EPISODE · Jul 6, 2026 · 1H 28M
From Ashland to Cedar City: A Shakespeare Festival Baby Takes the Director's Chair
from APEX Hour at SUU · host Lauren Bird, Ryan Paul, Beth Lopes
A Lifelong Theater Education: Guest Beth Lopes shares her journey growing up as a self-described "Shakespeare festival baby" and how seeing diverse, non-Western classics early on built her foundational worldview of storytelling. The Crucible of Hamlet: An inside look into directing the 65th anniversary production of Hamlet at the Engelstad Theater, focusing on authentic human choices rather than strict character archetypes. Ensemble Storytelling over Solos: Why building a deeply invested family dynamic for the Polonii and highlighting the multi-dimensional relationships of Gertrude and Ophelia makes tragedy more impactful. The Syncing Heartbeats of Live Performance: A reflection on the vital, irreplaceable nature of live theater in an increasingly digital world. Connect with SUU & The Festival: This series is produced in collaboration with SUU Eccles APEX series. Discover upcoming speaker events at suu.edu/apex Book your tickets to the 65th anniversary season at bard.org ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex
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What this episode covers
Join host Ryan Paul on this special Utah Shakespeare Festival edition of the APEX Radio Hour as he sits down with acclaimed director Beth Lopes. Discover how her lifelong upbringing in regional theater shaped her collaborative, ensemble-driven approach to directing iconic masterpieces like As You Like It and Hamlet. Lopes dives deep into cutting away the excess marble of traditional scripts to reveal fresh, human-centric stories that challenge and connect with modern audiences.
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From Ashland to Cedar City: A Shakespeare Festival Baby Takes the Director's Chair
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