W&L Presents Shakespeare Adaptation “Hamlet 50/50” The production runs from Nov. 19-21 in Johnson Theatre on the W&L campus.

Hana Chang ’26 as Hamlet (l) and Alaina Pastore ’25 as Ophelia (r). Photo by Kevin Remington.

Editor’s note: The following release was written by Allison Munck ’27 for W&L’s Lenfest Center for the Arts.

The Department of Theater, Dance and Film Studies at Washington and Lee University is pleased to present the world premiere of the 90-minute adaptation of “Hamlet 50/50.” Performances will take place in the Johnson Theatre in the Lenfest Center for the Arts on Nov. 19-21 at 7:30 p.m., with a Q&A session with the adapting playwrights following the opening performance. There will also be a bonus performance on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at The American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse in Staunton, Virginia.

Tickets are required and available online or in person at the Lenfest Box Office.

Adapted by Vanessa Morosco and Peter Simon Hilton, “Hamlet 50/50” combines the timeless spirit of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a restructuring of gender roles and character status to create a compelling and more gender-equitable production. The adaptation preserves the original story and language with a gendered reimagining of the dialogue. For example, what if Ophelia were to ask herself, “To be or not to be?” and what if it were Gertrude who ruled instead of Claudius?

“Hamlet 50/50” is directed by Jemma Levy, associate professor of theater, who wanted to allow students to work with a Shakespearean production while also telling a story informed by the world they know. Because of the “forward-thinking” nature of the adaptation, Levy and designers Shawn Paul Evans, Elizabeth Wislar, Owen Collins and guest fight director Jeremy West decided to set it in the future.

“This production continues to honor the beauty of Shakespeare’s language and does not distort the story we know, but it does create more gender balance on stage,” Levy said.

Alaina Pastore ’25, in the role of Ophelia, agrees that the production still “feels like Shakespeare – only if Shakespeare were to write for more women.” In addition, Mariah Scott ’25, playing Gertrude, remarked that there are unique challenges to performing a fundamentally Shakespearean show. “We have to make sure we’re bringing the words to life, not just reciting them,” she said.

For Hana Chang ’26, who plays Hamlet, the unique shifts in character dynamics in this adaptation add dimension to every role. Hamlet is not only vulnerable toward the audience, but also within his on-stage relationships, and the changes “force Hamlet to be a much less solitary figure in the production,” Chang said.

“Hamlet 50/50” promises to be a compelling and one-of-a-kind show, elegantly combining Shakespeare with a contemporary understanding of gender equality in a production you don’t want to miss.

Order your tickets online today or call the Lenfest Center box office at 540-458-8000 for ticket purchase information. Box office hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The cost is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, $14 for W&L faculty and staff and $8 for students.

For a full list of this season’s performances, visit the Lenfest Center’s website.

The Lenfest Center for the Arts, home of the Department of Theater, Dance, and Film Studies and the Department of Music and Department of Art and Art History is a multi-use facility designed and equipped to accommodate a broad spectrum of the performing arts, including theater, musical theater, opera and operetta, choral and band music, dance and performance art in one energizing complex.