School of Drama Current Season

2024-25 Drama Performance Season

SHOW	DATES	LOCATION
"Fefu & Her Friends" Written by María Irnene Fornés Directed by Darah Barenholtz Despite being written in the mid 70s – the thick of the second wave feminist movement – this deep dive into gender dynamics takes place in 1935, when eight women meet at Fefu’s home to plan a fundraiser. The play asks its audience to invest in these women as they confront the bounds of friendship and test the conditionality of affection.	Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29, 2 p.m. Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m.	Patrons Theatre
"Fairview" Written by Jackie Sibblies Drury Directed by Jackie Alexander Before you think you know what this play will be about, just give it a few minutes. It’s not a sitcom. No, because you’re about to see a production that turns expectations upside down — and not in particularly comfortable ways. Be prepared for a mind-bending twist as we witness — under careful scrutiny — the middle-class Frasiers getting ready to celebrate Grandma’s birthday in a whole new way.	Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, 2 p.m. Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m.	Catawba Theatre
"The Wild Party" Written by Andrew Lippa Directed by Cliff Odle What was once a love match between Queenie and Burr that checked all the boxes — thrills, chills, and great sex — fizzles after a while. What better way to inject excitement and rekindle the relationship than with a wild party of the title, winner of the 2000 Drama Desk Award for outstanding musical for Andrew Lippa, creator of book, lyrics and music. The story, inspired by the Roaring Twenties epic long poem “The Wild Party” by poet and screenwriter Joseph Moncure March, gives us a crazy cast of characters who show up for the festivities, with moves and revenge moves by the principals and their friends.	Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 2 p.m. Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.	Freedman Theatre
“Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune” Written by Terrence McNally Directed by Ron Weiss How do we know when we’ve found that perfect person to love — the one we can truly connect with — especially when we’ve had more than our share of failed relationships? Frankie and Johnny are forced to tackle this question as they wind down from a successful first date. Over the course of a one-night stand, the pair explore every “what if” through laughter, tears and that terrifying question: Is this our chance for more?	Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23, 2 p.m. Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m.	Patrons Theatre
“Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812” Written by Dave Malloy Directed by Quin Gordon If the thought of reading the 1,400 pages of Tolstoy’s 1869 “War and Peace” makes your eyes glaze over, we present a musical that will give you hope. It’s a sung-through pop operatic adaptation by Dave Malloy (book and score) of a mere-70-page sliver of the massive novel that focuses on, as the title promises, “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812.” An amalgam of classical music, Russian folk music, and indie rock tells the story of the naive young Natasha, who, though engaged, falls scandalously under the spell of the beguiling Anatole, but ultimately has her reputation saved by Pierre. And the comet? Having confessed his love for Natasha, Pierre sees the blossoming of a new life in the bright beauty of the starry messenger.	Mar. 27, 7:30 p.m. Mar. 28, 7:30 p.m. Mar. 29, 7:30 p.m. Mar. 30, 2 p.m. Apr. 3, 7:30 p.m. Apr. 4, 7:30 p.m. Apr. 5, 7:30 p.m.	Catawba Theatre
“The Welkin” Written by Lucy Kirkwood Directed by Acadia Barrengos Sally Poppy’s pregnancy — if true — would save her from a death sentence for having committed a murder. The jury, composed of “matrons” – women who have given birth themselves – deliberates while a mob screams and threatens outside. But it’s not all grim and grimy. There’s humor in the proceedings, as well. And the play’s title, an archaic word for the heavenly firmament, plays on the time of the trial, as rural England awaits the appearance of Halley’s Comet.	Apr. 3, 7:30 p.m. Apr. 4, 7:30 p.m. Apr. 5, 7:30 p.m. Apr. 6, 2 p.m.	Freedman Theatre

Past Seasons

2023-2024

"Lydia"
Written by Octavio Solis
Directed by Quin Gordon
Performance program

"Enron"
Written by Lucy Prebble
Directed by Vivian Farahani
Performance program

"As You Like It, a musical adaptation of Shakespeare"
Written by Shaina Taub and Laurie Woolery
Directed by Andy Paris
Music Directed by Jennifer Peacock
Performance program

“Barbecue”
Written by Robert O’Hara
Directed by Cliff Odle
Performance program

“The Rover”
Written by Aphra Behn
Directed by Carl Forsman
Performance program

“Twelfth Night, or What You Will”
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Jason Bohon
Performance program

