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War, Wit, and Wonder

Kat Reichert, CLA Public Information Office
November 10, 2025
cla-pio@alaska.edu

Actor Matthew Herrera Finds Meaning in Historical Comical

When Matthew Herrera steps onto the Salisbury Lab stage this November, it marks more than an opening night — it’s a return. After a 12-year hiatus from performing, Herrera joins the cast of Historical Comical: A Shakespeare Double Bill, playing Sir Jon Bates and the King of France in Henry V and the hilariously overworked Dromio of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors. For Herrera, this production has been both a homecoming and a deep reminder of why art matters.

Originally from La Palma, California, Herrera has lived across the country—in New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Hawaii—but Historical Comical marks both his first production and first winter in Fairbanks. He says the show’s themes resonated with him from the start. “I believe this is a can’t-miss show because it delves into the great issues of our time: conflict and miscommunication,” Herrera said. “Conflict and miscommunication are at the heart of the human experience, and the human experience is why we create art in all its forms. So to me, this show is more than just a show. It’s an analysis into human conflict and the roots of our miscommunications.”

Directed by Tom Robenolt, Historical Comical combines an abridged Henry V and The Comedy of Errors into a bold, devised production that examines power, absurdity, and the contradictions of human nature. Herrera says those contradictions, both in Shakespeare’s writing and in the world today, are what make the story feel timeless.

“This story is important because it is as relevant today as it was at any point in human history,” he said. “Stories of conflict litter our history books, and yet conflict still rages today. Rarely do we see any conflict waged that is worth the blood spilled, the innocent hurt, the pain endured.”

That reflection on war and human nature runs through Herrera’s portrayals of both royalty and commoners. “I play three characters in the show: King of France, Sir Jon Bates, and Dromio of Ephesus, and each one is vastly different,” he explained. “The King is self-assured and arrogant, Sir Jon Bates is more of a common soldier looking to survive the current war, and Dromio is a comedic punchline who has spent his life in servitude to Antipholus.”

Those roles allow him to stretch between gravity and levity — from the stoicism of kings to the chaos of mistaken identity. “So war, what is it good for? After a few millennia of human history, you’d think we’d overcome our petty differences, but we haven’t; and so this story of war is as relevant today as it was at any time in our history,” he said. Herrera’s performances mirror Historical Comical’s broader vision: a show that celebrates humor, questions authority, and reminds audiences of what connects us across centuries.

Herrera reflects on what it means to return to the stage. “It’s been an incredible experience getting back into performance after so long,” he said, crediting his friends and family for supporting him on all his wild adventures. With sincerity and wit, Herrera brings depth to both his characters and to Theatre 51��������’s fall production itself.

Historical Comical: A Shakespeare Double Bill runs for one more weekend, Nov. 14–16, in the 51�������� Theatre, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:00 p.m. Sunday. 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. Tickets are available via the .