from Staff Reports
Theatre at Southeastern has announced its 83rd season, featuring Greek tragedies, musicals and children’s theatre.
The fall semester begins with “Antigone: At War,” a new work by Southeastern Theatre Professor Kathleen Hardgrove, based upon Sophocles’ classic Greek tragedy “Antigone.” The play tells the story of a kingdom dealing with the end of a civil war, and the distinction between what is legal and what is morally correct.
This adaptation features advanced audio/visual techniques and projections, as well as poetry, music, and art. “Antigone: At War” will be performed in the New Theatre Building on Thursday, Sept. 29 to Saturday, Oct. 1 and Thursday, Oct. 6 to Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Please note that this production features strong language and graphic depictions of violence. Parental discretion is advised.
Thursday Nov. 17 through Saturday, Nov. 19, Theatre at Southeastern will present for its dinner theatre the Joseph Kesselring classic “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
The play tells the story of a man who must deal with his quirky, homicidal family, including his two aunts who have taken to murdering lonely old men by lacing their wine with arsenic, strychnine, and “just a pinch” of cyanide.
“Arsenic and Old Lace” will be directed by Dr. Aaron Adair and presented in the Visual and Performing Arts Center.
Next, “Xanadu” comes to Southeastern. Based upon the cult classic 1980 film by the same name featuring Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelley, “Xanadu” is a love letter to the 80’s, disco, and roller-skating.
The show spoofs the original film (a flop that some critics called “Xana-don’t!”) while telling a heartwarming and family-friendly story about an artist in 1980s Venice Beach, Calif. who is struggling to find inspiration, and the Greek muse that descends from Mount Olympus to help him create true art: the world’s first roller-disco.
“Xanadu” will be performed in the newly renovated Montgomery Auditorium in the Morrison Building on Thursday to Saturday, Feb. 23 – 25.
Southeastern alumna Ruby Quinn will write the next production for Theatre at Southeastern—the annual children’s theatre show, sponsored by the American Association of University Women and directed by Riley Coker. Ruby Quinn has penned such Southeastern favorites as “Madeline,” “Alley’s Cats” and “Dance of the Dragon.”
Theatre at Southeastern will round off its season with the annual Dramapalooza theatre festival. The festival will feature student-directed one-acts, haiku performance art, a choreographers’ showcase and a student-created magic show, amid a week of terrific events produced by the School of Arts and Sciences.
For more information on Theatre at Southeastern and its 83rd season, visit www.se.edu/theatre.