2021-22 UMW Theatre Season Brochure by University of Mary Washington

2021-22

SEASON WE ARE READY TO . . .

PLAY, DELIGHT, & INSPIRE.

JOIN US.

“

The lessons I learned and experiences I gained while in the department have provided me with a foundation for teaching that I can’t wait to pass on to my own students. ” –Jacob Dodges ’20

Jacob Dodges ’20 in The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] Cover: Oscar León ’22 as Roy in Fun Home

construction, acting, and technical production via Zoom and producing plays in the virtual sphere—and our faculty has inspired the same critical conversations with our students that are the hallmark of our program.

Theatre artists are collaborative by nature. Our work—the culmination of the talents and contributions of many—is exponentially greater because we work together (and from differing perspectives) to tell the stories of our world. As directors, designers, actors, technicians, stage managers, and arts administrators, we find inspiration in our conversations, not only with each other, but with our audience. This is a community that is constantly enfolding others as the process moves from idea to performance. I so want to cry out “We’re back!” and yet I know the world is still far from a recognizable normal. More than anything, though, “We’re back!” would be an unfair fabrication because, in truth, we haven’t gone anywhere . . . we’ve been here all along. In the past 18 months our faculty and students have been hard at work, albeit in different places and using a variety of technologies to connect with each other. We haven’t missed a beat— teaching challenging courses like costume

Words cannot convey how proud I am of the people around me. While all of my colleagues and students faced inordinate obstacles the last year and a half, they met those challenges with grace, resilience, and strength. Instead of resting in all that we lost and all that we could not do, we seized every opportunity to strengthen our skills, deepen our connections with the work, and pushed ourselves to be excellent teachers, students, and artists even as the world was shifting all around us. We need you this season more than ever. We need you to take your seat in Klein Theatre as the lights fade and we take a collective breath as the darkness envelops us and the work begins. We need you to return to us ready for the conversations our productions will awaken in you. We need you to join us in the community we know as UMW Theatre.

Gregg Stull Producing Director

“Penetrating clarity and sharp, illuminating humor.”

—San Francisco Chronicle

Nickel And Dimed by JOAN HOLDEN

based on the book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Barbara is 55 and trying to do the work of a 20-something—holding down physically demanding minimum wage jobs that take a toll on her back, her knees, and her spirit. In kinship with a community of charming and captivating characters, she brings the real-life hustle of the working poor to surprisingly comic light and casts a dark shadow of truth in this insightful, deeply personal, and heart-rending work. Nickel and Dimed reveals more than the ups and downs of the good people who struggle to make ends meet—it affirms the necessity of grit and the power of joy in making a living.

September 16-26 Pay-What-You-Can Preview September 15 Afterwords September 19 Box Office Opens SEPTEMBER 2

“ A beautiful, eloquent, dazzlingly inventive show about the wonders of life.” —Evening Standard

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

based on the novel by Mark Haddon adapted by Simon Stephens Christopher Boone is 15 years old, is quite good at maths, and finds people very confusing. After being accused in the death of his neighbor’s dog, Christopher sets out on a mission to discover the truth. Along the way, he encounters a world that is wildly out of sync with how he sees and processes life around him. Discovering upsetting truths about his family, Christopher ventures beyond what he knows and embarks on a journey that turns his world upside down. Based on the blockbuster novel by Mark Haddon and the winner of the 2015 Tony Award for Best Play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a coming-ofage-too-soon tale of parents, children, and the challenges of loving, being loved, and accepting who you are.

NOVEMBER 11-21 Pay-What-You-Can Preview November 10 Afterwords November 14 Box Office Opens October 28

The 25 Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Music and Lyrics by William Finn th

Book By Rachel Sheinkin

“Irresistible, riotously funny, and remarkably ingenious.” —The New York Times

The Bee. That glorious time of year when words are spelled, hopes are dashed, weird, yet endearing awkwardness is on full display, and there’s a lot of growing up to do. For these young Putnam County Spelling Bee contenders, expectations and emotions are sky high as they spell their way to a coveted spot in the national finals in Washington, D.C., and to a greater understanding of themselves and the people who love them. A celebration of the differences in each of us, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is one great big hug of a show attesting to what we know so well—winning may not be everything, but it sure does feel good!

