West Virginia University’s School of Theatre & Dance pulls from the most popular and compelling works in drama for the 2012-13 season that is sure to entertain, educate and inspire.

The works to be showcased this year are: Neil Labute’s “The Shape of Things;” Ken Ludwig’s farce “Lend Me a Tenor;” Frederico Garcia Lorca’s “Blood Wedding;” Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen;” the annual “Dance Now!” concert; and Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard.”

Opening the season is Neil Labute’s “The Shape of Things,” directed by resident artist Jenna Cole, in performance from Sept. 28 to Oct. 7 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre at the Creative Arts Center.

Adam, an undergraduate working as a part-time security guard at a museum, collides with the boldly opinionated Evelyn, a graduate student in art, as he tries to keep her from defacing a statue. Adam soon finds himself in a relationship with Evelyn that results in (for better or worse) transformation—taking him from a shy young man to a confident sex object.

Changing the tempo is Ken Ludwig’s hilarious farce, “Lend Me a Tenor,” directed by Professor Lee Blair.

In the play, the Cleveland Grand Opera Company’s production of “Otello,” starring world famous Italian tenor, Tito “Il Stupendo” Merelli, has finally arrived. This performance is set to take the opera world by storm, except for the fact that Tito has accidentally taken one too many tranquilizers. Luckily, the general manager’s assistant and aspiring tenor, Max, looks exactly like Tito in costume. Throw a relentless bellhop, a star-struck fan, and one very jealous wife into the mix, and what could possibly go wrong?

Performances are scheduled for Oct. 25-Oct. 28 at the Metropolitan Theatre—located at 369 High Street in Downtown Morgantown.

Acclaimed director, voice/dialect coach, and new acting faculty member, professor Roger Smart, brings to the stage Federico Garcia Lorca’s, “Blood Wedding” (“Bodas de Sangre”). This is Smart’s first production for the School of Theatre & Dance.

Two households, both alike in dignity—in rural Spain—are bound by a history of murder and revenge. The only living son of a widow plans to marry the daughter of a neighboring landowner. But the former lover of his intended bride belongs to the family that killed his father and brother. Inspired by a newspaper article detailing a bride being spirited away by her groom’s enemy, the play examines the tragic results of repressed desire pitted against honor and tradition.

“Blood Wedding” closes the fall semester with performances in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre, Nov. 15 through Dec. 2.

Heating up the spring semester is Bizet’s lavish opera, “Carmen,” produced in conjunction with WVU’s School of Music, in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the Creative Arts Center—Feb. 7-10.

Carmen is a seductive, free-spirited factory worker who has set her sights on the already betrothed Don Jos�. After Carmen injures a fellow worker, Don Jos� is ordered to keep her jailed, and soon succumbs to her charms and his ultimate demise.

“Dance Now!”—the School of Theatre & Dance’s 58th annual dance concert—offers audiences an array of differing dance styles and movement study, highlighting the choreography of prestigious faculty members, guest artists, and local dance groups.

The dance concert runs March 14-16 in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.

The final show of the season is Anton Chekhov’s slice-of-life masterpiece, “The Cherry Orchard,” directed by Professor Jerry McGonigle. The play is in performance April 19-28.

The play revolves around a noble family’s financial demise in early 20th-century Russia, and is one of Chekhov’s most famous tragicomedies. Madame Ranevskaya has been away in Paris and returns to her beloved estate, where many happy childhood memories were made, only to be faced with the possibility of losing her home in order to pay off her debts. Madame Ranevskaya’s beloved cherry orchard hangs in the balance as the family struggles to resist the turning of the social tide.

“From laugh-out-loud farce to classic drama, this season will give audiences a chance to see the range of our students and faculty,” said professor Joshua Williamson, director of the School of Theatre & Dance. “We are also pleased to welcome new faculty members and guest artists who will continue to challenge our students and raise the artistic bar.”

Tickets for each of the productions are $20 for the general public and $15 for senior citizens and students. There is a group rate of $10 per ticket for groups of 10 or more.

Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com, the CAC or Mountainlair Box Offices, or by calling 304-293-SHOW.
For more information on the 2012-2013 School of Theatre & Dance Season, please visit theatre.wvu.edu, call 304-293-2020, or email theatre@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

sf/9-10-12

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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