credits with South Brooklyn Shakespeare include Macbeth in Macbeth, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, and Don John in Much Ado About Nothing. In 2015 John adapted and starred in a five-person production of Macbeth at the Lion Theater in NYC with SET Collective.
John’s original play Stream was produced as part of the first New York International Fringe Festival and Cowards and Weaklings, a retrospective of short films he wrote and directed, was featured at Anthology Film Archives in New York City’s East Village. John can be seen this fall in Street To Table, an independent film written and directed by Joe Lazenby.
The Tempest
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Robin Frome
June 28, 29, July 5, 6, 7 (Matinee), 12, 13, 14 (Matinee), 19, 20, 2019
Friday & Saturday 8:00PM
Sunday Matinee 2:00PM
For more information or to purchase tickets to any of this season's productions, visit The Sherman Players website.