September 12, 2007

New Purdue Theatre season to include award-winning plays

"We hope that the season not only entertains but enlightens our local and university audience," said Joel Ebarb, interim chair of Purdue Theatre. "We look forward to sharing the talents of our students and faculty with the campus and Lafayette/West Lafayette community.

"The season begins with 'The Foreigner' by Larry Shue, a charming, melodramatic comedy that is filled with sharp verbal humor and plenty of physical comedy."

Directed by Larry Sommers, "The Foreigner" will run Sept. 21-30 in the Nancy T. Hansen Theatre. The comedy uncovers a sinister plot to snatch an old hotel resort in the back hills of Georgia from its rightful owner, and the only dubious presence of a foreigner may uncover the truth about the aims of their corrupt plot. This play is part of the Marquee Series. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 21-22 and 27-29; 3 p.m. on Sept. 23, 30; and 2 p.m. Sept. 29.

Next up is "Six Degrees of Separation" by John Guare. Kristine Holtvedt will direct this play as part of the Horizon Series.

"Who's coming to dinner? Hint – it's not Sidney Poitier's son, even though he may claim to be in this award-winning play that first identified the phenomenon that everyone can be connected by a maximum of six people," Ebarb said. "'Six Degrees' amuses and disturbs and then leaves us questioning how much we really know about the people that are closest to us."

"Six Degrees" will be on stage in the Carole and Gordon Mallett Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 25-28 and at 3 p.m. Oct. 27-28.

The fall semester will end with a modern retelling of Euripides' "The Women of Troy," an examination of the aftershocks of war. Jason King Jones will direct the play, which will run from Nov. 16 to Dec. 1. As part of the Marquee Series in the Nancy T. Hansen Theatre, the anti-war play is about the victims of the Trojan War in 415 B.C.

Performances of "The Women of Troy" will be 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16-17, 29-30 and Dec. 1 and 3 p.m. Nov. 18 and Dec. 1.

"The spring semester open with 'The Underpants,' Steve Martin's modern translation of Carl Sternheim's 1910 farce about what happens when you literally and figuratively get your knickers in a twist," Ebarb said. "The story follows the comical happenings after the wife of a prominent bureaucrat accidentally allows her panties to slip to the ground during a parade for the king."

"The Underpants" is part of the Marquee Series in the Nancy T. Hansen Theatre. Performances will include six 7:30 p.m. shows on Feb. 15-17 and 21-23 and 3 p.m. matinees on Feb. 17, 23 and 24.

Next up on the schedule is "The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis de Sade" by Peter Weiss. Directed by Gordon McCall, this play will run from March 27 to April 6 in the Carole and Gordon Mallett Theatre.

"This spectacular assault on theatrical form finds the infamous Marquis de Sade attacking the notion that any government may ever really be able to serve the needs of its people," Ebarb said.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on March 27-30 and April 4-5. Matinees at 3 p.m. will be offered on Feb. 17, 23 and 24.

"We wrap the season up with the always engaging and energetic musical 'Hair,' the affirmation of youthful idealism first presented in 1967," Ebarb said. "Its lurking backdrop of the Vietnam War continues to cast its shadow on the 21st century as a new generation of youth comes to grips with its own hopes and dreams."

Amanda Folena will direct this Marquee Series production in the Nancy T. Hansen Theatre. "Hair" will be on stage at 7:30 p.m. on April 11-12 and 17-19, at midnight on April 12 and 18, and at 3 p.m. April 13.

Tickets to plays in the Marquee Series, including "The Foreigner," "The Women of Troy" and "The Underpants," are $17 for the general public, $10 for students and $13 for seniors 62 and older. Tickets to "Hair" are $18 for the general public, $12 for students and $15 for seniors 62 and older. Each production also will offer a preview performance for $6.50.

Tickets to plays in the Horizon Series, including "Six Degrees of Separation" and "Mara/Sade," are $10.50 for the general public and seniors, and $8.50 for students.

Season ticket packages offering discounted prices also are available. For tickets, call (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Sources: Joel Ebarb, interim chair of Purdue Theatre, (765) 494-2144, jebarb@purdue.edu

David Lageveen, director of marketing and donor relations for Purdue Theatre, (765) 494-3084, lageveen@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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