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September 14, 2009
For Immediate Release
For more information: Isaac Walters (801) 863-8434
University Marketing & Communications: Erin Spurgeon, (801) 863-6807
Written by: Isaac Walters (801) 863-8434
The UVU Department of Theatrical Arts opens its main stage season this week featuring four plays and a musical. This season’s selection was programmed to appeal to all ages, beginning with "Charlotte’s Web," which is tailored to elementary school students. Following "Charlotte’s Web" will be "Something Wicked This Way Comes" (for middle school-aged audiences), Shakespeare’s "Much Ado About Nothing" (appropriate for high school students) and the musical, "Urinetown" (for those high school age and above). The final show of the season will be the classic story of "A Doll’s House," geared toward college students and adults.
The season’s first show, "Charlotte’s Web," uses innovative life-sized puppets onstage. It is the grand opening production in the Noorda Theatre. Author E.B. White advised Joseph Robinette on adapting his Newbery award-winning classic children’s book for this theatrical stage production, and all the enchanting characters are accounted for – of course, including Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider – in this beautiful play about friendship. Performances begin Sept. 17 and play through Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the new Noorda Theatre. There will be afternoon matinees on Saturday Sept. 19 and 26 at 1 p.m.
UVU’s second show is the North American premiere of Ray Bradbury’s own stage adaptation of "Something Wicked This Way Comes." This modern classic has been terrifying people for more than 45 years, telling the tale of secret wishes and desires that threaten to trap two young boys in a nightmarish carnival. This production will include two special midnight showings on Oct. 30 and Halloween night. Performances begin Oct. 22 and run through Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ragan Theater, located in the Sorenson Student Center.
The Department of Theatrical Arts then presents the Shakespeare favorite "Much Ado About Nothing," which tells a story of love, wit and words. The bickering of Benedict and Beatrice and the drama of Claudio and Hero has delighted audiences for centuries. Performances begin Dec. 3 and run through Dec. 12 (except Sunday) at 7:30 p.m. in the Noorda Theatre.
"Urinetown" is a satirical comedy created by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis. The musical debuted at the New York International Fringe Festival and was produced Off-Broadway, but then moved to Broadway for a run of some 965 performances September 2001 through January 2004. In a town where "it’s a privilege to pee," Bobby Strong organizes a revolution against the powers that be. Performances begin Jan. 21 and run through Jan. 30 (except Sunday) at 7:30p.m. in the Ragan Theater. This musical will be presented as part of the Utah Theatre Association Conference.
The final show of the season is Henrik Ibsen’s "A Doll’s House", one of the most studied, talked about and performed plays in the world. In it, Nora attempts to save her husband by borrowing money, which proves to put her in a real pickle in a society where women are essentially dolls belonging to men. Nora must then "make sense of [her] self and everything around her." Performances begin March 25 and run through April 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Noorda Theatre.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the UVU Theater Box Office at (801) 863-PLAY (7529) or online at www.uvu.edu/theatre. The UVU Department of Theatrical Arts and its season are supported by the School of the Arts.
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