Shakespeare musical comedy rock opera highlight 2010 11 University Theatre schedule at USD
Staged in the Wayne S. Knutson Theatre in the Warren M. Lee Center for the Fine Arts, the production season opens with “Evita,” the award-winning rock opera from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice that chronicles the meteoric rise of Eva Duarte, the First Lady of Argentina. “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Oh What a Circus” and “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” are award-winning songs from “Evita,” whichtakes the stage at USD with showings Oct. 20-23 (7:30 p.m.) and Oct. 24 (2 p.m.).
William Shakespeare’s best loved comedy “Twelfth Night” is under the spotlight for 7:30 p.m. shows on Dec. 3, Dec. 4, Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 and a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 5. The story of a harrowing shipwreck that separates twins Viola and Sebastian turns to comedy when they wash up on the shores of Illyria, where mistaken identities and action-packed follies eventually lead to a heart-warming love story.
The first production of the spring semester is “The Woman in Black,” Stephen Malatratt’s dramatic adaptation of Susan Hill’s haunting novel. In this classic ghost story, three actors weave a spine-tingling, nerve-shredding tale about “The Woman in Black,” a specter who haunts the neighborhood where her illegitimate child was accidentally killed. “The Woman in Black” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. performances Feb. 25, Feb. 26, Feb. 28 and March 1 and a 2 p.m. matinee on Feb. 27.
The main stage season concludes with the musical comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Six adolescent outsiders who vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime are the focus of this hilarious new musical by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” contains mature themes and language with performances scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on April 15, April 16, April 18, April 19 and a matinee (2 p.m.) on April 17.
In addition to main stage productions in Knutson Theatre during the 2010-11 season, University Theatre will present a series of plays in the Arena Theatre, including a bill of One-Act Plays, Nov. 12 -13 (7:30 p.m.) and Nov. 14 (2 p.m.), and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” Tom Stoppard’s Tony Award and New York Drama Critics Circle Award-winning comedy, March 23-26 (7:30 p.m.) and March 27 (2 p.m.).
These events are partially sponsored by generous donations from First Bank & Trust and the USD Student Government Association. Reservations for performances or season tickets can be made online at www.usd.edu/theatre or by calling (605) 677-5400. For more information, contact the University Theatre Box Office at [email protected].