Museum To Show Never Before Seen Version of Othello Filmed on Martha's Vineyard

recently opened their  exhibit that chronicles 100 years of theater on Martha's Vineyard. One of the groups featured is the Shearer Summer Theater group – a group started by Liz White, who began her career in 1932 with the Broadway production of Brown Sugar and who went on to work in the WPA Federal Negro Theater.

In the 1950s, White started the Shearer Company, in the Shearer estate in Oak Bluffs that she inherited from her grandfather, a former slave who bought the estate following the Civil War.

The Shearer Summer Theater program began performing versions of Othello in the early 1960s. Between 1962 and 1966 the production of a film-version took place on Martha's Vineyard and New Jersey.

What's most remarkable about the film, according to Anna Carringer, assistant curator at the museum,  is that the "Entirely African-American cast changes the focus of the story a little bit." Not only this, but none of the actors in the movie were professionals at the time. "All of the actors had other jobs. They weren't professionals," explained Carringer.

In fact, all of the actors were amateurs, with the exception of the lead actor, Yaphet Kotto who starred as Othello.

"Yaphet went on to gain some fame in Hollywood," said Carringer "He actually left in the middle of production so the director had to kind of change things around a little bit." In this version of Othello, Iago has more of the focus.

Along with a change in the focus of the story, the composer gave a soundtrack that is unique to this production. "The composer is more of an Avant garde musician. It's totally different from what is typically Shakespeare," explained Carringer.

Carringer is also excited for people to see what Martha's Vineyard looked like in the 1960s. "They filmed at Gay Head and in Oak Bluffs and other places around Martha's Vineyard," said Carringer.

Carringer is very enthusiastic about this event. "We are just really thrilled," she said.

The screening of the Shearer Summer Theater Group production of Othello will take place on Thursday, August 2nd at 7:30 at , 55 Narraganset Avenue in Oak Bluffs. Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members. You can make reservations by calling 508-627-4441 x110.