Events  

2011-2012 Season

Two Gentlemen of Verona: the Musical 

Adapted by John Guare & Mel Shapiro, Lyrics by John Guare
Based on the play by William Shakespeare, presented on Broadway by the New York Shakespeare Festival, produced by Joseph Papp
Directed by Darby Lofstrand

A rock version of the classical Shakespearean romantic comedy that tells the tale of love and betrayal, the play veers between the Bard’s poetic tone, contemporary culture, and pop verse (1972 Tony Award winner, best musical).       

FRI       OCT 14, 2011 8:00PM                        WED    OCT 19, 2011 8:00PM

SAT      OCT 15, 2011  8:00PM                       THU     OCT 20, 2011 8:00PM

SUN     OCT 16, 2011  2:00PM                        FRI      OCT 21, 2011 8:00PM

SAT      OCT 22, 2011  8:00PM                       SUN     OCT 23, 2011  2:00PM

Nickel and Dimed Studio Theatre 

By Joan Holden
Based on the book “Nickel and Dimed, on (Not) Getting By in America” by Barbara Ehrenreich
Directed by Season Ellison

Based on the New York Times bestselling book, Holden’s stage adaptation traces Barbara’s journey to better understand the life of a working class woman in the United States by living it. 

Bordering on farce, the play is at times humorous and at time poignant—but always remains a gritty commentary on gender and class across the US.

FRI       NOV 18, 2011  8:00PM                       THU      DEC 1, 2011    8:00PM

SAT      NOV 19, 2011 8:00PM                        FRI       DEC 2, 2011    8:00PM

SUN     NOV 20, 2011 2:00PM                        SAT      DEC 3, 2011    8:00PM           

WED    NOV 30, 2011  8:00PM                       SUN     DEC 4, 2011    2:00PM

Puppets! (Season Bonus Event)

Studio Theatre 

Students in the TH 440: Topics in Theatre will study the world of puppetry, including creation and performance.  The course, taught by Kate Ellis, culminates in public performance.  Don’t miss this exciting project!

FRI       DEC 9, 2011    8:00PM                        SAT      DEC 10, 2011  8:00PM           

Dancing at Lughnasa

Studio Theatre 

by Brian Friel
Directed by Kathleen M. McGeever

This memory play is the story of five unmarried sisters eking out their spare existence in a small village in Ireland in 1936.

Told through the son of one of the sisters, we meet them at the Festival of Lughnasa, celebrating the pagan god of the harvest with revelry and dancing, when the young boy is only seven. 

He tells the story of the return of his uncle, a priest, after 25 years as a missionary, and the acquisition of a radio, whose music transforms the sisters from correct Catholic women to shrieking, stomping banshees in their own kitchen.

FRI       FEB 24, 2012   8:00PM                        THU     MAR 1, 2012   8:00PM

SAT      FEB 25, 2012   8:00PM                        FRI       MAR 2, 2012   8:00PM

SUN     FEB 26, 2012   2:00PM                        SAT      MAR 3, 2012   8:00PM

WED    FEB 29, 2012   8:00PM                        SUN     MAR 4, 2012   2:00PM

Arsenic and Old Lace
Clifford White Theatre 

By Joseph Kesselring
Directed by Bob Yowell

The year is 1941. In a small house next to a cemetery in Brooklyn two kind, thoughtful, sweet old ladies have taken it upon themselves to poison lonely old men with nothing to live for, as an act of charity. 

For the clan known as Brewster, insanity runs in the family.  Their recently engaged nephew tries to negotiate around the shenanigans while keeping his intended from fleeing, his brother attempts to elude capture after adventures abroad by using corpses to change his appearance, while another bugle-blowing brother is charged with burial duties. 

Never have insanity and murder been more charming.

FRI       APR 13, 2012   8:00PM            THU    APR 19, 2012   8:00PM

SAT      APR 14, 2012   8:00PM            FRI     APR 20, 2012   8:00PM

SUN     APR 15, 2012   2:00PM            SAT       APR 21, 2012   8:00PM

WED      APR 18, 2012   8:00PM            SUN      APR 22, 2012   2:00PM

Love Letters (Season Bonus Event in honor of the Golden Stagehands)

Studio Theatre 

By A. R. Gurney 
Directed by Kate Ellis 

This theatre piece is comprised of letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. 

As the actors read the letters aloud, what is created is an evocative, touching, frequently funny but always telling pair of character studies in which what is implied is as revealing as what is actually written down. 

Don’t miss this chance to see local celebrities profess their love and help the department to raise Golden Stagehands funds.      

FRI       APR 27, 2012   8:00PM                 

SAT      APR 28, 2012   8:00PM         

SUN     APR 29, 2012   2:00PM                          

Devised Theatre Project (Season Bonus Event)

Studio Theatre 

Taught by guest faculty member, Season Ellison, this spring’s Theatre 440, Special Topics will explore the art and craft of Devised Theatre, a form of theatre where the script originates not from a writer or writers, but from collaborative team.

The course will culminate in a performance of the devised works.  We invite you to enjoy something a little different as a way to cap off the season.

FRI       MAY 4, 2012   8:00PM           SAT      MAY 5, 2012   8:00PM