College of Liberal Arts
From Costume Shop to Calling Cues
Kat Reichert, CLA Public Information OfficeNovember 2, 2025cla-pio@alaska.edu
Stage Manager Zorissa James Steers Theatre 51’s Historical Comical: A Shakespeare Double Bill
The 51 Department of Theatre & Film’s fall production, Historical Comical: A Shakespeare Double Bill, opens Nov. 7, and behind the scenes is a first-time stage manager making sure two very different Shakespeare worlds arrive onstage in rhythm. Senior Zorissa James, a Biology major with a Theatre minor, has spent the past two years sewing, fitting, and supporting shows from the costume shop. Now she’s in the hot seat of production leadership, helping guide a company through a devised, two-act mashup of Henry V and The Comedy of Errors.
James has long balanced a scientist’s precision with an artist’s curiosity, traits that serve her well in the fast-paced world of stage management. “This is my first time stage managing, and it has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding,” she said. The move from backstage craft to production leadership has expanded her perspective on what makes a performance run. “I’ve worked on costumes before, but this is the first time I’ve been involved in every stage of a production: attending rehearsals, taking notes, writing reports, and helping keep everything running smoothly.”
She describes the process as one that’s deepened her respect for collaboration. “It’s given me a whole new appreciation for how much coordination and collaboration go into bringing a show to life,” James said. “I’ve learned a lot about managing people, staying calm under pressure, and recognizing what truly needs my attention.” Those lessons echo across both her academic paths—whether managing biological data or stage cues, Zorissa approaches complexity with care and composure.
That coordination is especially vital for Historical Comical, a devised work directed by Tom Robenolt that reimagines two Shakespeare plays through the lens of power, chaos, and humor. Act I delivers a haunting take on Henry V, while Act II erupts into a wild rendition of The Comedy of Errors. For James, the contrast between the two is what makes the show so exciting. “Shakespeare is always worth seeing, but this double bill is especially fun. It is an abridged version of his most famous history and one of his earliest comedies,” she explained.
She noted that Henry V explores the arrogance of power and the complex pursuit of honor, while The Comedy of Errors exposes the fallout of rigid social hierarchies where blame rolls downhill and scapegoats abound. The result is a pairing that moves fluidly from the serious to the absurd, “with Henry V being more serious and somber and The Comedy of Errors a slapstick comedy of soap opera proportions.”
Tying the acts together is a whimsical framing device that blurs the line between play and performance. “They are strung together with the idea that both shows are being put on by a traveling actors' troupe who have come to Fairbanks to put this on for us,” James said. Combined with imaginative staging and what Theatre 51 calls “Blanket Fort Theatre,” the result is a production that’s both deeply creative and unmistakably rooted in Fairbanks.
As stage manager, James sits at the crossroads of creativity and logistics: tracking timing, communication, and morale with the precision of a lab notebook. “Watching these two very different Shakespeare plays come together under one troupe has been especially eye-opening,” she reflected. “It’s a constant reminder of how much teamwork and trust make theatre possible.”
Historical Comical: A Shakespeare Double Bill runs Nov. 7–9 and Nov. 14–16 in the 51 Theatre, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:00 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are free for currently enrolled 51 students with their Polar Express card as part of the Arctic Art Pass program (limit one per student), $20 for seniors, military members, and 51 affiliates, and $25 for adults.
Stay tuned for more Department Spotlights highlighting the talented cast and crew of Historical Comical.
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