EMU’s spring musical is entering a new phase this semester. Originally planned as a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night,” the production will instead be an adaptation of “The Winter’s Tale,” also by Shakespeare. Rehearsals have just started for the next couple of months, with performances scheduled for early April.
The show is being directed by Haley Davis, a director, actor, educator, and visual artist with a strong background in classical theater. Originally from Texas, Davis began working in theater as a teenager and developed a passion for Shakespeare’s work in her early twenties. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and later completed both a Master of Letters and a Master of Fine Arts in Shakespeare and Performance at Mary Baldwin University.
Davis is currently a full-time faculty member in Theatre and Dance at James Madison University, where she teaches and works professionally. Her work often focuses on women and gender in classical texts, and she has a particular interest in how Shakespeare’s plays can be reimagined for modern performers and audiences. She became connected to the EMU arts community through a colleague, which led to her involvement in directing this year’s spring musical. “My goal for this company of students – who come from all different areas of interest and study across EMU – is that they are able to learn something new about themselves as artists,” said Davis. “That they discover challenge and connection with the story they tell.”
This production of “The Winter’s Tale” will be anything but traditional. Rather than presenting the play as written, the cast and creative team will collaboratively adapt the story into a musical-style production. Music direction will be led by Jim Clemens, choreography by Sierra Priest, and costume design by Rebecca Bailey. The musical will incorporate both pre-existing songs and original material created during the rehearsal process.
Davis emphasized that her approach to the project centers on student growth and discovery. “My goal for this company of students – who come from all different areas of interest and study across EMU – is that they are able to learn something new about themselves as artists; that they discover challenge and connection with the story they tell,” she said.
Junior Elie Hoover, who met Davis for the first time at auditions, describes her as “a welcoming presence and made the audition process so easy.” Hoover noted that Davis and Clemens were quick to adapt when the production shifted directions, expressing optimism about the collaborative process and the quality of the show the cast will create.
As one of Shakespeare’s romance plays, “The Winter’s Tale” blends moments of tragedy and comedy. According to Davis, the heart of the story lies in themes of grief, forgiveness, and growth over time. The play spans sixteen years, allowing the audience to witness how characters change and heal. Davis notes that “time becomes its own character,” shaping the emotional journey of the story.
With rehearsals beginning, Davis plans to focus on supporting each student’s instincts and individual perspective. “My goal (in directing, in the rehearsal process) is very much about supporting the individual artist in their instincts and unique perspective,” she said. “I want the company and production team to find their footprint within this story and feel empowered to make choices.”
She also hopes to share her passion for Shakespeare’s language and performance traditions throughout the process, adding that she looks forward to seeing what the students contribute creatively “in terms of music, dance, and design.”
Hoover shared that participating in this production will allow the students an opportunity to create something new from a classic text and hopes the experience will strengthen their creative skills and result in an unforgettable theater experience.
For audiences, the spring musical offers something fresh and unexpected. While the story is rooted in Shakespeare, the music and theatrical elements will be shaped by the creative minds of the students and artistic team. As rehearsals get underway in the coming days, “The Winter’s Tale” is set to grow into a powerful blend of classical storytelling and modern musical expression before it reaches the stage in early April.
