A hilarious, exuberant celebration of love

TUCSON, Ariz. – The School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) is proud to present the bold new musical comedy Head Over Heels, onstage at the Tornabene Theatre at the University of Arizona from April 9th through 23rd. The fifth production in TFTV’s 2022/23 theatre season, Head Over Heels is a hilarious, exuberant celebration of love and exploration of identity from the visionaries that rocked Broadway with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Avenue Q and Spring Awakening. The show follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction, only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts.

Head Over Heels weaves together a plot based on Sir Philip Sidney’s sixteenth-century romance The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia with songs by the 1980s all-woman rock band The Go-Go’s (“We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed”). It will be directed on our stage by TFTV Assoc. Professor Danny Gurwin.

“The action is set in the 16th century, offering many standard Renaissance features that we’ve turned on their heads,” says Gurwin. “There’s romance, parental oppression, death and resurrection, but the plot is emboldened by an acceptance of gender fluidity. It is a powerful message for our current day seen through the lens of an equally complex and political world of long ago.”

Danny Bass (BFA Musical Theatre, ’24) plays a lead character, the gender fluid Musidorus: “Head Over Heels is colorful, loud, and joyful, and unlike any show I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of. The cast and creative team have worked day in and day out to portray how freeing and fulfilling it is to explore your identity untethered to the expectations of society. I’ve learned so much about myself during this show, and I am confident that those watching will learn something about themselves as well.”

Alongside Bass, the cast includes Ashling Shockey (Mopsa), AJ Taylor (Pamela), Sophia Scarsi (Philoclea), Erin Rose McDaniel (Gynecia), John Henry Stamper (Basilius), Alex Simpson (Dametas), and Brach Drew (Pythio). They are joined by ensemble members James Carroll, Grace Gebara, Catherine Kim, John Henderson, Hannah Hufford, Holden Jones, Lillie Langston, Gemma Pedersen, Sydney Townsend, and Brennan Wood alongside pit singers Meghan Gray, Lily Grubert, Eliza Hitch, and Haiden Pederson.

Head Over Heels was conceived and the original book written by Jeff Whitty then adapted by James Magruder. This production will have ten performances between Apr. 9 – 23, 2023, including a special post-show discussion with cast and crew on Friday, April 21. Ticket discounts are available. This production qualifies for our newly announced free student ticket program.

What The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television presents HEAD OVER HEELS

Where Tornabene Theatre, 1025 N Olive Rd, Tucson AZ 85719

When April 9-23, 2023, with preview performances April 9 and 12

Tickets theatre.arizona.edu/shows/head-over-heels

Produced by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing.

About the School of Theatre, Film & Television
The School of Theatre, Film & Television is a member of the Arizona Arts division at the University of Arizona. The school nurtures and develops artists and scholars via rigorous training and mentoring by dedicated faculty. Students have access to high-level internship, industry resources, and hands-on production experience. TFTV offers training programs to prepare students to succeed in a wide range of careers – in the industry, the arts, and higher education. Each year students can showcase their talents and tell compelling stories onstage, on the screen, and more. TFTV regularly ranks in The Wrap’s “Top 50 Film Schools” and Onstage’s “Top 30 College Theatre Design & Tech Programs.”

Contact
Kerryn Negus
Director, Advancement and External Relations
School of Theatre, Film & Television
knegus@arizona.edu

TUCSON, Ariz. – The School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) is proud to present Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet in the Tornabene Theatre at the University of Arizona. The famed love story, told in a bold, new and authentically American voice, is a presentation of TFTV’s Arizona Repertory Theatre, the public laboratory and showcase for the School’s professional actor training program. It marks the 50th production directed for the School by Brent Gibbs.

Professor Gibbs recently spoke to the fresh presentation of this play. “In the landscape of Shakespeare’s canon Romeo and Juliet, rightly, looms large. With this production we wanted to create a world that unlocks the story for an American audience. To that end we have set our story in Verona, Kentucky just 60 miles from where America’s most famous family feud between the Hatfield and McCoys played out. The setting has proved fortuitous, providing new resonances and revealing new layers of meaning in what promises to be an accessible and highly entertaining telling of this beloved classic.”