2022-2023

"Roe"
Written by Lisa Loomer
Directed by Acadia Barrengos
Performance program

"Amadeus"
Written by Peter Shaffer
Directed by Quin Gordon
Music directed by Mark Norman
Performance program

"Sweeney Todd"
Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler
Directed by Lo Feliciani Ojeda
Performance program

"If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be A Muhfucka"
Written by Tori Sampson
Directed by Claire Fort
Performance program

“Dangerous Corner”
Written by J.B. Priestley
Directed by Caroline Cearley
Performance program

“Mother Courage and Her Children”
Written by Bertolt Brecht
Directed by Carl Forsman
Performance program

2021-2022

"Indecent"
Written by Paula Vogel
Directed by Acadia Barrengos
Performance program

"Heathers: The Musical"
Written by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O'Keefe
Directed by Scott Zigler, Krisha Marcano and Kelly Martin Mann
Performance program

"Passing Strange"
Written by Stew
Directed by Christopher Burris
Performance program

"Mother Tongue" - A devised theater production
Directed by Marina Zurita
Performance program

2020-2021

Inheritance: A Work in Progress
Directed by Andy Paris
Performance program

Henry V
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Sara Becker
Listen now

Down in the Face of God
Directed by Cameron Knight

Sweat
Directed by Quin Gordon

Neaptide
Directed by Ticket Knowlton
Behind-the-scenes video

2019-2020

A Midsummer Night's Dream / Studio 4
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Cameron Knight
Performance program
Photo gallery

Luna Gale / Studio 3
Written by Rebecca Gilman
Directed by Scott Zigler
Performance program
Photo gallery

Spring Awakening / Studio 4
Written by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater
Adapted from the play by Frank Wedekind
Directed by Gary Griffin
Performance program
Photo gallery

The Cider House Rules, Part 1 & 2 / Studio 3
Adapted by Peter Parnell
From the novel by John Irving
Directed by Quin Gordon
Performance program
Photo gallery

Stick Fly
Written by Lydia Diamond
Directed by Avery Glymph
Performance program
Photo gallery

Top Girls
Written by Caryl Churchill
Directed by Abigail Holland (4th Year Directing Thesis)
Performance program
Photo gallery

The Odyssey - canceled due to COVID-19
Written by Homer
Adapted by Mary Zimmerman
Directed by Carlo Feliciani Ojeda (4th Year Directing Thesis)

2018-2019

MASS
Composed by Leonard Bernstein
Additional text and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Studio 3 & 4
Musical Director: Douglas Webster

American Voices: Two One-Act Plays
Directed by Cameron Knight

“A Movie Star Has to Star in Black and White”
Written by Adrienne Kennedy
“Suddenly, Last Summer”
Writteny Tennessee Williams

next to normal
Music by Tom Kitt
Book & lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Directed by Scott Zigler

Balm in Gilead
Written by Lanford Wilson
Directed by Quin Gordon

The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls and other fantastical comic tales
Directed by Scott Zigler

Poof
Written by Lynn Nottage
Three Guys and a Brenda
Written by Adam Bock
The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls
Written by Meg Miroshnik

Scenes from an Execution
Written by Howad Barker
Directed by Carl Forsman

The Hairy Ape
Written by Eugene O'Neill
Directed by Rey Zane

Still Life with Rocket
Conceived and directed by Mollye Maxner

2017-2018

“Middletown” by Will Eno / Studio 3
Director: Quin Gordon

"Arms and the Man" by George Bernard Shaw / Studio 4
Director: Kent Stephens

"Airline Highway" by Lisa D'Amour / Studio 3
Director: Caroline Kava

"Company" by Stephen Sondheim, George Furth / Studio 4
Director: Gus Kaikkonen

"OTMA" by Kate Moira Ryan / Studio 3 & 4
Director: Bob Francesconi

"Stage Door" by Edna Ferber, George Kauffman / Studio 3
Director: Laura Braza

"Peter and the Starcatcher" by Rick Elice / Studio 4
Director: Bob Francesconi

2016-2017

“Blue Window” by Craig Lucas / Studio 3
Director: Josh Foldy

“After The Fall ” by Arthur Miller / Studio 4
Director: Carl Forsman

“The Aliens” by Annie Baker /A workshop presentation / Studio 4
Director: José Aranda

