Significant Other

By Joshua Harmon
Directed by Leila Bowman, a senior design and technology student, from Buford, Georgia

Engulf yourself in the world of Jordan Berman and take a journey through the awkward phase of what it means to “settle down.” Come along for the ride as he experiences heartbreak, a rift with his BFF, the rollercoaster of one’s late-twenties, and the ever-relatable feeling of worry about never finding someone to love. Come for the drama, stay for the tart comedy, and leave with poignant memories of a lovely story about humanity and human foibles.

February 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Thanksgiving Play

By Larissa FastHorse
Directed by Emma Tolleson, a senior performance student, from Temple, Texas

Native American playwright Larissa FastHorse has written a searing comedy about four white people charged with creating a politically correct and respectful elementary school pageant about the first Thanksgiving. Through biting humor, THANKSGIVING PLAY takes on the mythology of people simply finding peace over a bountiful meal in what FastHorse herself calls “performative wokeness.” American Theatre Magazine named this satirical powerhouse of a script as one of the ten most produced plays of the 2019–20 season. Don’t miss this wickedly funny play by an important voice in the American Theatre.

March 5 & 6 @ 7:30 pm

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead

By Bert V. Royal
Directed by Gia Gleason, a senior stage management major, from Sellersburg, Indiana

DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD co-opts the beloved children’s characters from the Peanuts comic strip and introduces them as degenerate high school students. This “unauthorized parody” features angst-ridden teens facing the trials and traumas of adolescence in a brutally honest coming-of-age story. With crackling dialogue, Bert V. Royal’s reimagined characters use heightened emotion and verbal fire to provoke pathos, as they confront the truly dark aspects of the murky waters which today’s teens must navigate. Join us for this gritty look into the inner lives of characters you only thought you knew.

March 19 & 20 at 7:30 pm

Cry It Out

By Molly Smith Metzler
Directed by Sally Walker, a senior theatre management student, from Bettendorf, Iowa

Two “postpartum survivors” find themselves becoming fast friends, as they slog through the day-to-day trials of raising newborn babies. Pushing the boundaries of reception for their baby monitors, they find solace over naptime-coffee-breaks in their adjoining backyards. When a new couple joins their ranks, they bring a different and disturbing socio-economic energy that shakes them out of their reverie and forces them to acknowledge and examine the effect class has on parenthood in America. This bittersweet comedy delves into the absurdity of those first months of parenting and serves as a reminder to not squander those precious moments and truly let the tenderness of life linger.

April 9 & 10 at 7:30 pm

Henry IV, Part One

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Theodore J. Esten, a senior theatre performance major from Cedarburg, Wisconsin

This epic tale of power, intrigue, and war is part of Shakespeare’s greatest historical saga and deftly explores the complexity of father-son relationships. The politically savvy King Henry knows a rebellion is coming and despairs over young Prince Hal’s proclivity to engage in drunken revels with Sir John Falstaff, a gloriously funny, but shameless rogue. Fast-paced action ensues on the bloody battlefield, as the brash and hot-headed Hotspur leads the quest to remove Henry from the throne. Will this fierce rival force the carefree prince to rise to the occasion and claim his own royal destiny?

April 16 & 17 at 7:30 pm

Red Bike

By Caridad Svich
Directed by Julia Veiga, a senior theatre education student, from Flowery Branch, Georgia

This Obie Award-winning playwright kicks off her seven-play “American Psalm” cycle with RED BIKE, a funny, thought-provoking meditation on suburban capitalism—told through the eyes of an 11-year-old child. In a small Midwestern town, a bike offers true freedom to a kid and encourages them to push past the boundaries of their community and expand their imagination. Leaping through time and memory, this poetic and poignant new play offers a child’s glimpse into the erosion of the “American Dream.” And, yes, while children may worry and fret about this adult topic, they also offer us hope with their resiliency and their capability to sing and dance with unabashed joy. This story just may make you miss your own childhood red bike!

April 30 & May 1 at 7:30 pm

Pericles

By William Shakespeare
Translated by Ellen McLaughlin
Directed by Taylor Bailey ’09

Invited Reading Only

February 7

Edward III

By William Shakespeare
In a modern verse translation by Octavio Solis
Directed by Amelia Acosta Powell

Invited Reading Only

February 14

Richard II

By William Shakespeare
Translated by Naomi Iizuka
Directed by Lavina Jadhwani, UET 2020–21 Virtual Artist-in-Residence

March 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m.