The Wayne State University Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance has announced its 2013-2014 season, showcasing a mix of both classic and modern plays. In addition to a traditional Hilberry or Bonstelle subscription package, there are new packages focused on offering value and convenience for busy theatre patrons. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 1, with subscriptions starting at $102.
Not sure if you’re ready to make the commitment? We recommend attending the Annual Subscriber Party and Open House on March 24. The event features performances from the Wayne State University Acting Showcase – the graduating undergraduate and graduate actors. Doors open at 1 p.m. with the performances starting at 3 p.m. Admission is free and the event is open to the general public. Attendees will be provided with light refreshments, interactions with company members, and tours of the theatre and production center. Appreciation gifts are given to those who subscribe or renew and long-term subscribers will be recognized. For more information about the Subscriber Party and Open House or to RSVP, email boxoffice@wayne.edu or call (313) 577-0851.
And now, here’s what we have to look forward to.
AT THE HILBERRY THEATRE
“Macbeth,” by William Shakespeare
The infamous “Scottish play” about a man who becomes obsessed with ambition when he hears a prophesy about his destiny to become king. Spurred to assassination by his determined and ruthless wife, they descend into the depths of murder and madness – delivering some classic soliloquies along the way.
“Big Love,” by Charles L. Mee
Fifty brides forced to marry their fifty cousins are on the run – only to be pursued and discovered by the fifty grooms. This modern adaptation of “The Suppliant Women” by Aeschylus is a dark comedy that explores human rights, gender politics, and love.
“A Doctor In Spite of Himself,” by Molière, Adapted by Christopher Bayes and Steven Epp
Classic Moliere comedy served up in a laugh-out-loud adaptation. In a send-up of the medical profession, a woodcutter is coerced into passing himself off as a doctor – and finds he enjoys the ruse. Mistaken identity, lighthearted romance, naughty innuendo, and irreverent hijinks ensue in this timeless piece.
“Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde,” by Moisés Kauffman
In 1895, playwright and wit Oscar Wilde was put on trial for his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, which led to charges of “committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons.” This dramatically clever piece illustrates the ever-continuing conflict between art and morality in a way that Wilde himself would have approved.
“Moon Over Buffalo,” by Ken Ludwig
From the author of “Lend Me a Tenor,” this whimsical backstage farce piles hysterical misunderstandings on top of madcap misadventures. Fading stars George and Charlotte Hays duke it out during their tour to save their theatre company and their marriage. They are given a (last) chance at fame … if they can just figure out which show they are performing.
“August: Osage County,” by Tracy Letts
The Westons represent the modern American family dealing with deteriorating health and relationships on the plains of Oklahoma. Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award, this dark comedy fluctuates between sidesplitting humor and gut-wrenching despair as we watch the family struggle to support each other through overwhelming circumstances.
AT THE BONSTELLE THEATRE
“Our Town,” by Thornton Wilder
Described as “the greatest American play ever written,” this story illuminates two unexceptional families living unremarkable lives in small town America. This 1938 Pulitzer Prize winner is a touching and thoughtful look at life’s extraordinary journey.
“’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” by Jennifer Kirkeby and Shirley Mier
In a whimsical reimagining of the classic Christmas poem, the writer Clement Moore is working on a tough assignment from the “New York Evening Post” – a holiday story demanded by no less than President James Monroe.
“In the Red and Brown Water,” by Tarell Alvin McCraney
As a girl, Oya must choose between her dream of being a star athlete and the duty of caring for her mother. As a woman, she’s torn between the man she lives with and the man she can’t live without. This fusion of contemporary African-American culture and elements from Yoruba mythology is an inspiring story about how our choices make us who we are.
85th Annual Spring Dance Concert
Each spring in March, the dance department curates a collection of dance works choreographed by students, faculty and guest artists. Pieces employ various disciplines from ballet and jazz to modern, some of the work being reconstructions of prominent choreographers, as well as many premieres.
“Guys and Dolls,” by Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
Renowned for his floating craps game, Nathan Detroit bets gambler Sky Masterson that he can’t make the next girl he sees fall in love with him – the pretty, pious band leader of the local Mission. The 1951 winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this classic presents the gritty 1920s New York underworld as a perfect musical comedy.
To order your subscription , call (313) 577-2972 or visit the Wayne State University Theatres Box Office at 4743 Cass Avenue at the corner of Hancock.
Subscribers are an integral part of the Hilberry community and enjoy discounted prices, priority seating, exchange privileges, lost-ticket insurance, free coffee, a free newsletter subscription, and special recognition at the annual Subscriber Party and Open House.
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