WSU Department of Performing Arts Theatre Season (Ogden: Oct 22 - March 22, 2011)

Department of Performing Arts Theatre Season - Revised

Who: Weber State University Department of Performing Art
What: Revised Theatre Season
When: 2010-11
Where: WSU Campus

The Weber State University Department of Performing Arts theatre season has been revised, due to the fact that Dr. Larry Dooley, scheduled to direct "Lend Me a Tenor" in October, has accepted a position in another state. Consequently, “Lend Me a Tenor” has been cancelled and the two other fall semester shows have had their production dates changed. This is the new season schedule:

Under Construction by Charles Mee, directed by Tracy Callahan
October 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 20 7:30pm; October 30 at 2:00 pm
Eccles Theater, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts
This contemporary play is a collage of America today, inspired by Normaan Rockwell and contemporary installation artist, Jason Rhodes. It juxtaposes the 1950s and the present; red states and blue; where we grew up and where we live now - a piece that is, like America, permanently “under construction.” The playwright invites the director and actors to freely contribute to the script.

Five Carols for Christmas/JingleJacks
Holiday Musicals Premier, written by Jim Christian and Kenneth Plain, directed by Jim Christian
November 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 pm; November 20 at 2:00 pm
American Sign Language interpretation provided for Saturday, November 13th, performance
Eccles Theater,Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts
This coming December, WSU will premiere two original one-act holiday musicals by Jim Christian and Kenneth Plain. Both will be combinations of familiar music and new songs. They will be performed together each night. They are:
“Five Carols for Christmas” - Set in 1950’s suburbia, five women (all named Carol) are preparing for their annual PTA Christmas program during the worst blizzard of the year. The story follows them from their rehearsal at one of their homes to the performance which, thanks to the storm, takes some unexpected twists and turns.
“JingleJacks” - Four lumberjacks in the frozen north return home to their cabin after a hard day’s work just in time to launch into their holiday webcast. The “JingleJacks” then demonstrate why they have become youtube stars through their celebration of a vast array of male vocal stylings...all with a holiday flair!

Anything Goes, Book by Bolton and Wodehouse, Lyric and Music by Cole Porter, directed by Jim Christian.
January 28, 29, February 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 at 7:30 pm; February 5 at 2:00 pm
American Sign Language interpretation provided for Saturday, January 29th, performance
Allred Theater, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts
In a tale of long-lost love, Billy Crocker, a stowaway aboard the S.S. American, sets out to win back Hope, a debutante now engaged to a wealthy Englishman. With the help of some unusual characters - and some madcap antics - Billy manages to get the girl.

The Lion in Winter by James Goldman, directed by Tracy Callahan
March 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 at 7:30 pm; March 12 at 2:00 pm
Eccles Theater
At Christmas 1183 King Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine, recently released from prison, resume their family conflict with each other and their adult sons and heirs to the throne. Add the King Phillip II of France, the son of Eleanor’s ex-husband, Louis VII, and Philip’s half-sister Alais. The personality conflicts and shifting alliances create a fictional story of real historical figures and the influence their personal lives have on the politics of the era.

One-Act Play Festival: plays TBA, directed by WSU students
April 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 at 7:30 pm
Eccles Theater


These are other events in the Department of Performing Arts but they are not included in the theatre season as major productions

In conjunction with Constitution Week (Sept 13-17)
Howard Zinn’s “The People Speak,” a readers theatre production
Thursday, 16 September 2010 • 10:30 pm
The Lair, Shepherd Union Building
Free and open to the public
Described as dramatic readings celebrating the enduring spirit of dissent, Zinn presents American voices, some famous, some little known, including Frederick Douglas, John Brown, Mark Twain, Helen Keller, Emma Goldman and many more.


2 WSU Greek Festival performing arts productions

Aristophanes’ The Clouds, a readers theatre production
Tuesday, 28 September 2010 • 1:30 pm
Hetzel-Hoellein Room, Stewart Library
Free and open to the public
The production is recommended for mature audiences only and contains mature themes and language
“The Clouds”: Faced with legal action over debts, an elderly Athenian enrolls his son in The Thinkery to learn the rhetorical skills necessary to defeat their creditors in court. The son masters those skills, as well as some others, leading to a series of misfortunes for his father.

Classical Greek Theatre production: Euripides’ Alcestis
Wednesday, 29 September 2010 • 7:30 pm
Wildcat Theater, Shepherd Union Building
Alcestis: King Admetus must die unless someone takes his place. The only person to volunteer is his wife Alcestis. In a cowardly fashion, Admetus allows her to do so. Only after he admits his weakness does his friend Herakles come to the rescue.

In conjunction with Weber Reads! 2011: Frederick Douglass & Harriet Jacobs
Slave Narratives, a readers theatre production
Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 1:30 pm
Hetzel-Hoellein Room, Stewart Library
Free and open to the public

Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss II, directed by Karen Brookens
March 11, 12 at 7:30 pm; March 12 at 2:00 pm
Austad Auditorium