Theatergoers can already be thinking about all the options available for their viewing pleasure this year at the University Playhouse.
The Fall, 2008 season will open with a magical play, Still Life with Iris, which runs Thursdays through Sundays Oct. 16-26. The story, reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, delves into the mystical world of Nocturno, where the people live to create the nature around them. Iris, whose job is Finder of Lost Things, must help herself when all but one memory is swept away from her.
The Assistant Professor of Theatre, Dr. Carrie Klypchak, feels that both children and adults will be intrigued by the girl’s adventurous quest.
“Still Life with Iris is one of those rare plays that meets its audience members at their own levels,” Klypchak said.
Written by Stephen Dietz, Still Life with Iris has received the Kennedy Center’s Fund for New American Plays Award and rave reviews from critics and fans of magic since its first showing in 1997. Showing for one day, Nov. 7 2008, will be Love Letters by A.R. Gurney. Having won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama after its premiere in 1988, this play contains a minimal cast that centers on two characters who correspond through letters for a span of fifty years.
“These letters bring to light the moving and often humorous adventures of people that surprisingly find true love with one another,” Klypchak said.
The focus is on the changing relationship between a man and a woman, where the male role will be played by Dr. John Hanners, Professor and Head of the Department of Mass Media, Communication and Theatre at Texas A&M University-Commerce. For those whose attention span suffers during long productions, the Short Play Festival fulfills entertainment cravings without the antsy side-effects of sitting still for too long. The Festival starts Thursday, Nov. 13 and concludes on Sunday, Nov. 16.
“The selected plays have come from a nation-wide search and promise to offer audiences humor, drama, and intrigue,” Klypchak said.
The spring semester holds even more productions, starting off with the popular Hank Williams: Lost Highways. This tribute to the country music icon that got a handle on the honky-tonk style, recounts his life story and the controversy surrounding the exact details of his premature death.
Randal Myler and Mark Harelik combine storytelling and fine music in this play about one of the most influential singer/songwriters of the twentieth century.
One eerie coincidence of his death is that his final single was titled “I’ll Never Get out of This World Alive.” See how the story plays out during Feb. 12-22. Shakespeare’s Ontological Magick Circus will be running from March 23-25. This original work by Dr. Hanners compiles and adapts more famous scenes and sonnets of William Shakespeare into a hilarious study of what it means to be human.
“[It’s] a sort of user’s guide to Shakespeare, for people who are intimidated by Shakespeare,” Dr. Hanners said.
The Weekend of Original One-Act Plays will round out the year May first and second. These short plays are completely student produced from start to finish.
“The Student Showcase of Original Plays is an opportunity for our graduate and undergraduate students to work together as writers, actors, designers and directors,” said Jim Anderson, the Theatre Department’s Publicity Coordinator.
Any student, faculty member, or local community member has the chance to audition for the upcoming fall shows on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Auditions will take place from 7-10p.m. on the Main Stage of the Performing Arts Center. Students can choose to read a cold copy, which requires no prior preparation, or can have one or two contrasting monologues that fit within the two minute time slot.
Remember season tickets, reservations, or information about any show or auditions can be obtained by calling the Playhouse Box Office at (903) 886-5900.