'Othello' opens renovated Yuba College Theatre

The opening of a new theater demands a grand production to mark the occasion.

That production is the Shakespearean classic "Othello," which is the first performance at the newly renovated Yuba College Theatre.

The play opens Friday and runs to Oct. 24.

"This is one of (Shakespeare's) great late masterpieces," said the play's director, David Wheeler. "It's universally considered one of his very best plays. ... It's a rarely done production at the community college level, and this is a great chance to see a great play."

"Othello" is the story of its titular character (played by Alex Yamada), the Moor of Venice. He is the leader of the Venetian army and a great general.

Othello marries Desdemona (Andrea Angove-Volb), the daughter of Brabantio (Richard Foote); being an African, there are some racist implications with a marriage between someone who is not white and the daughter of nobility.

As the play opens, Othello has promoted Cassio (Marco Antonio Ruiz) over Iago (Andre Leben). This angers Iago, the marriage fueling his anger as Iago had previously asked for Desdemona's hand in marriage.

Iago gets revenge by manipulating Othello into believing Desdemona is unfaithful, playing on Othello's jealousy flaw, which ultimately leads to tragedy.

The renovation of the Yuba College theater is the first since its construction in 1962. "This is a turning point for the theater department," Wheeler said. "I think the public will greatly enjoy what's happened to the theater."

Improvements included better acoustics as well as better lighting and sound equipment.

"It's now one of the best theatrical venues in Northern California," Wheeler said. "It will serve the community for a long time."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new theater is at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The college is at 2088 N. Beale Road, Linda.

Also in the cast of "Othello" are Seth Ball as Roderigo; Bonnie Williams as the Duchess of Venice; Jim Prager as Montano; Harold D. Whitson Jr. as Lodovico; Benjamin R. Blankenship as Gratiano; and Piper Jean Fox as Emilia.

"This is a chance to see one of the great Shakespeare masterpieces," Wheeler said. "We have a terrific cast, and we're opening a new theater. ... It will be a dramatic evening of theater."