SEMO alumnus hired to create 'Hamlet's' costumes

William Shakespeare's eye for detail and obsession with lavish language demands equal passion and extravagance from those who perform his plays.

Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus hired three guest designers to help it achieve another level of excellence in its production of "Hamlet."

Bill Black from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville designed the costumes, Patrick Atkinson from the University of Missouri-Columbia served as set designer, and Dean Packard, also from the University of Missouri-Columbia, conceived the show's lighting design.

All three designers have been working on their specific role in the production since early this year. "Hamlet," known to the world as one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, has never been produced by Southeast before because of the large number of actors needed and the elaborate set and costume designs.

Black, who is a Southeast Missouri State alumnus, has received an Alumni Merit Award and has gone on to become one of Southeast's most prestigious alumni. In addition to his work at the University of Tennessee, he has also been the head costume designer for the Utah Shakespeare Festival for nearly 20 years and has participated in the production of more than 200 plays, musicals and operas.

Black said he started preparing for Southeast's production of "Hamlet" last spring, but he has designed costumes for the play before. Some in this production are borrowed from Utah or other colleges, but most of the women's costumes were designed specifically for this show and made by Southeast students.

"The students have just done an amazing job," Black said. "‘Hamlet' is a very difficult play. There is a huge amount of work that goes behind what the audience sees."

Black's costume designs for Southeast's "Hamlet" come from his previous experience with Shakespearean works and Elizabethan times. Because he's familiar with "Hamlet," Black looks at each character's personality and designs his costumes based on that.

Dr. Kenneth Stilson, professor and chairman of Department of Theatre and dance, has worked with students for several weeks as the play's director. Stilson said bringing in the three guest designers is part of Southeast's continuing effort to bring in new perspective to the theater department.

"We have infused resident professionals here at SEMO with outside guests to bring new perspective and to work with what we are doing here in our own program," Stilson said.

Bill Black is the costume designer for Southeast Missouri State University's production of Hamlet. (Kristin Eberts)

Atkinson taught at Mizzou from 1979 to 2010. His designs have received numerous awards, and he has also published a theatrical design book titled "Theatrical Design in the Twentieth Century: An Index to Photographic Reproductions of Scenic Designs." His set design for "Hamlet" comes partially from the script's needs and also physical needs of the actors.

"There are things in the script that are requirements, but what the designer has to put into it differs from show to show," Atkinson said. "We have conferences with the director and all the designers work together to create what you see on stage."

Packard, a technical director and designer in the Department of Theater at Mizzou, will give the audience a 3-D experience. His designs have received numerous awards and his expertise shows in Southeast's production of "Hamlet."

During the opening scene of "Hamlet," a thick cloud of fog rises behind a deafening scream. The entire auditorium shakes as dramatic, eerie music echoes off the walls. A beam of light brightens the stage, and the play begins.

"Hamlet" combines classic elements of tragedy, comedy, love and revenge to keep the audience enthralled and emotionally connected to the plot. The role of Hamlet is difficult for an actor because of the immense amount of line memorization and the emotional highs and lows the character goes through. Hamlet's personal struggle with right and wrong leads to such well-known phrases as "To be or not to be."

Southeast's production of "Hamlet" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus. Tickets are $15 and $18 and can be purchased at the River Campus box office or by calling 651-2265.