It's been almost eight years since Rocky Mount native Kris Lundberg has been in her home state.

The East Carolina University graduate lives in New York, where she is a professional actress.

For her homecoming, she's performing the role of Bianca, sister of the shrew, in Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" at the Carolinian Shakespeare Festival.

"It's such a nice change to be back in North Carolina," she said. "I do love New York dearly but it can wear on you after a while. It's nice to be back with Carolina people who are so gracious."

The annual festival will present "The Taming of the Shrew" through Aug. 19 at the New Bern Civic Theatre. Performances will be held four times a week, Thursdays through Sundays.

"The Taming of the Shrew" is one of Shakespeare's earliest works and reflects the 14th-century Spanish tale about a young man who married a strong, fiery woman.

According to Lundberg, artistic director Mary McGinley has made a few interpretations of the original work.

"She's put an incredible spin on it," Lundberg said. "It's set in Miami and very fun. Everything is a battle of the sexes."

The actors still speak the Shakepearian text as it was written in the late 16th century, however, to preserve the integrity of the work.

"It's amazing to me that you can do something in the modern setting to make it so cool and funky," Lundberg said.

Bianca is often regarded at the ingenue, but Lundberg believes there is more to her character.

"I think there was an untold secret about Bianca that was never explored," Lundberg said. "I find her to be in the presence of the men in her life, she is very flirtacious and demure. But when she's in the company of her sister, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. They are both wenches and shrews.

"She's so much more than what people have delved into. She's been a joy to explore."

Lundberg's first job after moving to New York was as the fight director for Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lots productions of "Henry IV," parts I and II.

In addition to a starring role in the New Bern play, Lundberg is the fight director in this production.

"It's been an interesting challenge," she said. "I've never done a show where I was a fight director as well as having as starring role."

She received her fight credentials while attending Marymount College in London.

"I love to fight," she said. "I've always been a very physical performer."

Lundberg studied classical theater while in school in England during her junior year.

"I wanted to study abroad," she said. "I wanted to experience how different people in different cultures use drama in their lives."

She spent a year in England and then returned to finish her bachelor's degree at ECU.

She graduated in 2000 with a bachelor of theater education and moved to New York to pursue her career in teaching and acting.

ECU rising sophomore Von Lewis plays Tranio in the New Bern production. Tranio is Lucentio's servant who later impersonates his master.

"It's my third Shakespeare role," Lewis said. "The only parts before this I had three or four lines. I have over 30 lines in this production."

This is his second Carolinian Shakespeare Festival; he played murderer number 3 in "Macbeth" last year.

But Lewis is no stranger to the stage. The Vanceboro native has been active in the New Bern Community Theater since he was 12.

"My chorus teacher at the time was doing 'Kiss Me Kate' at the New Bern Civic Theater," he said. "She took the class to a dress rehearsal. I feel in love with theater that night. I've been auditioning and rehearsing ever since."

Once Lewis graduates from the professional acting and musical theater program, he plans to move to New York, as well.

"Maybe I'll pursue a master's degree at Tish or Brown or Rutgers in professional acting," he said. "Hopefully, I'll get on Broadway."

Contact features writer Kelley Kirk-Swindell at 329-9596 or kkirkswindell@coxnc.com.