Illinois Shakespeare Festival Touring Company member Joey Banks (JB) talked about performing Shakespeare in a maximum security prison and this summer’s plays in the following Q-and-A:
Q: Heartland Theatre audiences are still buzzing about your performance as Trip in Other Desert Cities last February. What were some highlights of that experience for you?
JB: That’s really nice to hear. The audiences at Heartland were so warm and receptive to what we were trying to do with Other Desert Cities, so I’m glad to hear that the work we put forth really struck a chord with everyone. I know I enjoyed it immensely and was very proud of the work of my director, crew, and fellow actors. If I had to pick out a few highlights, I would probably single out the opportunity I was given to work with one of my current professors at Illinois State, Connie DeVeer. It really allowed me to learn from her. Not only in class, but in a professional setting. I think every student of acting should be given the opportunity to work side by side with faculty and mentors. It calls back to the idea of apprenticing. I really enjoyed that. Also, my director, Sandi Zielinski, was an inspiration. She was such a joy to work with and she really just allowed me to explore Trip in several different ways. I felt very comfortable taking risks thanks to her leadership. The show also gave me to opportunity to reunite with a friend of mine who I had worked with over the years back in my hometown of Austin, Texas. Joe Penrod, who played my father in Other Desert Cities, has been a friend of mine for years and it was a pleasure to reunite with him on stage.
Q: As part of your graduate acting training at Illinois State, you are a member of the Festival Touring Company. What have you been touring and where?
JB: Currently, we have been touring both Romeo and Juliet and As You Like It. These are 40-minute adaptations that we’ve been working on over the past year. The goal is to build up a steady resume of these adaptations that we can perform at the drop of the hat. We’ve been taking these productions all over the area: middle schools, high schools, college, and even did a production at a women’s maximum security prison. It’s been a bit of a variety tour, which is great because we get to see how audiences of different ages and background react to the words of Shakespeare.
Q: Do you have a favorite experience as a part of the Touring Company?
JB: First and foremost, I love just being on the road with my fellow M.F.A. graduate students. It’s a blessing. As far as the shows have gone, I’d say doing Shakespeare in a prison was certainly a memory I’m not soon to forget. The work we do affects people. I truly believe that. I’m a firm believer in arts education in our schools, so when we get the chance to introduce new audiences to the arts, young or old, we are showing the value of art in our lives. Art encourages us to explore and to accept. It encourages the individual to transcend boundaries and barriers. Without it in our lives, we stagnate. I firmly believe that. So, then we tour these shows around the community, I think we are doing very important work.
Q: And now you are in all three productions at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival this summer. What are you playing, and how is it going?
JB: Let’s see! There’s a lot! I’m playing Conrade in Much Ado About Nothing, Dercetas in Antony and Cleopatra, and Man 1 in Elizabeth Rex. I’m also understanding a few other roles for the festival. It’s a lot of work, but I’m getting paid to play onstage and do what I love. So, it’s hard to feel anything but blessed for this opportunity. The shows are going to be a blast. There’s really something for everyone this season and the cast that the festival has put together is really impressive. Everyone who saw me in Other Desert Cities will be seeing a completely different side of me. It’s going to be a lot of fun and people should buy their tickets soon!
Q: What can you tell us about the season this year?
JB: It’s harmonious. They all fit together in a way that’s really exciting. I don’t want to spoil it, but if you are able to see all three productions, I’d encourage that. It will really click when you see all three of them. Though, that’s not to say that they don’t work alone. They certainly do. There’s so much variety in the season, and yet, the directors have managed to make everything fit like a jigsaw puzzle. It’s new and different, and I can’t wait to see how audiences react to our season.
Q: And you are in some of the preshow entertainment as well, yes?
JB: Yes! We are doing our 40-minute adaptations, of course, but we will also be doing a show called They Fight! So, if you’re interested in stage combat, and want to see a Shakespearean battle play out in front of your eyes, come check that out. I’ve never really worked with swords before, so it’s been an interesting new skill to learn. I can promise you, the kids are going to love it. And they are probably going to want a sword.
Q: After this summer, what’s next for you?
JB: I’m going find a way to cocoon myself and sleep for 72 hours straight. Actually, we have a few days off and then I audition for the Illinois State University fall season! It’s a whirlwind! That’s how I like it though. I hate being idle. I’m also working on doing a bit of a musical on my off time as part of Illinois State University’s FreeStage Festival. I figure I can sleep in a few years. As of now, I’m going to make each opportunity count.
For more information on the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, visit TheFestival.org.
