Renowned actor comes Mount Saint Mary College

NEWBURGH-Renowned actor Jack Aranson will perform roles from the plays of William Shakespeare at 3:45 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 28) in the Villa Library at Mount Saint Mary College. The performance is free and open to the public. The college is presenting Aranson's "All the World's a Stage" as part of its Steinthal Lecture Series. The New Windsor resident has performed on stage for more than 50 years and his characters have ranged from the classics, such as the leading role in Othello, to the contemporary, such as the title role in Da. In 1949 he auditioned and won a two-year apprenticeship at London's famous Old Vic Theatre. He then toured Ireland with the great Shakespearian actor Anew McMaster. A highlight of his career was working with Orson Wells in King Lear in 1956. He often performs locally with his wife, Claudia Cummings. Recognizing his talents on stages around the world, the Mount conferred an honorary degree on Aranson at its commencement ceremony in 1996. Nicholas Steinthal established the Steinthal Lecture Series in memory of his father, Eric, a noted Newburgh physician who died in 1986. The German native taught religion, philosophy, literature and art for the Mount's continuing education department. For more information about the performance, call Dr. James F. Cotter, professor of English, at 569-3162. Visit the Mount online at