1999-2000 Theatre Season Overview

SALISBURY, MD--Director of the new Bobbi Biron Theatre Program at Salisbury State University, Dr. T. Paul Pfeiffer, announces "an intriguing and entertaining season of plays highlighted by the talents of guest artists."

Dracula, directed by Dr. Andrew Hepburn of the Communication Arts Department, runs October 8-10 and 13-17. "The infamous story of the bloodlust conquests of the notorious vampire will be brought to you with all its theatrical thrills," said Hepburn. "But there will be no bats painted on the walls. Instead, we're going for realism complete with live animals on stage. Designer Gerry Patt is creating a medieval mansion. We're endowing the production with the realism and truthfulness it deserves."

November 17-22, Professor Robert Smith of the Communication Arts Department directs George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House. "Shaw uses high farce to project a rather bleak view of the human spirit on the brink of disaster," said Smith. "Dreams, love, truth and despair collide with both comic and tragic effects." Written at the beginning of the century, the playwright envisioned a world of distracted, disengaged, apolitical people "devoid of real purpose and ruled by insensitive capitalists--a world perhaps not so far from our own as the century draws to a close."

A new play adapted from Mary Wilkins Freeman's short story, "The Revolt of Mother," is premiered February 9-13. Richard Culver directs a staged reading of his work-in-progress. Audience discussion follows as part of its development. "Plans call for the script to evolve into a libretto for a one-act musical, through the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop," said Culver.

Guest director Charles Duff of the Shakespeare International Education Centre at the Shakespeare's Globe in London directs A Midsummer Night's Dream March 3-5 and 8-12. "William Shakespeare's romantic comedy of love misplaced, fairy spells gone awry and the heart's confusions ordered will be given its due in a lush and atmospheric treatment by our guest artist," said Pfeiffer. "Mr. Duff is an accomplished, actor, director, teacher and theatre historian." Duff will be directing and teaching two seven-week courses for SSU. He will also host several discussions about the Globe and Shakespeare's play both before and after selected performances.

Finally, the student theatre club, Sophanes, will present Lend Me a Tenor, April 28-30 and May 3-7, directed by SSU senior John Moller. Set in Cleveland in the 1930s, "this rollicking farce begins with a misplaced opera star, disguise, mistaken identities, gold-diggers and of course, thwarted romance, where everything is tilted from then on," said Moller.

This season theatre-goers may purchase and pick up their tickets during box office hours prior to show night. Call 410-543-6228 for box office hours, reservations and general information.

SSU faculty, staff and students may reserve tickets in advance. SSU ID holders are free.