The West Virginia University School of Theatre & Dance continues its tradition of providing both entertaining and thought-provoking productions in the 2013-14 season, with a wide array of shows that will appeal to avid theatergoers and first-timers alike.

For the fall 2013 semester, the works to be showcased are: “God of Carnage” by Yasmina Reza; “Cabaret,” with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Joe Masteroff; and “The Liar” by David Ives, adapted from a comedy by Pierre Corneille.

In “God of Carnage,” directed by professor Jerry McGonigle, two sets of parents meet to discuss the recent altercation between their 11-year-old sons. As the evening wears on, cold civility descends into madness, turning the living room into a battleground. With a recent run on Broadway in 2009 with an all-star cast including the late James Gandolfini, “God of Carnage” is a nonstop ride into drunken, hilarious chaos. The show begins Sept. 27 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre of the Creative Arts Center.

“Cabaret,” directed by professor Lee Blair, is one of the hallmarks of American musical theater and is set in Berlin at the rise of the Nazi party. The seedy Kit Kat Klub, with its enigmatic Master of Ceremonies, is a den of decadence where a young American writer, Cliff Bradshaw, meets British cabaret singer Sally Bowles and soon discovers that the carefree partying of 1930s Berlin masks personal and political conflicts, all reflected in songs such as “Willkommen,” “Tomorrow Belongs to Me,” and of course, “Cabaret.” The show begins Oct. 30 in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the Creative Arts Center.

Opening just before Thanksgiving is “The Liar,” directed by new Resident Artist Jim Knipple, which is sure to delight audiences with fast-paced dialogue, mistaken identities, and, of course, a hilarious pathological liar. The farcical comedy by Pierre Corneille, first performed in 1644, has been given a 21st century makeover by acclaimed comedic playwright David Ives. The show begins Nov. 21 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre of the Creative Arts Center.

Be sure to look for our spring semester shows: “Dance Now!”, “The Glass Menagerie,” and “Henry IV.”

Tickets 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 ten 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 2013-2014 season, please visit theatre.wvu.edu, call 304-293-2020, or email theatre@mail.wvu.edu.

An ongoing rehearsal blog is available on the School of Theatre & Dance website at http://ccarts.wvu.edu/theatreanddanceblog.

-WVU-

cl/09/13/13

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

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.