Dickinson State University Theatre announces season schedule

A popular Hollywood movie musical from the 80s, a psychological thriller, the witticism of famed playwright Neil Simon, and a haunting fable headline the Dickinson State University Theatre’s 2002-2003 season schedule.

The curtain rises on the latest theatre season with a stage adaptation of the hit 1984 movie "Footloose," which starred Kevin Bacon and featured a soundtrack that soared to number one on Billboard’s top album charts for a period of time. Much of that sound, including hits like "Let’s Hear It for the Boy," "Holding Out for a Hero," "Almost Paradise," and the title track "Footloose" are featured in the stage version of the show.

Directed by Dr. Ken Haught, associate professor of theatre and communication, choreographed by Pattie Carr, instructor of theatre and communication, and with music directed by Dr. Kenneth Williams, assistant professor of music, "Footloose" tells the story of Ren, who has recently moved with his mother from Chicago to a small farming town, and the trouble he has adjusting to a new community where dancing is banned.

Telling the story of guiding youth with a warm heart and an open mind, "Footloose" hits the Dorothy Stickney Auditorium stage Oct. 23-27.

Also scheduled for the first semester is British playwright David Hare’s drama "The Secret Rapture." The play centers upon the aftermath within a family following the death of a husband and father.

Pitting the classic forces of darkness and light against each other, the play follows Isobel, one of the daughters, who tries to do right by her sister Marion and her father’s young widow Katherine. But all is not as it seems and sometimes the right choices aren’t as right as they seem and the play culminates with a hidden and powerful message in a dramatic ending sequence that will grip the audience long after the performance’s conclusion.

Directed by Ron Gingerich, assistant professor of theatre and communication, "The Secret Rapture" will play at Dickinson State University’s Backstage Theatre. Performance dates are Nov. 21-24, and Dec. 5-7.

Spring semester performances begin in late February with "Rumors," authored by one of America’s most-recognized playwrights, Neil Simon.

The story of a young lawyer and his wife who choose to celebrate their 10th anniversary at the townhouse of a deputy New York City mayor and his wife. The party never gets started, however, as they arrive to find the man dead and his wife missing.

Rather than report the incident, the lawyer opts to cover up whatever has happened and the situation slowly unravels as other party guests begin to arrive and nobody can remember exactly who has been told what about whom. As the deception escalates, so does the comedy as Simon demonstrates once again why he is the master of side-splitting stage humor.

Directed by Gingerich, "Rumors" performs Feb. 27-28 and March 1-2 on the stage at Dorothy Stickney Auditorium.

The final spring performance by the theatre department this season will be Howard Richardson and William Berney’s "Dark of the Moon." The tale is a haunting and tragic fable told in the language and music of America’s Great Smoky Mountains.

The story tells of John, an elfin witch boy from deep in the mountains, who sees the beautiful human Barbara Allen and immediately falls in love. The witch coven gives John human form to woo and marry Barbara on the condition that she remain true to him for one year.

The couple looks strong until Barbara gives birth and their baby favors his father’s heritage more than his mother’s. Townspeople, already suspicious, are driven into a frenzy of religious prejudice and a tragic and fascinating theatrical experience is the result.

Directed by Dr. Haught and choreographed by theatre and English education major Kate Bartz as part of her senior project, "Dark of the Moon" will shine at Dickinson State University’s Backstage Theatre

May 7-11.

Season subscriptions for the 2002-2003 Dickinson State University Theatre season are presently available. Subscribers will receive a passbook with four tickets, which can be used in any combination for the four main season performances. Passbooks are $20 for adults age 18-61 and $15 for students (age 6-17) and seniors (age 62 and up), representing a savings of 20-35 percent over regular season costs.

Season passbooks can be obtained by calling 483-2154 on any weekday afternoon or by mailing payment to Department of Fine Arts - Theatre Arts.

The deadline to order season passbooks is Oct. 23.

10/8/02 2:15:35 PM