FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEB. 11, 2025
Contact: Courtney D. Clark
Email: cclark75@uw.edu
Phone: 206-221-6797
Press image(s): [Download]
THE WINTER’S TALE
By William Shakespeare
Adapted and Directed by Kate Drummond
When: February 13-23, 2025
Where: Floyd and Delores Jones Playhouse, 4045 University Way, Seattle, WA 98105
Tickets: $10-$22 | Buy Tickets
By William Shakespeare
Adapted and Directed by Kate Drummond
A REIMAGINED WINTER’S TALE BRINGS MAGIC AND SECOND CHANCES TO SEATTLE
Shakespeare’s late romance finds new life in a visually gorgeous, emotionally powerful adaptation by director Kate Drummond
SEATTLE, WA —This February, the University of Washington School of Drama proudly presents The Winter’s Tale, directed by the visionary Kate Drummond. The production runs at the Floyd and Delores Jones Playhouse from February 13-23, 2025. Part fairy tale, part psychological drama, and wholly transformative, this production weaves together heartbreak and hope, betrayal, and redemption—ultimately proving that even the coldest winters give way to spring.
In this fresh interpretation, Drummond, a UW Drama MFA Candidate in Directing, redefines Shakespeare’s late romance by exploring themes of second chances, forgiveness, and the power of belief. “It is a hard thing to forgive someone, to believe someone can change for the better,” she reflects. “But that brave act of imagination is critical to a better world.”
A TALE OF WONDER, FORGIVENESS, AND NEW BEGINNINGS
Drummond’s adaptation leans into the play’s contrasting tones—its devastating first half and its playful, hopeful second—to heighten its emotional impact.
At the heart of this adaptation is a newly conceived arc for Autolycus, the play’s trickster-turned-narrator. Traditionally a rogue, he now serves as an unreliable storyteller who no longer believes in magic. “He sets out to tell a story about how the only way to get ahead is to push others down, to be cunning and selfish,” Drummond explains. “But he learns along the way that the world isn’t quite that simple—and what happily ever after really looks like.”
This reinterpretation of The Winter’s Tale embraces Shakespeare’s dramatic tonal shift—from psychological intensity to whimsical comedy—by infusing both weight and wonder into the performance. “Tragedy is more salient when we see what a beautiful thing is being lost,” says Drummond. “Even amidst the horrible events of the first act, the characters cling to their joy, fight for it.”
Why The Winter’s Tale Matters Now
At a time of global division and uncertainty, The Winter’s Tale offers a timely meditation on transformation and hope. Kate Drummond’s production invites and challenges audiences to examine and reflect on the narratives they tell themselves about the world around them. “Are the stories we're telling today reflecting the world we want to see tomorrow?” Drummond asks. Through this production, she hopes to inspire audiences to leave the theater with a renewed hope in our human capacity to change. “I believe in the magic of theater,” she says. “Something undeniably powerful happens when a room full of people believe something together. What if the thing we believed in was our own capacity to be better?”
Production Details
Showtimes: February 13-23, 2025
- Feb 13 (Thu): 7:30 PM
- Feb 14 (Fri): 7:30 PM
- Feb 15 (Sat): 7:30 PM
- Feb 16 (Sun): 2:00 PM
- Feb 19 (Wed): 7:30 PM
- Feb 20 (Thu): 7:30 PM
- Feb 21 (Fri): 7:30 PM
- Feb 22 (Sat): 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
- Feb 23 (Sun): 2:00 PM
Run Time: Approximately 2 hours, 20 minutes (includes one 10-minute intermission)
Production Warnings: Contains atmospheric haze and fog, strobing and flashing lights, and sudden noises.
Cast & Creative Team
CAST:
- Autolycus: Youran “Sebastian” Wang*
- Leontes: Jerik Fernandez*
- Hermione / Shepherdess: Marena Kleinpeter*
- Perdita / Servant: Adriana Gonzales*
- Paulina / Shepherdess: Betzabeth Gonzalez*
- Camillo: Yeonshin Kim*
- Shepherd / Astraia: Taylor McWilliams-Woods*
- Clown Son / Emilia: Tess Raz˚
- Polixenes: Minki Bai*
- Florizell / Dion: Kyler Simons˚
- Cleomenes / Mopsa: John Austin˚
- Antigonus / Dorcas / Servant: Finn Jordan˚
- Mamillius: Svea Raas-Bergquist
- Understudies: Ify Onyekonwu˚, Priya Hendry˚
CREATIVE TEAM:
- Director & Adaptor: Kate Drummond*
- Composer & Sound Designer: Kyle Levien
- Scenic Designer: Pete Rush
- Costume Designer: Antonio Torrez*
- Lighting Designer: Thorn Michaels**
- Stage Manager: Megan Kay Wright
˚Undergraduate student at UW | *Graduate student at UW | †School of Drama faculty/staff | **School of Drama alum
Tickets & Accessibility
Tickets: $10-$22 | [Buy Tickets]
For inquiries, contact:
Email: ticket@uw.edu
Phone: 206-543-4880 (12–4 p.m., M–F)
“Thou art more generous with thy words than I. I will prove so, sir, to my power."
JOIN US FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
Drummond’s Winter’s Tale is more than a play—it’s an invitation to imagine, to believe, and to rediscover the power of change.
"Something powerful happens when a room full of people believes something together," Drummond says. "What if the thing we believed in was our own capacity to be better?"
Don’t miss this gorgeous, thought-provoking, and deeply human production. Step into a world where tragedy meets comedy, where fairy tales hold truth, and where—no matter how long the winter—spring always comes.
About the UW School of Drama
The University of Washington School of Drama develops innovative and courageous artists and scholars poised to be the creative leaders of tomorrow. Degrees offered include a BA, an MFA, and a Ph.D. The School of Drama’s public season features fully produced shows and Lab projects in three different venues on the Seattle campus. These productions provide students with opportunities for practice, experimentation, and exploration — often alongside prominent professional artists. We believe in the power of theatrical storytelling to elevate individual and collective voices, promote understanding, and nurture compassion.