2022-2023 Productions

Eurydice

by Sarah Ruhl

Knutson Theatre, Sept 22nd – 25th, 2022

In this reimagining of the Greek myth of Orpheus, we follow the story of Eurydice as she dies and travels to the underworld. There she encounters the River of Forgetfulness, three talking stones, and a lord of the underworld who rides around on a red tricycle. Striking imagery, poetic language, and imaginative quirks come together in this unique tragicomic play by one of the great American playwrights of our time.

Daddy Long Legs

Book by John Caird, Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon

Arena Theatre, Oct 13th – 16th. 2022

This charming musical is a 21st century take on Jean Webster’s classic novel. Jerusha Abbott is about to age out of the orphanage she grew up in when a mysterious benefactor funds her college education. The conditions are that they never meet and that she writes him a letter once a month. Not knowing who the man is, Jerusha invents him from her imagination, and not only finds her voice as a writer, but quite a bit more than she expected.

The Musical of Musicals: The Musical

Book by Eric Rockwell & Joanne Bogart, Music by Eric Rockwell, Lyrics by Joanne Bogart

Knutson Theatre, Nov 30th – Dec 4th, 2022

This loving spoof takes one simple archetypal plot and turns it into five different parodies of iconic musical theatre writers: “Corn,” in the style of Rodgers & Hammerstein, where dream ballets are as normal as blueberry pie; “A Little Complex,” in the style of Sondheim, featuring a lot of words, a lot of blood, and a lot of dissonance; “Dear Abby,” in the style of Jerry Herman, a hummable star vehicle; “Aspects of Junita,” in the style of Lloyd Webber, a rock mock opera where people only sing and never talk; and “Speakeasy,” in the style of Kander & Ebb, set in Prohibition-era Chicago.

tick, tick... BOOM!

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson

Knutson Theatre, Feb 16th – Feb 19th, 2023

Before Rent, there was tick, tick... Boom! This autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson is the story of a composer and how he managed to get his big break in theatre. Torn between making money, creating art, and getting married, the protagonist waits tables as he tries to write the next big Broadway hit. Three performers play ten characters in this compelling story of personal discovery that is a rock musical uniquely blended with musical theatre styles.

Ron L. Moyer One-Act Plays

Arena Theatre, Mar 24th – 26th, 2023

USD’s popular annual festival of short plays, directed by graduate and advanced undergraduate directing students, performed on the Arena Stage.

The Importance of Being Earnest

By Oscar Wilde

Knutson Theatre, April 20th – 23rd, 2023

Mistaken identities, double lives, and witty dialogue come together in this high farce. Jack and Algernon are two young gentlemen who maintain fictitious personae to escape burdensome social obligations. Complications and comedy both arise when they must reconcile their alter egos with the women they intend to marry, Gwendolen and Cecily. Subtitled “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” this satire of Victorian society is Oscar Wilde's most enduringly popular play and one of the funniest in the English language.

Spring Dance Showcase

Knutson Theatre, Apr 30th, 2023

This biennial concert highlights the work of USD student choreographers, who will be practicing their creative scholarship while collaborating with many other student dancers, designers, and technicians.