February 3-20

Pay-What-You-Can Preview February 2 AfterWords February 6 Box Office Opens January 20

“Visually thrilling, exciting and richly wrought.” —The Chicago Tribune

Julius CAESAR by William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar’s growing power and incomparable ambition fuel a contingent of Roman politicians to plot the dictator’s assassination and purge the Republic of the would-be tyrant. The conspirators’ success in this seemingly patriotic act, however, thrusts Rome into outright chaos. One of the greatest of Shakespeare’s tragedies, Julius Caesar is a staggering and chilling political thriller that calls into question the ethical responsibilities of elected officials: to what extent may they blur the line between right and wrong to ensure the well-being of the people? A timely and heedful account of history, Julius Caesar earns its place in the theatrical canon with every telling.

APRIL 7-16

Pay-What-You-Can Preview April 6 AfterWords April 10 Box Office Opens March 24

LEARNING“BY DOING With UMW Theatre, you really get to explore what it is that you’re passionate about doing and create theatre however you want.The professors have high expectations of you and care about your individual success, so they push you to work harder than you ever have before.” –Shannon Hardy ’22

Our talented students learn by doing in Studio 115 on the first floor of duPont Hall where directors, actors, designers, and playwrights sharpen their skills in one-acts, full-length plays, solo performances, scenes, and monologues. You will find yourself swept away by the energy and variety of these performances in this intimate space that puts you only a few feet away from the action.

@UMWSTudio115

DATES & TIMES TO BE ANNOUNCED.

NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER

The curious incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

7:30 pm

7:30 pm†

7:30 pm

2 pm*

7:30 pm

2 pm

7:30 pm

2 pm*

7:30 pm

7:30 pm†

7:30 pm

JULIUS CAESAR

FEBRUARY

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

7:30 pm†

APRIL

SEASON CALENDAR

“

Nickel AND Dimed

7:30 pm

2 pm*

7:30 pm

2 pm

7:30 pm

2 pm

7:30 pm

7:30 pm†

7:30 pm

2 pm

2 pm*

7:30 pm

*AfterWords Post-Performance Discussion UMW Theatre provides † opportunities for students Pay-What-You-Can Preview to polish their talents both Spelling Bee Julius Caesar Nickel/Dimed Curious onstage and off, and we as Standard $25 $25 $30 $25 audience members get the Student/Senior $20 $20 $25 $20 wonderful experience of watching them grow and Military ID/UMW Alumni $20 $20 $25 $20 hone those skills during Groups $18 $18 $23 $18 their time.” GCC or UMW ID $8 $8 $10 $8 –Myron Hasselquist, UMW Theatre Patron

“

There is an incredible sense of community among the students and faculty, and that is helping me further realize my passion for theatre. I would not have had the bravery to turn theatre into my career if not for the support and opportunities I receive here.” –Riley Salazar ’22

BRING A

GROUP

Riley Salazar ’22 and Justin Flemming ’23 as Deb & Warren in Ordinary Days

Bring a Group to Klein Theatre! Gather your friends and colleagues for a memorable performance in Klein Theatre. Our productions offer perfect and affordable opportunities to celebrate a special occasion, escape for a night out, or just get together with the favorite people in your life. We work with all kinds of groups to create a special experience—businesses, social and civic clubs, faith gatherings, student organizations, fraternities, sororities, and alumni chapters. Our personal touch makes creating a group experience convenient and effortless.

Lydia Hundley ’20 and Jackson Miles ’20 as Claire and Jason in Ordinary Days Gathering a Group is Easy! If you have 10 or more people, you are a group! This entitles you to early booking, discounted tickets, and flexible payment terms. Booking Tickets is Simple! Our Group Sales staff will work closely with you to reserve your tickets before they go on sale to the public—ensuring you great seats as well as availability for performances that sell out quickly.

Olivia Whicheloe ’19 as Alison in Fun Home

“

I learned more than I thought possible and was given extraordinary opportunities to grow as an actor at UMW. As I move forward in my career, I am constantly coming back to the techniques and skills I developed while I was a student. I am so grateful. —Olivia Whicheloe ’19

We will work with you to establish a date for you to commit to a final number of tickets and pay for them. Our flexible approach makes it easy for you to bring your group to the theatre. Get in Touch! For more information about Group Sales, email groups@fredtix.com or call (540) 654-1243. We would love to help you plan a theatre event for your group!