The cast is led by BFA Acting junior Max Murray and BFA Musical Theatre senior Sydney Di Sabato in the titular roles. They are joined by Tess Dinerstein (Lady Capulet), Andrew Tong (Capulet), Madelyn Whitehead (Nurse), Ben James (Tybalt), Daniel Milani (Paris), Camden Stankus (Escalus, Prince), Patrick Ryan (Mercutio), Alyssa DiRaimondo (Antonia), Lydia Schmidt (Potpan), Brooke Gorman (Lady Montague), Ray Cuevas (Montague/Friar John), Clayton Lukens (Benvolio), Babacar Ba (Friar Lawrence), Katie Browne (Page), Leland Hao (Peter), Isabella Santoni (Susan), Isabella Russo (Nell/Apothecary) and Lily Wilson (Grindstone).

Romeo & Juliet will have ten performances between Feb. 26 – March 19, 2023, including a special post-show discussion with cast and crew on Friday, March 17. This production will also include matinee performances for high-school groups. Ticket discounts are available.

What               The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television presents ROMEO & JULIET
Where             Tornabene Theatre, 1025 N Olive Rd, Tucson AZ 85719
When              March 2-19, 2023, with preview performances February 26 and March 1
Tickets            https://theatre.arizona.edu/shows/romeo-juliet/

Naomi Iizuka’s play weaves together classical mythology and modern stories in edgy drama

Oct. 21, 2022 (TUCSON, Ariz.) – The School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) is proud to present Polaroid Stories in the Tornabene Theatre at the University of Arizona Oct. 27 – Nov. 6.

Based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses and drawing from a series of interviews conducted with unhoused youths, playwright Naomi Iizuka presents a series of vignettes interweaving classical archetypes with contemporary characters in a tale of young people pushed to society’s fringe.

The play is a presentation of TFTV’s Arizona Repertory Theatre (ART), the public laboratory and showcase for the School’s professional training programs.

Directed by ART Artistic Director Hank Stratton and featuring lighting design by Christopher Mason and scenic and projection design by Joe C. Klug, Polaroid Stories features a cast of students in TFTV’s nationally ranked Acting/Musical Theatre program.

“In my research it became astonishingly clear to me how homelessness can happen to anyone in our society,” says actor Alyssa DiRaimondo, who plays the role of Eurydice. “The characters in Polaroid Stories are based on real people and their stories. Retelling their stories as authentically as possible isn’t just my goal, but my responsibility.”

DiRaimondo joins cast members Caleb Files (playing the role of D), Brooke Gorman (Persephone/Semele), Ray Cuevas (Orpheus), Camden Stankus (Philomel), Bella Santoni (SKINHEADgirl), Alex Simpson (Narcissus), Emma Sage (Echo), Max Murray (SKINHEADboy) and Babacar Ba (G).

“Aided by mesmerizing lighting and projection design that echoes the mythology, it’s our hope to bring into focus a largely unseen group of young people whose stories are personal, searing, singular yet universal,” says Stratton. “The characters in this play and their stories are as temporary as the photographs that inspire its title, and yet the real-world challenges that unhoused youth face every day endure and demand our attention.”

A post-show discussion on Nov. 4 will feature director Hank Stratton, cast and creatives in conversation with a representative from Fostering Success, the UArizona program focused on building community on campus for students who have experienced the foster care system, housing insecurity or homelessness.

Ticket discounts are available.

What: The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television presents POLAROID STORIES
Where: Tornabene Theatre, 1025 N Olive Rd, Tucson AZ 85719
When: Oct. 27 – Nov. 6, 2022, with preview performances Oct. 23 and Oct. 26
Tickets: theatre.arizona.edu/shows/polaroid-stories

About the School of Theatre, Film & Television
The School of Theatre, Film & Television is a member of the Arizona Arts division at the University of Arizona. The school nurtures and develops artists and scholars via rigorous training and mentoring by dedicated faculty. Students have access to high-level internship, industry resources, and hands-on production experience. TFTV offers training programs to prepare students to succeed in a wide range of careers – in the industry, the arts, and higher education. Each year students can showcase their talents and tell compelling stories through plays, musicals, screenings and more. TFTV regularly ranks in The Wrap’s “Top 50 Film Schools,” Onstage’s “Top 30 College Musical Theatre Programs” and “Top 30 College Theatre Design & Tech Programs.”

