Bard's characters come to life

Clarence Felder, co-founder of the Actors' Theatre of South Carolina, says, "There are certain elements any actor must have to illuminate the words of William Shakespeare: passion, clarity of thought and speech and a deep love of humanity. Also, one must be fearless in attacking the very pulp of life found in each character."

This is a large order for any actor, but Felder thinks that College of Charleston senior Miles Pittman fills the bill. On Wednesday at The Citadel, Felder will direct Pittman in the one-man show "Seven Ages of Man: Shakespeare's Saints & Sinners," written by Pittman.

In Pittman's script, the audience will meet nine of the Bard's most fascinating male characters: Richard III, Hotspur, Macbeth, Romeo, Mercutio, Henry V, Launce, Hamlet and the philosopher Jacques, who explains it all. All appearances will be interwoven with incidental music and vocal solos.

"Every once in a while, an actor will join our company who has a special gift, and Miles is one of these examples," says actress Chris Weatherhead, co-founder and producer of the Actors' Theatre, who notes that Pittman studied acting and Shakespeare at the London Drama School.

Having appeared in "Hotel Paradiso" at the College of Charleston, and other stage plays, Pittman recently portrayed Revolutionary War militiaman Frederick Felder in "Liberty," an independent motion picture project of Moving Images Group, produced by Felder and Weatherhead.

Of his play, Pittman says, "I was always so impressed by the English Shakespearean actors, and I thought their skill level was of the highest caliber. Therefore, I wanted to give to others what all those great actors have given to me: a chance to lose oneself in the world of words, images, conflicts and delights from the pages that have withstood the ravages of time."

Providing incidental music will be Timothy O'Malley, cello; Regina Helcher, flute; and Rachel Lever, violin, all members of Chamber Music Charleston, directed by Sandra Nikolajevs. Singing three solos to the music of Bach and Handel will be Bettina Beard.

The hourlong play will be performed at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Mark Clark Hall. It is free to the public through The Citadel and a grant by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation of Chicago. The following evening, it will be performed for cadets only.

'Trois, Harom, Drei'

Three professors of music from all over the globe, who are now teaching at the College of Charleston, will perform solos in a rare Beethoven concerto at the Charleston Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks concert at 8 p.m. Saturday at Gaillard Auditorium.

Conducted by CSO Music Director David Stahl, the program, titled "Trois, Harom, Drei," will include Beethoven's famous Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 56. Commonly known as the "Triple Concerto," it is the only concerto Beethoven wrote for more than one solo instrument.

The soloists are violinist Lee-Chin Siow, cellist Natalia Khoma and pianist Enrique Graf.

A native of Singapore, Siow is gold medal winner of the 1994 Henryk Szeryng International Violin Competition and has performed in more than 20 countries on four continents. She has performed in every major space in the classical music realm, including Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Symphony Hall in Osaka, Japan.

A native of Ukraine, Khoma won top prizes at the All-Ukrainian Competition in 1981, the Budapest Pablo Casals Competition and the Belgrade International Cello Competition. She has performed with leading ensembles throughout the world.

The founder of the International Piano Series at the college, Graf was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University and has performed at the Carnegie Recital Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Teatro Opera in Buenos Aires and many other sites. Graf, who has won many awards and grants, is artist-in-residence at the college.

Tickets are $15-$55, $5 for students. To purchase, call Ticketmaster at 554-6060 or visit the Gaillard box office.

Charleston Acting Studio

Sheri Grace Wenger, who has been a stalwart of the theater community for more than 25 years, has opened the Charleston Acting Studio, a school for acting classes and stage makeup workshops in The Shops on Folly Road at Camp Road, behind Walgreen's.

Wenger, a Charleston native, founded Midtown/Sheri Grace Productions in 1989, which has produced "Rock 'n' Roll Heaven" and many other shows.

Wenger, who has taught acting for 30 years, says the classes are for children and adults and adds, "We are committed to teaching theater arts to anyone who has a passion to learn; this is why we offer discounts and scholarships based on financial need and for families with more than one child enrolled at the studio."

For information, call 557-1163.

Reach Dottie Ashley at 937-5704 or dashley@postandcourier.com.