Brigham Young University’s Department of Theatre and Media Arts has announced its 2005-2006 theatre series in the Pardoe and Margetts Theatres. Full of comedy, drama and beautiful music, the 2005-2006 theatre season will offer productions for the entire family.
“The theatre season is designed to reach out to the audience and engage them in the experience,” said Rodger D. Sorensen, Theatre and Media Arts Department chair. “We want them to be enlightened and entertained.”
“As an academic institution, ours is the responsibility to provide students with growth experiences,” Sorensen added. “We want to help the students become better. Theatre productions are like lab experiments where we test and ask questions.”
The Pardoe Theatre Series will begin with Lope de Vega’s Spanish Golden Age classic “Fuente Ovejuna” directed by Nestor Bravo Goldsmith. The production runs Sept. 21 through Oct. 8.
Sparks will fly when two childhood friends fall in love with the same woman in Shakespeare’s comedy “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” directed by Alexandra Mackenzie. The production runs Nov. 9 through Dec. 3. There will be performances Nov. 20-29 because of Thanksgiving break.
The series will continue with Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida,” a story of enslaved Nubian princess who falls in love with the Egyptian guard holding her captive. Directed by Tim Threlfall, the production runs Jan. 25 through Feb. 11.
Theatre faculty members Barta Heiner and Janet Swenson will delight audiences as they portray the Brewster sisters in Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic and Old Lace,” a comedy full of murderous criminals, romantic strife and insane in-laws. Directed by Laurie Harrop-Purser, the production runs March 29 through April 15.
Completing the season will be a Theatre for Young Audiences production of Patricia MacLachlan’s popular book-turned-play, “Sarah, Plain and Tall.” Directed by Amy Petersen Jensen, the play focuses on a 19th-century Midwest widower with two children who advertises for a new wife. The production runs May 31 through June 17.
The Margetts Theatre Series will begin with “Getting Married,” a comedy by George Bernard Shaw and directed by Barta Heiner. With confusion igniting on a young couple’s wedding day, the clergy, a lovesick fool and the coal-maker’s wife all ask whether or not marriage is a worthy ideal. The production runs Oct.26 through Nov. 12.
The exciting adventures of four orphans will be presented in the Theatre for Young Audiences production of “The Boxcar Children” based on the books by Gertrude Chandler Warner and adapted for stage by Barbara Field. Directed by George D. Nelson, performances run Feb. 8-18 in the Nelke Theatre.
Finishing the Margetts Series will be the world premiere of “Angels Unaware: A Story of Joan of Arc” written by Melissa Leilani Larson. Directed by David Morgan, the production follows a young girl named Joan who accepts the call to arms from her Lord and Savior when France loses hope of gaining back its faith and patriotism. Performances run March 8-25.
There will be no performances in either theatre Sundays or Mondays. Reduced-price dress rehearsals and matinee performances will be available for each performance. For more information, contact the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-4377, or at performances.byu.edu.
Writer: Brian Rust
