In the second season under artistic director Megan Sanborn Jones, BYU Theatre continues its commitment to providing the BYU community with thought-provoking, moving and inspiring theatre.
The BYU Department of Theatre and Media Arts is once again partnering with Frank Wildhorn to present a new version of Wildhorn's Broadway musical, Wonderland. BYU previously partnered with Wildhorn to present the U.S. debut of The Count of Monte Cristo.
The season lineup also includes the world premiere of a play based on the life of a Salt Lake City hero, The World’s Strongest Librarian; a spooky Halloween murder mystery, The Mousetrap; and an audience favorite, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. BYU Theatre's first-ever staged-reading series of award-winning plays, Contemporary Voices, will also debut in 2019.
“With an exciting blend of new work (Radium Girls and Wonderland), old work (Comedy of Errors and The Mousetrap) and an old work made new (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead), this season gives students a wide range of time periods to act in, manage, compose for and design,” said Jones. “It also provides an exciting season for our patrons to attend, with something for everyone—from mystery to historical fiction, from fantasy to family fun.”
Season tickets are now available. Individual tickets go on sale approximately four to six weeks before the first performance of each production. Tickets can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office (with locations in the Harris Fine Arts Center and the Marriott Center), as well as over the phone at (801) 422-2981 or online at byuarts.com.
BYU Theatre 2018-2019 Season:
The World's Strongest Librarian YOUNG COMPANY
By Jeff Gottesfeld and Elizabeth Wong, from the book by Josh Hanagarne
Directed by Adam Houghton
Recently winning the American Alliance for Theatre & Education's Distinguished Play Award, this play is based on the real life of Salt Lake City's most famous librarian, Josh Hanagarne. Perfect for all ages, this story shows how the superpowers of learning and human kindness are as important as physical strength.
Nelke Theatre
Sept. 28, Oct. 4-5, 10-12, 7:00 pm
Sept. 29, Oct. 13: 2:00 & 4:00 pm
ASL interpreted: Oct. 4
No school matinee
Ages 6+
The Mousetrap MYSTERY
By Agatha Christie
Directed by David Morgan
Trapped in a local bed and breakfast by a snowstorm, a group of strangers is horrified to learn there is a murderer in their midst. Join us for the longest-running play of the modern era, a tale of suspense by the greatest crime writer of all time, whose masterful ending shocks audiences today as much as it did during the play’s 1952 premiere.
Pardoe Theatre
Oct. 26-27, 31-Nov. 3, 6-10, 7:30 pm
Oct. 27, Nov. 3: 2:00 pm
ASL interpreted: Nov. 8
Post-show discussions: Nov. 1, 8
Ages 10+
Radium Girls DRAMA
By D. W. Gregory
Directed by Stephanie Breinholt
Grace and her friends — factory workers who paint the faces of radium-fluorescent watches — fight for their day in court when they all begin to fall ill with a mysterious disease. With nine actors playing 38 roles, Radium Girls is a fast-paced snapshot of the true story of what happens when the American dream bumps up against the realities of health, wealth and big business.
Margetts Theatre
Performances:
Nov. 16-17, 28-Dec. 1, 4-8, 7:30 pm
Nov. 17, Dec. 1: 2:00 pm
ASL interpreted: Nov. 29
Post-show discussions: Nov. 29, Dec. 6
Recommended for ages 10+
Wonderland MUSICAL
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics by Jack Murphy
Original book by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy
UK Adaptation by Robert Hudson
Directed by Tim Threlfall
Choreographed by Nathan Balsar
Music Direction by Gayle Lockwood
From the team that brought you the BYU smash hit The Count of Monte Cristo, this new musical takes Lewis Carroll's classic story and sets it in present-day New York. Jump down the rabbit hole to discover an inspirational story of love, redemption and the power of imagination.
de Jong Concert Hall
Jan. 24-26, 29-Feb. 2: 7:30 pm
Jan. 26, Feb. 2: 2:00 pm
ASL interpreted: Jan. 31
Post-show discussions: Jan. 24, 31
Ages 8+
Comedy of Errors YOUNG COMPANY
By William Shakespeare
Bring your whole family to this zany adaption of one of Shakespeare's most famous comedies. Featuring two sets of twins separated at birth, two rival cities, one happy ending and plenty of confusion along the way, this production will explore what it really means to be family, while also keeping you laughing from beginning to end.
Nelke Theatre
Feb. 6-9, 13-16: 7:00 pm
Feb. 9, 16: 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm
ASL interpreted Feb. 14
Ages 6+
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead COMEDY
By Tom Stoppard
This Tony Award-winning modern masterpiece follows the classic story of Hamlet as seen through the eyes of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters in Shakespeare's play. Sometimes funny, sometimes tragic and always philosophical, Stoppard's most popular work forces us to confront the power of life and the meaning of death.
Pardoe Theatre
Mar. 8-9, 12-16, 20-23: 7:30 pm
Mar. 9, 16: 2:00 pm
ASL interpreted: Mar. 14
Post-show discussions: Mar. 14, 21
Ages 10+
Other (Not Included in Season Subscription)
Contemporary Voices: Play Readings from Award-Winning Scripts
Join us for an evening of script-in-hand readings of award-winning plays that intrigue, provoke and enlighten. Each weekend, we will perform readings from three different, largely unedited scripts that allow the audience to engage with the work of master playwrights whose important voices might otherwise not be heard in our university community. Every performance will be followed by a lively discussion with the audience and performers.
Nelke Theatre
Feb 28-March 2, March 7-9
Titles to be released in November
All performances at 7:30 pm
Ages 14+
GREEK THEATRE: Women of Trachis
By Sophocles
Mon., Sept. 25: 5:00 pm
Free lecture: 4:00 pm
de Jong Concert Hall
Ages 12+
MICROBURST THEATRE
By BYU Student Playwrights
Oct. 18-20: 7:30 pm
Oct. 20: 2:00 pm
Directed by George Nelson
Nelke Theatre
Ages 12+
FINAL CUT FILM FESTIVAL
Nov. 15-17: 7:00 pm & 9:00 pm
Pardoe Theatre
Ages 6+
BFA NEW YORK SHOWCASE
April 10-11: 7:00 pm & 9:00 pm
Ages 12+
Writer: Amanda Shrum
