Shakespeare Group Plans for Premiere

To be or not to be--that is the question facing the newly-formed Harvard Shakespeare Theater. The group will attempt its first major production, a version of "Measure for Measure," next month.

John P. Cooper '79, founder of the theater group, said last week he started the group to provide a forum for classical drama at Harvard, and to start a tradition of producing at least one Shakespearean play each year.

The organization hopes to receive financial backing from patrons who have a history of contributing to Harvard theater groups, Esme C. Murphy '81, the group's publicity director, said yesterday.

Cooper is one of the play's patrons.

The group has also planned such fund-raising events as a Shakespearean film series, Chip Fisher '78, the organization's treasurer, said yesterday.

Evangeline M. Morphos, director of the play, said yesterday she feels "very strongly about the fact that the cast is 100 per cent Harvard" and is not depending on outside performers.

"We don't want to get into the star system," Cooper said. "If you're a good actor in high school, you're not given a chance here because of outsiders."

Freshmen make up most of the organization, so that annual plays will continue even after upperclassmen have graduated. Murphy said.

The theater group has an advisory board of faculty and administrators. W.C. Burriss Young '55, associate dean of freshmen and one of the board members, said yesterday he believes "Shakespeare is something we should have here." Young has a cameo role in "Measure for Measure," playing a drunkard.

The group, which now has about 75 members, is planning other projects in addition to the play. Nicholas Fish '80, the show's producer, said yesterday the group will stage a "famous names project" that it hopes will bring Shakespeare-related objects and memorabilia to the Harvard Shakespeare archives.