Duke Bagger, director of the Charleston Alley Theatre’s production of “Henry IV,” has a lot of work to do before opening night.

Along with directing duties, he will also be in charge of lighting, set construction and playing the title role.

Bagger, however, is used to this kind of pressure.

“I started to perform at a very young age,” he said. “I started as a musician, and I enjoyed being the center of attention. I’ve been performing for a very long time, and it’s just something I like to do. The first time I directed and acted on the set at the same time was ‘A Woman in Black,’ and that was just a two-person show.”

Bagger has worked on several productions during his time with the Charleston Alley Theatre, such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” – shows that many theaters are reluctant to perform.

“We’ll do things that other theaters won’t do,” he said.

His newest production of “Henry IV” is no exception to this trend.

The original “Henry IV” was produced by William Shakespeare about Henry the Great of France, but this version of “Henry IV” is Pirandello’s take, which is about Henry IV of Germany.

“The story is about an Italian nobleman who got hit on the head, and when he came to, he actually thought he was Henry IV of Germany,” Baggers said.

The originality of the play, which he and his wife saw in London two years ago, peaked his interest. He decided to stage a production in the U. S.

It took him two years to obtain the rights to the play because of “unspecified difficulties.”

One actor in the play said he has learned much from Baggers.

Darkeith Lofton, who will perform as Landolf, took a class with Baggers in summer 2006 at Lake Land College.

“I guess I’ve just been addicted to theater ever since,” he said.

Along with those who worked with Bagger previously will be actors who are new to the Charleston Alley Theatre.

Monica Maggaro, who plays Matilda, is one of these actors.

Although this will be the first time performing for Baggers, she is no stranger to the acting world.

“I’ve been acting since I was very small,” she said. “One day, I said to my theater teacher that I would like to do this, and she said, ‘You can,’ and it just spun from there.”

Performances will be held at the Charleston Alley Theatre from Feb. 29-March 3 and the following week from March 7-10.

Tickets will be available to the general public for $10. The price for students will be $8.

Reserve tickets at (217) 345-2287 or pay in-person at the Charleston Alley Theatre.

Michael Schwader can be reached at 581-7942 or mwschwader@eiu.edu.

Craig Banyay, resident of Charleston, practices his lines during the reharsal of Pirandello’s Henry IV on January 22, 2008. The play will premiere on February 29, 2008 in the Charleston Alley Theatre. (Karolina Strack/The Daily Eastern News)

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