Original plays by Rogers State University students and faculty, the premiere of a play by an Oklahoma playwright and William Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” will highlight the 2009-2010 season of RSU Theatre.
“This season, we will present more original work than ever, with new plays by RSU students, faculty and an Oklahoma playwright,” said David Blakely, RSU theatre coordinator. “We also will present our third Shakespeare production, which is an unparalleled learning experience for our students.”
The fifth season of RSU Theatre will begin on Thursday, Sept. 10, when the RSU Student Theatre Organization presents the return of “Original Recipe” – four plays written by RSU faculty members and directed by RSU students.
The “Original Recipe” presentations will include “Unrequited to the Nth Degree” by Dr. Mary Mackie, associate professor of English; “Order and Chaos” and “Beowulf Redux” by Dr. William Hart, assistant professor of health sciences; and “Gemstones” by David Blakely, RSU theatre coordinator, and his son, Knox Blakely. The plays will be presented 7:07 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 10-12, and 2:07 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, in the Will Rogers Auditorium on the RSU campus in Claremore.
RSU Theatre also will present the premiere of “Quietly Standing in the Shade” an original play by Oklahoma playwright Judy Lee Oliva. “Quietly Standing in the Shade” is a contemporary, dramatic story of the Turner family, whose lives are interrupted by personal loss, a fire and the arrival of a mysterious woman. “As they stand in the charred remains of a small Episcopal church, the family struggles, both physically and mentally, and provides the audience with a view of life in America during the present-day recession,” Blakely said. The play will be presented at 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24; at 2:07 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25; at 7:07 Thursday, Oct. 29; and at 2:07 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, in the Black Box Theatre of the Robson Performing Arts Center in Claremore.
A few weeks later, RSU Theatre will present Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Crimes of the Heart” – a story about three sisters reunited in their grandfather’s home after the youngest sister shoots her husband. Blakely describes the play as a mixture of tragedy and comedy. “The sisters come to better understand themselves as they uncover why their mother took the family cat with her when she died,” he said. “Crimes of the Heart” will be presented at 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14, in the Will Rogers Auditorium.
RSU Theatre will present William Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 7:07 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 26-27; at 2:07 p.m. Sunday, March 28; at 7:07 p.m. April 1-3; and at 2:07 p.m. Sunday, April 4, in the Will Rogers Auditorium. This light-hearted comedy follows two couples as they race as cross purposes through the enchanted Forest of Arden in search of love. Blakely said RSU Theatre is willing to perform the play in an abbreviated format at area high schools. For more information, contact Blakely at (918) 343-7521.
The 2009-2010 RSU Theatre Season will come to a close with a series of new plays written by RSU students, to be performed at 7:07 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, April 21-24, in Will Rogers Auditorium. The plays will be announced at a later date, Blakely said.
For more information on the 2009-2010 RSU Theatre Season, call (918) 343-7521.