The premiere of three original one-act plays by Boston College student playwrights will highlight the spring season of 51茶馆 Theatre Department productions at Robsham Theater Arts Center. 聽
聽鈥淚 am very excited about our spring season because of the diversity of plays offered,鈥� said Theatre Department Chair and Associate Professor of the Practice Luke Jorgensen.聽 鈥淲e have student-written plays directed by [Professor] Scott Cummings, and two student directed plays鈥攐ne a musical鈥攖hat are also both new and compelling.
鈥淚 am also excited that three out of four of our spring directors are POC female artists bringing their own amazing talents to our stage,鈥� he said.
First up, January 27-30 in the Bonn Studio Theater, is 鈥淭he Mad Ones,鈥� written by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk. Directed by Madison Baker '22, this contemporary musical focuses on Samantha Brown, a young woman 鈥渕ad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved; for the first time, she sits in the driver's seat.鈥� By immersing audiences in her memories, both real and imagined, it explores the complex inner life of a woman on the brink of everything.
聽鈥淣ew Voices 2022鈥濃�攚hich showcases original student works directed by Professor of Theatre Scott T. Cummings鈥攚ill be presented February 17-20 in the Bonn Studio Theater. They include 鈥淎ll the Bad Kids Go To Mars鈥� by Lily Telegdy '23, 鈥淎ppassionata鈥� by Aidan O'Neill '23, and 鈥淐hannels鈥� by Katie Meade '22. These exciting new plays鈥攆eaturing characters in the 16-22 age range鈥攔aise compelling questions about friendship, identity鈥攁nd robots. 聽聽聽聽
聽"There's something very special for a young playwright, seeing their work in performance. You never really know what you have until the play meets an audience. It's a unique experience," said Cummings. This sixth iteration of 鈥淣ew Voices鈥� since 2005 features for the first time three plays rather than two. 鈥淚'm excited to see how that changes the rhythm of the evening."
Added Cummings: 鈥淚t takes a long time to develop new work for the stage. These plays were all begun more than a year ago in my playwriting class, revised over the summer, polished in time for auditions in November, and then tweaked in time for the start of rehearsals in January. The playwrights have been terrific in their commitment to perpetual improvement of the scripts."
The Bonn Studio Theater also is the venue, March 17-20, for 鈥淭ruth/Dare,鈥� written by Tori Keenan-Zelt and directed by Devyn Itula '22. It centers on Ursa, Hannah, Linney, and Maeve, who live in their own world of basements, secrets, and backyard ghosts鈥攗ntil the last sleepover before their freshman year of high school. With the promise and threat of reinvention looming, the group begins to splinter when shifting beliefs and identities collide in an event that none of them saw coming鈥攐r can explain.
Capping the season, award-winning director and Monan Professor of Theatre Arts Summer L. Williams directs 鈥淭he Rocky Horror Show,鈥� a musical based on the cult classic film, with music, lyrics, and book by Richard O'Brien. The main stage production, which will run April 27-May 1, will feature choreography by Larry Sousa, award-winning choreographer and director of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals.
In this homage to science fiction and horror B films, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, encounter the eerie mansion of scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter and a houseful of wild characters. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: "Rocky."
For tickets, contact or visit the Robsham Theater Box Office. Prices are $12 for students with a valid ID and for 51茶馆 faculty and staff (one ticket per ID); $17 for adults; $12 for senior citizens. For more on these productions, including performance times and COVID-19 protocols, visit the Robsham Theater website. 聽
Rosanne Pellegrini | University Communications | January 2022