Will Springhorn

Will (Springhorn) on Will (Shakespeare) at NDNU

By: Caitlin Brown

Posted: 3/27/08

When NDNU professor Will Springhorn was a senior in high school, he had one of his first experiences performing Shakespeare - Demetrius in "A Midsummer's Night Dream." He recalls the moment that he and his friend were able to convince two of the more popular girls at school to get involved with the production.

"It was then that I learned something about theater," said Springhorn. "Acting is a really good way to meet people."

In college, Springhorn continued his Shakespeare education in a local theatre production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and, in graduate school, he went to England where he was taught by members of The Royal Shakespeare Company. In England, he heard a quote about acting that he said he will always remember.

"You can't act standing at a bus stop," said Springhorn. "It means that whenever you think you got it, you should go back and read it again. You can't just do it. You have to care."

Since then, Springhorn has participated in 10 professional productions of Shakespearean plays, at the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and Berkeley Repertoire Theatre. Since 1995, he has been a member of the NDNU theatre faculty, working in theatrical lighting and other stage work as well as teaching beginning acting.

This semester, Mike Elkins, head of the NDNU theatre department, decided that the theatre students would benefit with a new Shakespeare practicum. He said he believed that Springhorn would be best suited for the job and he jumped at the opportunity.

"The thing I always enjoyed about learning was learning from a professional," said Springhorn. "I thought becoming involved at some place I cared about was really important."

Thus "Will on Will" was started. The class itself is devoted to everything Shakespeare, including Shakespeare's sonnets as well as his plays. In the class, students devote their time to learning about the rhythm of Shakespeare's poetry and the meaning of what is actually being said. Also, they learn to pronounce words properly and work with their diction, with focus on the consonants and vowels. The class is entirely performance-based.

"The experience in the class is where the learning is," said Springhorn. Laura Hill, an NDNU junior and member of the class, agreed.

"Really, it's about the process, which I really enjoy, and not the product," said Hill, "I love working with Shakespeare. It's an important staple for every actor and I wanted to better myself with the text."

The class was also created to correct a common misconception about Shakespeare that theatre students usually make: Shakespeare is impossible to act.

"I feel insecure about doing Shakespeare," said Victoria Chavez, NDNU junior and class member. "I feel I could never live up to the way he writes."

"Actors get caught up in the fact that Shakespeare is Shakespeare. They get caught up in the language and the intricate poetry," said Springhorn. "The fact is, there are at least 40 ways to say 'penis' in Shakespeare's language."

At this point in the interview, Becky Fazio, NDNU junior, shouts from the cherry picker where she is preparing to work with lights:

"What are you talking about? Shakespeare's hard!"

Springhorn just smiles and shakes his head. "It's a lot easier than people think."

So far, Springhorn said he has enjoyed teaching his first Shakespeare practicum.

"The class has been a tremendous experience. Working with NDNU students has been an honor," said Springhorn. "I just wish I had more time in the class for teaching. It's difficult meeting once a week."

The students enjoy Springhorn as well.

"Will's passion for Shakespeare is inspiring," said Chavez. "His excitement inspires me not to just read the monologue, but to research it and understand it. He makes you say 'I want a piece of that excitement. I want to feel that way about Shakespeare'."

Will the Shakespeare practicum be around for future NDNU students?

"It depends on the student feedback," said Springhorn. "If they want me to teach it, I will gladly do it."

Many of the students taking the class agree that anyone who is interested in performing Shakespeare, not just theatre students, should consider the class.

"His language may seem complex, but it's also really simple," said Chavez. "It can help you feel your soul and articulate your emotion."