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Bobby Funk has heard the reports before.
Former teachers rushing through Shakespeare, leaving little time for reflection or engagement.

Don’t expect that when you go see East Tennessee State University’s adaptation of “The Tempest.”

“It’s a musical. It’s Shakespeare. It’s comedy. It’s drama,” said stage director Bobby Funk, a professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance who teaches a range of courses from stage combat to the audition process. “It’s all of those things thrown into an evening’s entertainment.”

Performances run Thursday-Saturday, April 10-12, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 13, at 2 p.m., in the Bach Theatre at the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts.

In this version, the powerful magician Prospera, formerly the duchess of Vannes, has been shipwrecked for 12 years after her sister betrayed her. Her exile brings her to the Isles of Scilly, home to the Piskies, mischievous fairy-like creatures from Cornish folklore led by Queen Joan the Wad. With a magical storm and a thirst for justice, Prospera sets her plan for vengeance in motion.

Incredible collaboration
So much of this rendition is unique.

Funk collaborated with cultural experts, including Dr. Jane MacMorran, director of Appalachian, Scottish and Irish Studies at ETSU. MacMorran adapted the play to ancient Celtic references and traditional Celtic music. Area musician Will MacMorran helped meld Celtic songs to fit the play’s soundtrack, and ETSU professor Dr. Adam Dahmer made phonetic transcriptions of Gaelic lyrics.

This collaboration has made this production a memorable one for student performer Molly Blackburn, who plays Ariel.

“We’re adding in some really cool things with the Celtic themes,” she said. “I think this gives it a really unique and fun quality.”

Tickets are available now.

For tickets, call (423) 439-2787 for more information. For disability accommodations, call Disability Services at least five days before the event at (423) 439-8346.

ETSU is home to a vibrant community of artists and performers anchored by the Mary B. Martin School of the Arts.

“Come and see this production,” said Funk. “This is going to be a lot of fun.”