Contact
Kerryn Negus
Director, Advancement and External Relations
School of Theatre, Film & Television
knegus@arizona.edu

TUCSON, Ariz. – “Omigod You Guys!” The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) opens the 2022/23 theatre season with Legally Blonde the Musical, the light-hearted and award-winning musical based on the much-adored movie of the same name.

Legally Blonde the Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Hilarious and heart-warming, the production explodes with memorable songs and dynamic dances.

The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2007, is based on the classic Reese Witherspoon 2001 comedy.

Christie Kerr directs and choreographs a cast of 28, all students in TFTV’s Acting/Musical Theatre programs. For many cast members, this production is especially significant: Legally Blonde marks their first onstage production for the public since quarantine.

“Legally Blonde the Musical is an exciting show and I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off Arizona Repertory Theatre’s 2022-2023 season,” says Kerr. “Through her hard work, Elle Woods – played by junior Lillie Langston – realizes her potential and proves herself to the world making everyone a believer. The message of believing in yourself and staying true to yourself is timeless. In a time where we need joy and color in our lives, Elle is here to help us all.”

Legally Blonde runs Oct. 2-16, 2022 at the Marroney Theatre at the University of Arizona with preview performances on Oct. 2 and 5. This will be the last production in the Marroney for the time being. Theatre renovations begin this October with an anticipated re-opening in the fall of 2023.

For performance times, tickets and more, visit theatre.arizona.edu.

About Legally Blonde the Musical
Legally Blonde the Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com. Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. Book by Heather Hach. Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture. The School of Theatre, Film & Television is grateful for the support of production sponsor Don VandeGriff.

About the School of Theatre, Film & Television
The School of Theatre, Film & Television is a member of the Arizona Arts division at the University of Arizona. The school nurtures and develops artists and scholars via rigorous training and mentoring by dedicated faculty. Students have access to high-level internship, industry resources, and hands-on production experience. TFTV offers training programs to prepare students to succeed in a wide range of careers – in the industry, the arts, and higher education. Each year students can showcase their talents and tell compelling stories through plays, musicals, screenings and more. TFTV regularly ranks in The Wrap’s “Top 50 Film Schools,” Onstage’s “Top 30 College Musical Theatre Programs” and “Top 30 College Theatre Design & Tech Programs.”

Contact
Kerryn Negus
Director, Advancement and External Relations
School of Theatre, Film & Television
knegus@arizona.edu

TUCSON, Ariz. – A mythologically inspired play, two award-winning musicals, a world-premiere production of visual theatre, and the ultimate love story all feature in the 2022/23 theatre season presented by the University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV). Starting in October 2022, TFTV will invite audiences to campus to be among the first to discover the next generation of outstanding theatre makers.

Hailed by Broadway World as “a stellar program to rival some of the nation’s most reputable institutions,” the Arizona Repertory Theatre, led by Artistic Director Hank Stratton and comprising students in the BFA Acting and Musical Theatre program, presents Legally Blonde, Polaroid Stories, Head Over Heels and Romeo & Juliet. The Next Performance Collective, a program of the School’s BA Theatre Studies division, will present the balance of the season with two original productions: Vaud and the second annual New Directions Festival. All productions are supported by students in the BFA Design and Technical Production program.

“I am excited to welcome audiences to campus for a season that blends exciting new devised work with beloved classics of love and longing, contemporary stories of resilience and triumph, and buoyant musicals that will inspire joy at a time when our community needs it the most,” said Dr. Brant Pope, the School’s new Interim Director.

Subscription packages for TFTV’s new theatre season are now on sale. Individual tickets will be available from August 23.

