John Douglas Thompson as Othello

John Douglas Thompson as Othello and Mirjana Jokovic as Desdemona

OTHELLO

by William Shakespeare

production conceived by Yuri Yeremin
directed by David Wheeler
scenic design by Riccardo Hernanadez
costume design by Catherine Zuber
lighting design by John Ambrosone
sound design by David Remedios
original music by Samrat Chakrabarti
additional music by James Caran and Nick Niles
stage manager Thomas S. Kauffman

Nov. 23, 2001 - Jan. 27, 2002
In repertory with Enrico IV at the Loeb Drama Center

cast - synopsis - photos - links

Othello, a brave general in the Venetian army, is stationed on the island of Cyprus with his young wife, Desdemona, and Iago, his apparently loyal ensign. When Othello overlooks him for promotion, the enraged Iago sets out to destroy his master's happiness, hinting that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him and planting the seeds of sexual jealousy in Othello's fertile imagination. Domestic in scale but seething with Mediterranean passion, Othello is the most intimate of Shakespeare's tragedies. Russian director Yuri Yeremin and A.R.T. resident director David Wheeler join forces to stage this riveting study of jealousy and revenge.

 

CAST

OTHELLO, the Moor of Venice ... John Douglas Thompson
DESDEMONA, his wife ... Mirjana Jokovic
MICHAEL CASSIO, his lieutenant ... Benjamin Evett
BIANCA, a courtesan, in love with Cassio ... Amber Alison
IAGO, the Moor's Ensign ... Thomas Derrah
EMILIA, Iago's wife ... Karen MacDonald
THE DUKE OF VENICE ... Richard Snee
BRABANTIO, Desdemona's father, a Senator ... Will LeBow
LODOVICO, kinsman to Brabantio ... Jon Bernthal
RODERIGO, a Venetian gentleman ... Ken Cheeseman
MONTANO, Governor of Cyprus ... Richard Snee
GRATIANO, Brabantio's brother ... Will LeBow
MUSICIANS ... Samrat Chakrabarti
... Nick Niles
... James Caran


Senators, Sailors, Gentleman: Jon Bernthal, Ian Collett, Harry Crane, Philip Graeme, Michael Wheeler.

 
 

SYNOPSIS

When Othello, Moorish General of the Venetian army, chooses Cassio as his lieutenant, Iago sets out to ruin the happiness of his commander. Othello is newly married to Desdemona, the beautiful daughter of a Venetian senator. Iago attempts to awaken the senator’s hatred for Othello to ruin the match, but they are all called away to fight the Turks in Cyprus before his plans bear fruit.

After a great storm that wrecks the Turkish fleet, Iago resumes his plotting in Cyprus. He will inflame his lord's jealousy and implicate Cassio in an affair with Desdemona. He succeeds in rousing Othello, but the passion he unleashes has consequences that none could have predicted.
 

PRODUCTION PHOTOS - click on any thumbnail for a larger version in a new window
 

RELATED LINKS

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American Repertory Theatre
This page updated January 27, 2002
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