Xavier University Theatre - 2015-2016 Season
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Oct. 22-24, 2015
Presented by Xavier University Theatre
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Choreographed by Dee Anne Bryll
Music directed by Scot Buzza
Directed by Stephen Skiles
Ever wanted to fit in? Ever thought that second place wasn't good enough or that winning could finally help you figure out who you are? THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is the story of a group of socially awkward kids finding joy, heartache and a purpose competing at the regional spelling bee. Winner of the Tony and Drama Desk awards for best book, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.
This is Our Youth
Dec. 3-6, 2015
Presented by Xavier University Theatre
By Kenneth Lonergan
Directed by Ed Stern
THIS IS OUR YOUTH follows three wayward young people as they navigate 1982 New York, recreating their broken homes in both their dysfunctional friendships and their bungled attempts at finding love. THIS IS OUR YOUTH is a living snapshot of the moment when young people first find themselves on the threshold of adulthood - when they are far more sophisticated than their parents realize and far less effectual than they themselves can possibly imagine. THIS IS OUR YOUTH reminds audiences why The New York Times calls Kenneth Lonergan "arguably the most important American playwright of the last 20 years," and why Slate calls him "the most potent dramatic voice of his generation."
Betrayal
Feb. 17-28, 2016
Presented by Xavier University Theatre
By Harold Pinter
Directed by Bruce Comer
For seven years, Emma and Jerry engage in a passionate love affair, deceiving their spouses, each other and, at times, even themselves. It is ultimately revealed that Emma's husband, Robert, has known about the affair for years without ever saying a word. Was this his betrayal, or his revenge? As memory reels backward toward the moment the affair started, the lies tangle into a web of deception, and betrayal begets betrayal. One of the 20th century's most influential dramatists, Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter innovatively explores the complexities of love, guilt and duplicity in this Olivier Award-winning classic.
Miss Julie
Feb. 17-28, 2016
Presented by Xavier University Theatre
By August Strindberg
Directed by Regina Pugh
On Midsummer's Eve, Miss Julie, a young noblewoman, enters into an illicit affair with her father's valet, Jean. Worldly and cultured, Jean by turns spurns and encourages Miss Julie's flirtation, eventually initiating a relationship of disastrous consequences. Written in 1888, Strindberg's masterful exploration of sex, class and power asks who in the battle of the sexes is really the servant and who the master.
Begotten
Feb. 17-28, 2016
Presented by Xavier University Theatre
By Tatum Hunter
Directed by Bridget Leak
After losing everything in an apartment fire, Marianne and Aaron are forced to get serious about their lives and their relationship. However, their decision to reach out to Aaron's wealthy parents for help only makes things more complicated as painful memories resurface and threaten their future. While Marianne and Aaron's mother Eve fight to keep him close, both women struggle to reconcile what they want with what they've lost. BEGOTTEN is a sharp examination of how motherhood shapes the lives of two women and asks what it really means to lose a child. Xavier Theatre will present the world premiere of this play by current senior Theatre major, Tatum Hunter.
Rent
April 21-21, 2016
Presented by Xavier University Theatre
Book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Choreographed by Dee Anne Bryll
Music directed by Scott Buzza
Directed by Stephen Skiles
Contains adult language and situations
RENT follows a group of bohemian artists as they struggle to maintain their friendships, ideals and way of life in New York's East Village. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, RENT is an inspiring story about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today that has become a pop cultural phenomenon with songs that rock and a story that resonates.