RESILIENCE
Elemental Stories of Strength and Character
AUBURN UNIVERSITY THEATRE & DANCE 2024–2025 | 111th Season
Our Mission
Theatre has the potential to foster dialogue, alter perceptions, and inspire social change. The Auburn University Department of Theatre and Dance is dedicated to the education and professional training of theatre artists, scholars, and audiences within a liberal arts environment.
The Department champions the interaction between theory and practice and produces citizen artists who advocate for the arts through their own work in local, national, and international communities.
Auburn University theatre and dance students think critically, creatively, and collaboratively and carry their knowledge from rehearsal spaces and classrooms to stages, campuses, and communities worldwide.
On behalf of the Auburn University Department of Theatre and Dance, I extend a warm welcome to you, our valued patrons, to join us at the Telfair Peet Theatre for our 111th season. Our productions are a testament to the dedication of Auburn students, faculty, staff, and guest collaborators, but they truly come alive when we have you, our audience, with us. Whether you are an Auburn student, staff, faculty, or community member, we thank you for your presence and support. As we gather in the theatre, we form a unique community, united by the joy and discovery of performance, and we can’t wait to share this season with you.
As a university, community, state, nation, and world, we are bombarded with new challenges daily. Making our way through the continual changes we face
individually and collectively, we learn about ourselves and each other. Questions of how we continue through difficulty, how we can thrive together, and what it means to be a community that leans on and supports one another are the focus of this season’s work. What makes us keep going despite difficult odds of success? What internal or external strength do we turn to when we are at the end of our capabilities? How do we draw
upon that well in our time of need? How do we come through difficulty with more insight and better solutions for the next time we face challenges? We each have answers to some of these questions, and we offer this season’s productions to add to our collective understanding of resilience.
We, as a department, are resilient because of your enthusiastic support for the creative work of these Auburn students. The theatre is the laboratory where students practice their craft from backstage to the box office, and they thrive because of our community. We thank you for being part of our Auburn family.
Tessa Carr, PhD Chairperson
When we learn how to become resilient, we learn how to embrace the beautifully broad spectrum of human experience.
Jaeda Dewalt
Elemental Stories of Strength and Character
As theatrical makers, we are continually finding new ways to frame our storytelling mission and approach. This year, we thought about the words resilience and elemental.
RESILIENCE:
1. The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties.
2. The ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape.1
These qualities of toughness and elasticity are necessary to achieve sustainability . . . for ourselves — physically, mentally, emotionally — and for our planet and our communities.
ELEMENTAL:
1. Primary or basic, as in the elemental features from which all other structures are compounded.
2. Related to or embodying the powers of nature, e.g., emotion having the primitive and inescapable character of a force of nature.1
In framing our season, we landed on elements of nature and the ways in which those elements sustain us, even in the face of perpetual adversity. The cycles and interconnectedness of nature — at times stormy, stressful, violent, and at other times gentle, quiet, healing — are analogous to our human relationships and experiences. We hope our elemental stories of strength and character inspire you toward continued and steadfast resilience.
5 “Cs”of Resilience
Developed by Dr. Joel Bennett and staff at Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems, the 5 “Cs” listed above are known as the five competencies of resilience and considered useful tools to assess our own unique resiliency skills.2
Sources:
1 Google Dictionary (Oxford Languages); 2 drkarenwolfe.org/the-five-csof-resilience
Because I am this country. You are this country. And tonight, as we face the unknown, we place our hopes on ourselves, on our potential country.
Donna
September 26-October 5, 2024
Telfair B. Peet Mainstage Theatre
Wellesley Girl
By Brendan Pelsue
Directed by Scott Phillips
The year is 2465 and the United States is struggling with the ecological fallout from a massive and toxic algal bloom. An enclave of four communities in Massachusetts has what is believed to be the only remaining source of pure drinking water. A mysterious army threatens the protective walls of the citadel. Every citizen’s vote and voice has power in this miniature republic, as together they must decide what is best for the good of the community. Bitingly sharp and witty, Wellesley Girl explores themes of environmental destruction, collective action, and the power that our decisions have over future generations.
Wellesley Girl is produced by special arrangement with Mark Orsini, BRET ADAMS, LTD., 448 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. www.bretadamsltd.net
What am I doing
In this hundred story city
Where you're always moving fast
But going nowhere?
Oh I don’t care
If there’s a hundred million people I just want to be with one.
Jason
October 24-November 3, 2024
Telfair B. Peet Black Box Theatre
Ordinary Days
Music and Lyrics by
Adam Gwon
Directed by Andrew Schwartz | Music Direction by Brian Osborne
Choreography by Jeri Dickey
This sung-through, intimate musical celebrates the beauty of life’s everyday moments. Set against the backdrop of New York City, this charming production follows the intersecting lives of four individuals as they navigate love, loss, and the search for committed connection in a bustling metropolis. Adam Gwon’s dynamic and melodic score takes audiences on a journey through the complexity of urban life while sharing themes of hope, friendship, the joy of connective moments, and the transformative power of small acts of kindness.
Ordinary Days is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask
“What if I fall?”
Oh but my darling, What if you fly?
Erin Hanson
November 19-22, 2024 Telfair B. Peet Mainstage Theatre
Created by
Adrienne Wilson, Jeri Dickey, and Andrew Lynch
Featuring the Auburn University Dance Ensemble
Spinning through space without control and strongly rooted to the Earth, we are flying and falling simultaneously, sustained “in-between” by the atmosphere...air...breath.
Exploring the wonder of movement and sound beyond the boundaries of language, this collaborative creation examines our reliance upon and defiance of gravity. Adrienne Wilson and Jeri Dickey choreograph and direct a student dance ensemble to an original soundscape by Andrew Lynch.
