 Professor Ted Sharon with son, Benjamin Sharon, at the FESTA Theatre Production of Macbeth, in Florence, Italy. |
Three actors affiliated with SUNY Fredonia auditioned for and were cast in a production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth in Florence, Italy, and have been invited back for another project in 2010. One of them, Professor Ted Sharon of the theatre arts department faculty, spent an extended period studying with the masters of historical Italian fighting styles.
Sharon and his son, seventh grader Benjamin Sharon, along with 2006 alumnus Dan Lendzian, joined a largely international cast and crew in July for FESTA Theatre's production of Macbeth performed at the Bargello Museum. It was the first English-speaking Shakespearean production to be performed in a national museum in the history of Florence, a city long-considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Italian subtitles were projected on the Bargello's 800-year old stone wall. FESTA is an acronym for Florence English Speaking Theatrical Artists.
Lendzian played the role of Malcolm, and young Sharon, a student at Brocton Central School, played Fleance. Professor Sharon choreographed the fights and played the role of Macduff.
According to Professor Sharon, "The show was far beyond sold-out each of the five nights that it played. The director of the Bargello Museum was so excited that two requests were made for the show to reopen in September, but this was not possible due to the international cast and crew."
 Alumnus Dan Lendzian, Class of 2006 |
Titles under consideration for next summer's production include The Three Musketeers, Cyrano de Bergerac and Dracula.
A Professional Development Grant from SUNY Fredonia also allowed Professor Sharon to study with the Confraternita della Spada for five weeks in Florence. The first-hand knowledge he gained of the historical Italian side sword and broad sword will be passed on to students who take his courses in voice and movement..
Professor Sharon is the first member of the Society of American Fight Directors and of Dueling Arts International who has been able to study for such an extended period with the masters of historical fighting styles in Italy.
