The stage is set: a dark black box in which a single golden incense lamp hangs, billowing smoke illuminated by white light from above. Slowly, characters come from the wings to mourn the loss of King Hamlet, still body beneath a plastic sheet on a cold, metallic table. In the single spotlight from above, surrounded by darkness on all sides, Hamlet lets out a single, silent scream of agony in loss.

The Hofstra drama department kicked off their 71st annual Shakespeare Festival with the main stage production of “Troilus and Cressida,” an adaptation of Homer’s Greek classic, “The Iliad.” The Shakespearean drama opened last Friday night at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse at 8:00 p.m.

The double bill of the Hofstra Musicum Collegium and the closing performance of “What Fools!: A One Hour Midsummer Night’s Dream” this Saturday, March 9, was a sight to behold.

Each year, Hofstra’s Department of Drama and Dance presents highly anticipated celebrations of Shakespearean works in the annual Shakespeare Festival. The festival, now in its 69th year, features performances of the Renaissance master’s plays, as well as musicals, lesser known works and brief adaptations of longer works.