Emporia state presents its 54th summer theatre season
ESU media relations
Friday, May 9, 2008
From ESU Media Relations
The 54th season of Emporia State University’s Summer Theatre opens June 11. The season includes four shows.
“Some Enchanted Evening,” June 11-14, is a revue of songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Based upon a concept by Jeffrey B. Boss, it features popular songs from Oklahoma, South Pacific, Cinderella, State Fair, The Sound of Music and many more. The director is Theresa Mitchell. Guest artist Rick Rasmussen designs both the costumes and the set. Kyle Land is the lighting designer. Music director is Penny Speedie and Lindy Bartruff provides choreography. Senior Katie Schultz is the production stage manager.
“Bell, Book, and Candle” is a comedy of “bewitching amusement” by John Van Druten. Presented June 25-28, it is one of the American theatre’s favorite romantic comedies. It is about Gillian Holroyd, an average witch who meets a publisher named Shepherd Henderson who lives in her building. Wanting to keep Shepherd away from a longtime rival, she casts a spell on him. Will she give up her powers to live with a mortal? And will her zany family help her keep her secret? Bell, Book and Candle is under the direction of Jim Ryan. Rick Rasmussen is the scenic and costume designer. Land is the lighting designer. Eric Luchen is the production stage manager.
“The Complete History of America, Abridged” was originally staged and scripted by members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company — Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor. This show, presented July 9-12, interprets the past as a breathlessly paced sequence of silly vaudeville sketches, word association games, puns and crude parodies of movies and television. The director is Kyle Land in his final production for ESU Theatre. 2008 grads Luchen and Michael Wilke design sets and lighting respectively. The stage manager is senior Ben Williams.
The final production, presented July 23-26, is a modern musical romance, “I Love You Because” by Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham. A new take on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” it is about Austin Bennet, a young greeting card writer, whose longtime girlfriend has left. On a blind date, he meets a flighty photographer, Marcy Fitzwilliams, with relationship dilemmas of her own. Encouraged by their friends Jeff and Diana, the two seem destined for one another. Or do they?
The New York Times says “I Love You Because” is “infectiously entertaining and filled with wit and zest!” Jim Bartruff is directing. Lindy Bartruff is the show’s choreographer and Speedie is the music director. Nancy Pontius designs the settings. ESU alum Jamie Urban designs costumes and the lighting design is by Michael Wilke. Schultz is the stage manager. The show will mark the debut of ESU Theatre’s new technical director, Craig Moxon.
All performances are in the Karl C. Bruder Theatre in King Hall. Show time is 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $5 for students. Tickets can be reserved at the box office at 341-6378 or 877-341-6378 (toll free).