January 30, 2013

Theatre professor brings lessons from the Portland stage to campus

Cofounder of the Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble (PETE), Rebecca Lingafelter is currently performing in the group’s first full-length production, titled R3.

Though she joined the faculty only last fall, Assistant Professor of Theatre Rebecca Lingafelter is already an active player in the Portland theatre scene. 

Cofounder of the Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble (PETE), Lingafelter is currently performing in the group’s first full-length production, titled R3. A cast of six reimagines Shakespeare’s masterpiece Richard III through the perspectives of the play’s female characters.

“Working professionally in Portland on projects such as R3 gives me an opportunity to test and refine the theories and practices that I am teaching in my classes at Lewis & Clark,” Lingafelter said.

A review inthe Oregonian called the production “a thought-provoking, imaginative take on Shakespeare’s play,” but Lingafelter insists that even unsuccessful ventures can provide valuable educational opportunities.

“Theatre is an experiment-based endeavor,” Lingafelter said. “I can bring the results straight from the stage and into my classes where I am able to introduce students to new ideas, [but] I am also able to bring in my failed experiments and talk to the students about the advantage of risking failure.”

Lingafelter teaches classes in acting and directing. R3 closes February 3. Ticket information and a performance schedule are available on the PETE website.  

Department of Theatre  College Faculty

 

Blue Lassiter ’15 contributed to this story.