Champlain Theatre will begin its 2013 season with Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play dramatizes the revenge of Prince Hamlet on his uncle Claudius for murdering his father and marrying his widowed mother.

Directed by Champlain Professor Joanne Farrell, the show runs Feb. 13-16 and 20-23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Champlain College Alumni Auditorium, 163 So. Willard St., Burlington, VT. Tickets will be available at the door for $20 general admission, $10 for Champlain College faculty and staff, and Champlain students are free with a Champlain ID.

"It is exciting to bring Hamlet to Champlain Theatre because the play is deeply concerned with the idea of theatre itself," said Farrell. "Almost every character is not who he or she seems to be: all are playing roles, whether self-imposed or not. In addition, we are aware that the "real" characters are played by actors, who are also not who they seem to be."

"In his efforts to discover truth, Hamlet 'acts' mad and he uses actors, as he says, 'The play's the thing in which to catch the conscience of a King.' The ambiguity of acting as a lie and a revealer of truth is intriguing," stated Farrell.

The cast includes many Champlain College students, faculty and staff including Kerry Noonan, assistant professor in the Core Division, as Queen Gertrude; Eric Ronis, Assistant Dean of the Division of Communication & Creative Media, as Polonius; David Bender '13 as Guildenstern; Michael LeTourneau '13 as Cornelius and/or Reynaldo; Donald Torrey '13 as Marcellus; William Saxe '15 as Barnardo; Peter Orzell as Francisco; Julia Kehr '15, and Evan Taylor '15. The cast also features local actors Jordan Gullikson, Jack Bradt, Garrett Kimberly, Orion Lay-Sleeper, Natalie Battistone, John Milton Oliver, Margaret Garofalo, and David Dilego.

The production team features many hailing from the Champlain community as well. Professors Alexandra Hudson, Eric Sample, Miriam Horne, and Chuck Bashaw are joined by students Amber Couture, Meg Lambros, Sophia Beck Sullivan, Jon Mendel, Caitlin Mundy, Emma Daitz, and Kirby McThompson.

The Champlain community is encouraged to attend to show their support. For tips on how to Connect "Hamlet" to Champlain College courses, visit http://teachableevents.wordpress.com/connect-hamlet-to-your-courses/

"Hamlet, Prince of Denmark," Feb. 13-16 and Feb. 20-23, 7:30 p.m., Champlain College Alumni Auditorium, 163 So. Willard St., Burlington, VT. Champlain Theatre presents William Shakespeare's Hamlet. A tragedy about treachery, revenge, incest, moral corruption, and family. General admission $20, $10 for Champlain College faculty and staff, and Champlain students are free with a Champlain ID. Tickets will be available at the door. Call (802) 865-5468 for information.