Talent nurtured at the nationally ranked School of Theatre, Film & Television go on to carve out notable careers in every facet of the entertainment industry. The School’s recently published Impact Report features news and achievements of dozens of alumni including Ben Crawford (playing the title role in Broadway’s The Phantom of the Opera), Tamika Lawrence (Drama Desk-nominated for her role in Black No More), Vinessa Vidotto (CBS’s FBI: International), Zackry Colston (cast member at The Groundlings Theatre), and stage manager Fatimah Amill (The Devil Wears Prada, world-premiering in Chicago in July).

TFTV 2022/23 Theatre Season

Legally Blonde
OCTOBER 2 —16, 2022 in the MARRONEY THEATRE
Music and Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin • Book by Heather Hach, Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture • LEGALLY BLONDE is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
A light-hearted and award-winning musical based on the much-adored movie of the same name, Legally Blonde the Musical follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Hilarious, heartwarming, and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances.

Polaroid Stories
OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 6, 2022 in the TORNABENE THEATRE
By Naomi Iizuka
Inspired in part by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Iizuka’s Polaroid Stories takes place on an abandoned pier on the outermost edge of a city, a way-stop for dreamers, dealers and desperadoes, a no-man’s land where runaways seek camaraderie, refuge and escape. Serpentine routes from the street to the heart characterize the interactions in this spellbinding tale of young people pushed to society’s fringe. Informed, as well, by interviews with young prostitutes and street kids, Polaroid Stories conveys a whirlwind of psychic disturbance, confusion and longing. Like their mythic counterparts, these modem-day mortals are engulfed by needs that burn and consume.

Vaud
DECEMBER 1 – 4, 2022 in the TORNABENE THEATRE
Created by Wolfe Bowart
An original work of visual theatre created by Theatre Studies students in collaboration with physical theatre creator Wolfe Bowart, Vaud is inspired by the colorful world of the American Vaudeville circuit of the turn of the twentieth century and the culture that grew up around it – the costumes, the boarding houses, the travel, the stages and the rich and complex cultural diversity. Researched and developed using the University of Arizona’s American Vaudeville special collection, Vaud gives life to modern stories inspired by one of the most popular eras of American entertainment.

Romeo + Juliet
FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 19, 2023 in the TORNABENE THEATRE
By William Shakespeare
Perhaps the most famous love story ever written, Shakespeare’s play about the romance of two teenagers from feuding families has inspired opera, ballet, and the musical theatre masterpiece West Side Story. This production will include matinee performances for high-school groups.

Head Over Heels
APRIL 9 – 23, 2023 in the TORNABENE THEATRE
Songs by The Go-Gos. Based on ‘The Arcadia’ by Sir Philip Sidney. Conceived and Original Book by Jeff Whitty. Adapted by James Magruder. Produced by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing. (www.broadwaylicensing.com)
Head Over Heels is the bold new musical comedy from the visionaries that rocked Broadway with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Avenue Q and Spring Awakening. A hilarious, exuberant celebration of love, Head Over Heels follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction—only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts.

New Directions Festival
APRIL 21 – 30, 2023 in the HAROLD DIXON STUDIO THEATRE
Join us in the Spring for the second annual New Directions Festival. The Festival showcases 100% student-created, student-designed, and student-performed content, allowing BA students to tell their stories through voices that are uniquely their own.

About the School of Theatre, Film & Television
The School of Theatre, Film & Television, a member of the Arizona Arts division at the University of Arizona, nurtures and develops outstanding artists and scholars via rigorous training and mentoring by internationally recognized faculty, high-level internship opportunities, industry-standard resources, and hands-on production experience. TFTV offers comprehensive training programs that aim to prepare students to succeed in a wide range of careers – in the industry, the arts, and higher education. Each year through Arizona Repertory Theatre productions, Next Performance Collective productions, and Film & Television screenings, students of TFTV are able to showcase their talents, tell compelling stories, and provide clear results of what happens in their classrooms and studios. TFTV’s Film & Television program regularly ranks in The Wrap’s “Top 50 Film Schools,” and the School’s Theatre programs regularly rank in Onstage’s “Top 30 College Musical Theatre Programs” and “Top 30 College Theatre Design & Tech Programs” making UA one of the country’s top institutions to study theatre, film and television.

