Measure for Measure

by William Shakespeare

The Utah Shakespeare Festival 2014

Director Laura Gordon
Scenic Designer Vicki Smith
Costume Designer Bill Black
Lighting Designer Donna Ruzika
Sound Designer/Composer Joe Payne

All music composed by Joe Payne ©2014. Sung live by Jonathan Smoots, Misty Cotton, Natasha Harris, and ensemble. Production demos performed by Joe Payne and Eliza Wren Payne.

I have composed and designed four productions of Measure for Measure. This is the first that made me truly feel the humanity of the characters – the good and bad within each of us, and the first time that I wondered whether or not Isabella would take up the Duke’s offer of marriage, with plausible pros and cons for either choice. The score’s instrumentation of organ and accordion is meant to highlight the religious and the common, with a Venetian influence. Laura Gordon’s direction to book-end Shakespeare’s Seals of Love, which is scripted to be sung to Mariana on the moated grange, with a pub version for Lucio to sing was a great choice, and led to a fun and rewarding project.

Demo of Original Music and design content.

Click here to listen to more clips and purchase this score.

_{Photos by Karl Hugh, Album Art by Joe Payne}