The upcoming spring season for the department of fine and performing arts will feature an assemblage of squabbling neighbors, a nefarious killer and murderous politicians.
The start of the season opens with a rendition of the Tony award-winning Broadway musical “Street Scene,” directed by Charles Effler, artistic director for the Opera/Theatre Music Workshop.
Based off of the book written by Elmer Rice, “Street Scene” takes place on the doorsteps of an apartment complex during the Great Depression. Amidst the gossip of the neighbors, the story revolves around the romance of Rose Maurrant and her neighbor Sam Kaplan. Alongside them is the side story of Rose’s mother, Anna, and her extramarital affair, which leads to tragic results.
The second show of the season will be Lee Blessing’s “Down the Road,” directed by Chad Winters, instructor of acting and directing. This crime thriller centers on a convicted serial killer who works with two journalists on his memoirs. As they delve into the psyche of a killer, they begin their own downward spiral, and question the public’s fascination with murder.
“It’s a dark psychological drama about celebrity,” said Winters. “Is it ethical to turn a serial killer into a celebrity? The play will be a roller coaster ride as it questions our ethics of consuming blood and gore like any other product in America.”
For the final production of the semester, James Winter, assistant professor of acting and directing will create his own spin on the classic William Shakespeare play “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.” While keeping Shakespeare’s Renaissance language, this epic tale of ambition and politics will be modernized for contemporary theatre audiences.
“I think it’s going to be different than anything they’ve ever seen before, completely interactive, violent and epic,” said Winter.
“Street Scene” runs from Feb. 2-5, “Down the Road” from Feb. 16-19 and “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” from April 13-16. For more information on the theatrical season or for season tickets, contact Winters at 985-549-2115.