Theatre and dance has rolled out its production schedule and this fall’s line-up packs a powerful punch—from the comedic look at what happens when nine women come together, to a musical about unexpected romance in the face of the Vietnam War, to the magic of fairies in a celebrated Shakespeare play.
Tickets go on sale Aug. 17 and are available at campus box offices or through Missouri State TIX.
Small-town living on menu in ‘Cucumbers’
Eavesdrop on a conversation that turns sweet, salty, sour, spicy, succulent and side-splitting. Written by MSU theatre and dance alumnus Le Wilhelm and set in the Ozarks in 1979, this slice of life comedy is a dilly!
Synopsis
After receiving an unexpected windfall of cucumbers, nine women gather for an old-fashioned “pickle party” — and the cucumbers aren’t the only things getting pickled! As the women prepare their recipes, gossip and wild stories flow, old rivalries and betrayals surface, and the women reflect on love, mortality and the simple joys of living.
Directed by Telory D. Arendell, PhD. Written by Le Wilhelm with Steven Barrett.
Schedule
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17-18, 21-25 & 28; 2:30 p.m. Sept. 20 & 27
Location: Craig Hall Balcony Theatre (please note: there is no late seating for performances in the Balcony Theatre)
Tickets: $14 Adults; $12 Students/Seniors; $8 in advance with MSU ID
‘Dogfight’ reveals turbulence of love, war in early 1960s
What do you get when you mix energetic dance numbers with an awkward affair and soldiers heading to war? Winner of the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical, “Dogfight” captures the violence and innocence of an era.
Synopsis
It’s 1963 and, on the eve of their deployment to Vietnam, a group of tough-talking Marines spend a last rowdy night on the town in San Francisco. On the agenda: drinking, debauchery and a cruel game called “Dogfight,” in which the players each bet $50 to see who can bring the ugliest date to their party. PFC Eddie Birdlace asks Rose, a shy waitress who is an aspiring folk singer and budding pacifist. When Rose discovers the true purpose of their date, she is crushed and humiliated. But when she sees that Birdlace is genuinely remorseful, she gives him a second chance and an awkward romance unfolds.
Directed by Jessica Ryan. Music and lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. Book by Peter Duchan. Musical adaptation of Nancy Savoca’s 1991 film, “Dogfight.”
Schedule
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8-10; 2:30 p.m. Oct. 11
Location: Craig Hall Coger Theatre
Tickets: $18 Adults; $16 Students/Seniors; $12 in advance with MSU ID
Magic, comedy of love illustrated in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Who doesn’t enjoy a love story involving supernatural beings? After more than 400 years, William Shakespeare’s tale has proven enduring.
Synopsis
In one of his most whimsical and lighthearted comedies, Shakespeare celebrates the confusing, chaotic, magical, irrational, irresistible nature of romantic love! In a moonlit forest on the eve of a royal wedding, several sets of characters converge: a group of young lovers, a troupe of amateur actors and a band of fairies. Through cleverly interconnected plotlines — including a play within the play — A Midsummer Night’s Dream encompasses forbidden love, unrequited love, a lover’s quarrel, enchanted love, tragic love (though comically portrayed) and, finally, true love that restores balance and harmony.
Directed by Sarah J. Wiggin. Written by William Shakespeare.
Schedule
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12-14; 2:30 p.m. Nov. 15
Location: Craig Hall Coger Theatre
Tickets: $14 Adults; $12 Students/Seniors; $8 in advance with MSU ID
The 2015 High School Theatre Workshop will be held in conjunction with the Nov. 12 performance.