“Side Show ” Book & Lyrics by Bill Russell Music by Henry Krieger / Studio 4
Director: Bob Francesconi
Musical Direction: Steven Freeman

“The Last Days of Judas Iscariot ” by Stephen Adly Guirgis / Studio 3
Director: Quin Gordon

“The Man of Mode ” by George Etherege / Studio 4
Director: Jesse Berger

“There Are Crimes and Crimes” by August Strindberg / Studio 3
Director: Kent Stephens

“The Duchess of Malfi ” by John Webster adapted by Jesse Berger /Studio 4
Director: Michael Barakiva

“Right You Are (If You Think You Are)” by Luigi Pirandello Translation by Carl R. Mueller
Studio 3
Director: Laura Braza

2015-2016

“The Shawl by David Mamet (a workshop presentation) / Studio 4

Director: Tanya Belov

“Arcadia by Tom Stoppard / Studio 4
Director: Carl Forsman

“A Bright Room Called Day by Tony Kushner / Studio 3
Director: Caroline Kava

“Good by CP Taylor / Studio 3
Director: Quin Gordon

“Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen (a workshop presentation); Studio 4
Director: Timothy Douglas

“The Drowsy Chaperone / Studio 4
Book by Bob Martin & Don McKellar, Music and Lyrics by Lisa Lambert & Greg Morrison
Director: Matt Loehr

“Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson / Studios 2, 3 & 4
Director: Nicole Watson

“The Women by Clare Boothe Luce / Studios 2, 3 & 4
Director: Giovanna Sardelli

“Black Watch by Gregory Burke/ Studio 3
Director: Robert Francesconi

“Pericles by William Shakespeare / Studio 4
Director: Matthew Bulluck

“Nine by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit (a workshop presentation) / Studios 3 & 4
Director: Greg Walter
Musical Direction: Greg Walter
Additional Staging: Matt Loehr

2014-2015

“Speed-The-Plow” by David Mamet (a workshop presentation) / Studio IV
Director: Laura Braza

“The Learned Ladies” by Moliére / Studio IV
Director: Robert Francesconi

“The Memorandum” by Václav Havel, translated by Vera Blackwell / Studio III
Director: Quin Gordon

“Unlimited: A Stephen Schwartz Review” / Studio IV
Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz, created by Joshua Morgan and Matt Cowart
Director: Matt Cowart

“The Matchmaker” by Thornton Wilder / Studio III
Director: Carl Forsman

“Dying For It,” Moira Buffini’s adaptation of Nikolai Erdman's “The Suicide” / Studio III
Director: Timothy Douglas

“Angels in America Part 1: Millennium Approaches,” by Tony Kushner / Studio IV
Director: Jeremy Skidmore

“Misalliance” by George Bernard Shaw / Studio III
Director: Jesse Berger

“The Homecoming” by Harold Pinter / Studio III
Director: Robert Francesconi

“Guys & Dolls” with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows / Studio II, III, IV
Director: Gus Kaikkonen

2013-2014

“Deadly Sins: A Sword Play” (a workshop presentation) / Studio III
Director: Dale Girard

“Three More Sleepless Nights” and “Abortive” by Caryl Churchill (a workshop presentation) / Studio IV
Director: Tanya Belov, Mary Irwin

“Serjeant Musgrave's Dance” by John Arden / Studio IV
Director: Robert Francesconi

“King Hedley II” by August Wilson / Studios III & IV
Director: Tim Douglas

“Street Scene” by Elmer Rice / Studio III
Director: Matt Bulluck

“She Loves Me” book by Joe Masterhoff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, music by Jerry Bock / Studio IV
Director: Gaye Taylor Upchurch

“Say De Kooning” by Lanford Wilson, “Eukiah” by Lanford Wilson, “Grunge Is Dead” by Katharine Sherman
Director: Geordie MacMinn, Leah Caddigan, Noah Reece

“Henry V” by William Shakespeare / Studios III & IV
Director: Stephen Fried

“The Winter's Tale” by William Shakespeare / Studios III & IV
Director: Gus Kaikkonen

“Romeo & Juliet” by William Shakespeare / Studios III & IV
Director: Carl Forsman

“As You Like It” by William Shakespeare / Studios III & IV
Director: Susan Fenichell

“Quilters” by Molly Newman & Barbara Damashek (a workshop presentation) / Studio III & IV
Director: Robert Francesconi