Composite image at left from photos by Henry Eiland, featuring Sarah Rollins (front), Morganne Svoboda (middle), and Andrew Hayworth (back) in 2023’s Fractals: Infinite Movement
Meanwhile the spirit of the age was blowing Now hot, now cold, on Orlando’s cheeks. That is, the blushes came and went with the Most exquisite degree of modesty and shame.
The Chorus
February 20-March 1, 2025 Telfair B. Peet Black Box Theatre
By Virginia Woolf
Adapted by Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Ashley Butler
This captivating theatrical adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s classic novel explores themes of gender, identity, and the fluidity of time. Set across centuries, the play follows the journey of Orlando, a young nobleman who defies the constraints of society and embarks on an extraordinary quest for self-discovery. Orlando’s exploits, including a love affair with Queen Elizabeth I, result in hilarious self-reflective moments. Through a magical and poetic narrative, Orlando is a spellbinding exploration of love, compassion, transformation, and the eternal search for belonging amidst a hostile world.
Produced by special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials supplied by
I know you feel like nothing’s changed. But look at you, you’re different. You’re not the girl you were When you began.
Flick
April 16-25, 2025 Telfair B. Peet Mainstage Theatre
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics and Book by Brian Crawley
Based on “The Ugliest Pilgrim” by Doris Betts
Directed by Lindsay Rae Taylor | Music Direction by Brian Osborne Choreography by Jeri Dickey
Atale of the power of self-acceptance and compassion, Violet takes audiences on a journey through the South during the Civil Rights era. As Violet journeys to receive what she hopes will be a miracle cure from a faith healer, she finds joy, heartache, and self-knowledge. Gospel, blues, and folk-inspired songs carry her through her tribulations towards a transformative embrace of her own flaws and scars.
Violet is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Across 5 major degree tracks and 3 different minors, our students engage daily in the rigorous hands-on work of the theatre. They construct sets, sew costumes, create designs, call shows, devise new work, build props, focus lights, analyze texts, block scenes, score scripts, and everything in between.
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS
Our theatre and dance students depend on scholarships to keep up rigorous academic and creative schedules and to balance the various aspects of student life. Your gift to our scholarship fund will help support the work and well-being of our student citizen artists.
Department of Theatre and Dance
2024-25 Scholarship Donation Form
Name(s): Address:
IMPORTANT:
Checks written for the Student Scholarship Fund must be written separately from checks for season subscription purchases.
2023-24 Moments
1 Bella Hardin and Wil Eplett in Defend. 2 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
Grace Ramb and Reid Williams. Back, left to right: Patrick Reagan and Tapley Cronier.
Clockwise from top left: Evie Slaughenhoup, Ashleigh Vickery, Morgan McKenzie, Tony To, Cecilia Frederick, Andrew Vance, and Garrett Scott. 4 Avonlea Yeakley and Nick DiJulio in Children. 5 Morgan Hogans in Barbecue.
6 Olivia Beland in
SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS
Your season subscription secures single admission to each of the five shows in the 2024-25 season, plus TWO ADDITIONAL FREE TICKETS to any show of your choice if ordered by September 26. That’s seven tickets for only $70.00! PLUS, enjoy opening night receptions sponsored by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
Use the form below or purchase at aub.ie/theatretickets
Auburn University Theatre and Dance
Name(s):
Address:
Email: Phone: (______)
PERFORMANCE DATES
Wellesley Girl
Telfair B. Peet Mainstage
Thurs. Sept. 26 Opening
Fri. Sept. 27
Sun. Sept. 29 Matinee
Tues. Oct. 1
Wed. Oct. 2
Thurs. Oct. 3
Fri. Oct. 4
Sat. Oct. 5
Ordinary Days
Telfair B. Peet Black Box
Thurs. Oct. 24 Opening
Fri. Oct. 25
Sat. Oct. 26
Sun. Oct. 27 Matinee
Wed. Oct. 30
Thurs. Oct. 31
Fri. Nov. 1
Sun. Nov. 3 Matinee
Orlando
Telfair B. Peet Black Box
Thurs. Feb. 20 Opening
Fri. Feb. 21
Sat. Feb. 22
Sun. Feb. 23 Matinee
Wed. Feb. 26
Thurs. Feb. 27
Fri. Feb. 28
Sat. Mar. 1
Flying / Falling
Telfair B. Peet Mainstage
Tues. Nov. 19 Opening
Wed. Nov. 20
Thurs. Nov. 21
Fri. Nov. 22
Violet
Telfair B. Peet Mainstage
Wed. Apr. 16 Opening
Thurs. Apr. 17
Fri. Apr. 18
Sat. Apr. 19
Wed. Apr. 23
Thurs. Apr. 24
Fri. Apr. 25
Creative Team
Artistic Director: Tessa Carr
Creative Director/Designer: Ashley Butler
Production Photographer: Henry Eiland
Project Management: Magalí Zaslabsky
Editorial Team: Becky Henderson
Laura Sims
Magalí Zaslabsky
Special Thanks
Auburn University Theatre & Dance gratefully acknowledges support for our season from Dr. Vini Nathan and the Office of the Provost of Auburn University.
Additional Photo Credits
Our Mission spread:
Daisha Flint in Dare WE Defend.1 Tessa Carr’s photo by Jessi Rogers.
Support Our Students spread: Left side: Stage manager Abigail Bowling at rehearsal (top); 2 Avery Melton running sound and projections (bottom). 1 Right side: Melanie Brown working on a dramaturgical installation (top); 2 Will Johnson and Lily Sfida at the light board (bottom). 1
1 Photo by Henry Eiland
2 Photo by Ashley Butler