Jacob Dodges ’20 and Aaron Hoffman ’22 in The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]

Give To

THEATRE

Help us help them! When you join us for a performance, you are a part of our students’ educational journeys.Without an audience in the theatre, they cannot have the conversation that our plays and musicals inspire. You play an important role in helping them to develop as young theatre artists. Producing theatre and creating learning opportunities are costly endeavors. We want to do everything we can to bring in guest artists to help our students gain new perspectives and network in the professional world. We want to support them when they have a chance to go to a national conference or to audition for summer theatre. We want to be sure we can help them produce plays in Studio 115 where they grow in the skills and knowledge they get in our classrooms and studios. Many of our students struggle to make ends meet with tuition, room and board, books, and supplies. We want, more than anything else, our students to be fully focused on their work in order to be the strongest they can be when they leave UMW. This is critical in order for them to be competitive when they seek their first job after graduation. We are committed to doing everything we can to support our students. We hope you will partner with us to provide what our students need to succeed at UMW. Won’t you consider joining UMW Theatre and supporting our talented students?

Join today! Membership with UMW Theatre enables you to: • give scholarships and sponsor unique educational activities for theatre students • receive acknowledgement in production programs • receive advance notice of special opportunities and events For more information, and to join online, visit cas.umw.edu/theatre/make-a-gift

Shaun McBride ’23 working in the costume shop

“

I love the stimulating environment of UMW Theatre. In and out of the classroom, there is always an opportunity to learn more about skills we can attain or build on and then apply what we have learned through our work and projects here at the theatre.” —Shaun McBride ’23

“

UMW Theatre’s dedication to student growth is indescribable. The faculty believes in the power of responsibility; students are trusted to work alongside their professors, which is so important in hands-on work like ours. I feel that I’ve grown from a student into a theatre practitioner in my time with UMW Theatre.” –Maddie Nielson ’21

The cast of Fun Home

The Fine Print Location

Klein Theatre is located in duPont Hall on College Avenue at Thornton Street.

Parking

There is plenty of free parking along College Avenue and in Lot 28 on Thornton Street. Two short-term box office parking spaces are available in Lot 28 during box office hours.

Tickets

Tickets are available at the Klein Theatre Box Office in duPont Hall starting two weeks before opening. Tickets are also available online through our website, www.FredTix.com and by calling (540) 654-1111. Handling fees apply to telephone orders and convenience fees apply to online orders. Student projects in Studio 115 are free.

Groups

Information

Discounted rates are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, call the Director of Group Sales at (540) 654-1243 or email groups@fredtix.com.

Season subject to change. For more information, call the Klein Theatre Box Office at (540) 654-1111 or visit cas.umw.edu/theatre.

AfterWords

Accessibility

AfterWords post-show discussions allow you the opportunity to speak to the actors and ask questions about the process of mounting a production. Be sure to stick around to hear from our students about their experiences working on a show with us!

Pay-What-You-Can Preview

Our preview performance is Pay-What-YouCan. Simply go to the Klein Theatre Box Office two hours before curtain and pay whatever amount you wish for your general admission ticket. Arrive early to guarantee your seat in the theatre!

Photography by Geoff Greene, Jon K. Reynolds, and Taryn Snyder Production Artwork by Justin Slone

Wheelchair-accessible seating is available. Please inquire when purchasing tickets. Accessible parking is available in Lot 28 and in the rear of duPont Hall. Assistive listening devices are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the Klein Theatre Box Office. Large print programs are available at the Klein Theatre Box Office. We are eager to help you plan your visit. For more information on accessibility or parking, please call the Klein Theatre Box Office at (540) 654-1111.

1301 College Avenue Fredericksburg, VA 22401-5300

Address Service Requested

“

Since joining UMW Theatre, I have grown exponentially as a person and as an artist. As a theatre student here, you are surrounded by incredibly talented faculty and peers who are all invested in your success and growth. No matter what your experience is, if you have the willingness to learn, your opportunities will be endless!” —Ben Lechtman ’22

FOLLOW US! @UMWTHEATRE Ben Lechtman ’22 on the balcony outside the Walter Kerr Theatre, after shadowing the sound engineer for a performance of the Tony-award Winning Musical, Hadestown.

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