Upcoming Purdue Theatre season focuses on 'New Directions'
September 10, 2012
 |
|
Final renderings of
costumes for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" characters Hippolyta (left)
and Oberon, both designed by graduate teaching assistant Jill Van Brussel.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" opens the Purdue Theatre season on Sept.
21. |
The 2012-13 Purdue Theatre season will celebrate innovation while honoring the past with four plays: a classic Shakespearean play featuring a guest director, a contemporary comedy written by an emerging playwright, a Greek tragedy that represents two MFA students' theses and an entirely new play that merges the writings of Lewis Carroll with 21st century America.
The season's theme is "New Directions," says Joel Ebarb, chair and associate professor in the Department of Theatre
"Here at Purdue Theatre, we are always looking for ways to attract new audiences and to entertain and intrigue our established patrons," Ebarb says. "As we were determining this year's theme, we thought that by focusing on going in new directions -- with a new director, new production voices, a new playwright and an entirely new play -- we could do both."
The shows will be performed at Nancy T. Hansen Theatre in Pao Hall. The cost for one general public ticket is $19.50. Student tickets cost $12.50 and tickets for seniors ages 62 and up cost $15.50.
Season ticket packages offering discounted prices are available. For tickets, call 49-43933 or 800-914-7469. Tickets also may be purchased at the Loeb Playhouse Box Office in the west lobby of Stewart Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
This year's lineup include the following productions:
* "A Midsummer Night's Dream," directed by Joe Graves, a guest director who hails from the Peking University Institute of World Theatre and Film in China. This classic comedy by William Shakespeare combines mischievous fairies, four misguided lovers and a troupe of bumbling amateur actors to create a witty mixture of romance, magic and hilarity. This play will be staged Sept. 21-30.
* "The Understudy," directed by Richard Lee Sullivan and Theresa Rebeck, a Pulitzer Prize nominee who recently created and produced "Smash," NBC's popular musical drama. Already a hit in off-Broadway theatres, this comedy pits a smug Hollywood action star against a rival actor -- who also happens to be his understudy. This play will be staged Nov. 9-18.
* "Medea," directed by Michael Lenz, a Purdue master's of fine arts student, allows the title character in this classic Greek tragedy to come to life like a deadly hurricane consuming everything in her path. This interpretation introduces a chorus with a new and dynamic musical voice, providing strong emotional connections for the audience. This play will be staged Feb. 15-24.
* "Alice Wonders," written and directed by Purdue faculty member Gordon McCall, is a contemporary look at post-9/11 America using the writings of Lewis Carroll as inspiration. Characters in this play cling to an unyielding belief that dreams still can come true, if only they can solve America's riddle -- and learn how to play croquet. This play will be staged April 12-20.
Writer: Amanda Hamon, 49-61325, ahamon@purdue.edu