New work is based on a podcast about the 100+ women who have run for U.S. president

TUCSON, AZ (March 9, 2021) – The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television will present Jonathan A. Goldberg’s new play A Simple Herstory as part of a limited Arizona Repertory Theatre season. The production, directed by guest artist Donya K. Washington, stage director and producer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, will have two performances only on March 19 and 20, 2021 and will be livestreamed for free for audiences from the newly constructed TFTV Outdoor Stage.

A Simple Herstory is based on the podcast series of the same name, which places a spotlight on the more than one hundred women who have run for the U.S. presidency. The play focuses on Victoria Woodhull – stockbroker, newspaper publisher, woman’s rights activist and the first woman to run for president in 1872.

BFA Acting sophomore student Camden Stankus stars as a modern-day podcaster interacting with Woodhull, played by BFA Acting senior Sophia Goodin, in a work that is part radio play, part history examination, and fully centered on portraying all facets of a complicated human.

“One of the things I love most about Jonathan A. Goldberg’s script is that he doesn’t try to sand any of that down. [Woodhull] is here – warts and all,” says Washington. “So often when women run for president (or have high profile jobs), they are expected to fit into some kind of idealized box of what a woman like that is ‘supposed’ to be. I can’t help but think that’s related to the trope – ‘I’d vote for a woman, just not that woman.’ So many of the women who’ve run in recent times are ridiculously qualified – whether or not you agree with them politically is beside the point when it comes to their resumes.”

Marking Arizona Repertory Theatre’s first production since the onset of the pandemic a year ago, A Simple Herstory has been created incorporating safety protocols every step of the way. The company participated in preliminary play readings via zoom. The blocking of the play was achieved in person with four actors at a time. At rehearsals, cast and crew were masked and maintained social distance. “It’s a non-naturalistic play and a bit experimental,” said director Donya K. Washington. “It lends itself to a more presentational staging style, which made it easier to incorporate COVID protocols as part of the style, rather than as something separate.”

“The ‘pause’ that is necessary because of the pandemic has created an enormous void for all of us. But it also has made space to carefully consider how to safely and responsibly get back into production, reconnecting with our audiences in an innovative way,” Arizona Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Hank Stratton said. “Herstory has given us an opportunity to work on new material that was originally created for another digital medium, the spoken word/podcast. We are honored to have Donya K. Washington guiding our return, sharing her professional experience and powerful artistic vision with our students and audiences.”

Guest artist Washington is a stage director and producer who has produced and directed works for theatres such as Actor’s Express and Alliance Theatre’s Theatre for the Very Young. Currently serving as Festival Producer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Washington has been in Tucson during rehearsals working directly with students.

A Simple Herstory has an approximate run time of 166 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission after Act One. The production will be performed and livestreamed twice. Performance dates are March 19 and 20, 2021, at 7:30pm MST each night. Watch the livestream for free at https://watch.tftv.arizona.edu/a-simple-herstory/. This production contains the following which may be considered offensive or uncomfortable: racial language from the time period, some descriptions of rape and nudity, depictions of drug use, and stylized depictions of violence.

About the UA School of Theatre, Film & Television
The University of Arizona School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) nurtures and develops outstanding artists and scholars via rigorous training and mentoring by internationally recognized faculty, high-level internship opportunities, industry-standard resources, and hands-on production experience. TFTV offers comprehensive training programs that aim to prepare students to succeed in a wide range of careers – in the industry, the arts, and higher education. Each year through Arizona Repertory Theatre productions, the Studio Series, and Film & Television screenings, students of TFTV are able to showcase their talents, tell compelling stories, and provide clear results of what happens in their classrooms and studios. TFTV’s Film & Television program regularly ranks in The Wrap’s “Top 50 Film Schools,” and the School’s Theatre programs regularly rank in Onstage’s “Top 30 College Musical Theatre Programs” and “Top 30 College Theatre Design & Tech Programs” making UA one of the country’s top institutions to study theatre, film and television. More at https://tftv.arizona.edu/

TUCSON, AZ – Arizona Repertory Theatre (ART), the public laboratory for the professional training programs of the UA School of Theatre, Film & Television, announces its line-up of productions for the 2020/2021 season. A diverse collection of classic and contemporary titles ranging from a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical to a new, outrageous dark comedy, the season continues the School’s long tradition of outstanding training for Theatre students and advances its commitment to offering exceptional programming to the public.

