Robert Hillestad Joins Flatwater Shakespeare's Creative Team for *Othello*

When Bob Hall, Flatwater Shakespeare’s Artistic Director, first began to envision his upcoming production of Othello, he thought not only about language, emotion, and action, but also about textures and colors. So he asked Lincoln artist Robert Hillestad, a master of textiles art in both fabrics and fibers, to design the set.

The result is a vibrant visual setting for William Shakespeare’s tragedy of love, jealousy, and prejudice. Hillestad’s colorful and tactile hangings will evoke the external settings of Venice and Cyprus and the interior worlds of desire and distrust. Mr. Hillestad worked with Dustin Witte in set construction and with costume designer Kat Cover in crafting a theatrical scene that, like Shakespeare’s work, is both timeless and rooted in the Renaissance. Also, an installation of Hillestad’s work called “Desdemona’s Dream” will be open for viewing in the Playhouse’s Gallery Theatre space during the run of the show.

Robert Hillestad has had a distinguished career as a textiles artist and design educator. He is Emeritus Professor of Clothing, Textiles, and Design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His art work has been shown in more than 150 juried and invitational exhibitions in the U.S. and abroad and is represented in numerous private, corporate, and museum collections. Images of his art work are included in more than 50 publications in print and electronic form.

The Flatwater Shakespeare Company’s Othello runs Thursdays through Sundays, October 6-9, 13-16, and 20-23 in the Lincoln Community Playhouse Family Theatre, 2500 S. 56th Street. All show times are 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students. Call 402-473-2897 for reservations.

Support for Flatwater Shakespeare’s presentation of Othello has been provided by the Cooper Foundation, the Lincoln Arts Council, the Nebraska Arts Council, and the Woods Charitable Trust. For more information, go to flatwatershakespeare.org.

Othello
Dates: October 6-9, 13-16, 20-23; Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Lincoln Community Playhouse
2500 S. 56th Street, Lincoln
Tickets: 402-473-2897
$18 Adults; $15 Seniors; $10 Students

Photo: Robert Hillestad, Scenic Designer for Flatwater Shakespeare's Othello.