“This season we feature new works like Bright Star and the stage adaption of Shakespeare In Love, as well as the modern masterpiece Sunday in the Park with George. We’re also very proud to be partnering with Arizona Theatre Company on a new work called Hot Pink, or Ready to Blow, offering Southern Arizona the first look at this hilarious retelling of a classic myth,” said Assistant Professor Hank Stratton, Artistic Director of Arizona Repertory Theatre. “We aim to deliver the high quality that our audiences have grown to expect from ART, including imaginative state-of-the-art design concepts. My personal goal is to provide imaginative, engaging, and entertaining theatre arts to our loyal subscribers and community.”

The Green Bird opens the season in September with a wildly modern adaptation of the classic commedia dell’arte play. Next is Bright Star, the musical written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell and inspired by their Grammy-winning bluegrass album Love Has Come For You. The fall semester will close with Shakespeare in Love, the brilliantly funny stage adaptation of the film of the same title, in which Shakespeare suffers from writer’s block while writing a new play, tentatively titled “Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter.” The season will continue in the New Year with a co-production between ART and Arizona Theatre Company on the “hilarious and dizzyingly fun” Hot Pink, or Ready to Blow. The play, from comedy writer/performer Joanie Drago, is a fearless twist on the classic high school comedy. Next is a contemporary take on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, and the season wraps with one of the most acclaimed musicals of our time, Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize winner based on a fictionalized version of the enigmatic painter, Georges Seurat.

Arizona Repertory Theatre is integral to the development of many actors, designers, technicians, dramaturges, writers, and producers who go on to work in the highest levels of the theatre, film, and television industries. In addition to his success on the TV series Stitchers, alumnus Kyle Harris was on Broadway this season in The Inheritance. Vinessa Vidotto will soon complete filming on season 4 of Netflix’s Lucifer, and Zackry Colston is the newest member of the world-renowned Groundlings in Los Angeles. Broadway and West End lighting designer Philip Rosenberg recently returned to design Arizona Theatre Company’s Music Man. Hilary Noxon has been an assistant scenic designer on five Broadway productions and an assistant art director on TV programs like God Friended Me, Katy Keene, and Gotham.

Ticket Information

Subscription renewals and new subscriptions will go on sale soon. Subscriptions will be available at the College of Fine Arts Box Office by phone at (520) 621-1162 or in person at 1025 N. Olive Road, inside the Marroney Theatre on the University of Arizona campus. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 1-5pm.

Single tickets will go on sale Monday, August 24, 2020, and may be purchased by phone at (520) 621-1162 or online at tickets.arizona.edu.

Learn more about Arizona Repertory Theatre at theatre.arizona.edu.

Arizona Repertory Theatre 2019-2020 Season

The Green Bird
by Hillary DePiano
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. www.playscripts.com

September 20 – October 11, 2020 | Tornabene Theatre

The king is lost, the queen is buried alive, the kingdom is in ruins, and all is bleak . . . but this is a comedy after all! When nobody else is worthy of the title of hero, it’s up to twins, Renzo and Barbarina, to unravel the mystery of the Green Bird in time to save everyone from themselves.  In this modern adaptation of Carlo Gozzi’s classic commedia play, Hillary DePiano gives us a wild, chaotic road to “happily ever after” that is paved with curses, clowns, demons, enchanted fruit, and a talking statue who keeps losing control of the story he’s narrating. This ain’t your grandma’s commedia dell’arte.

Bright Star
Inspired by a True Story

Music, Book & Story by Steve Martin
Music, Lyrics & Story by Edie Brickell
Produced by Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, John Johnson
Zebulon LLC, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Len Blavatnik, James L. Nederlander, Carson & Joseph Gleberman, Balboa Park Productions, The Shubert Organization, Jamie deRoy/Catherine Adler/Cricket Jiranek
In Association With Rodger Hess, A.C. Orange International, Broadway Across America, Sally Jacobs & Warren Baker Diana DiMenna, Exeter Capital, Agnes Gund, True Love Productions And The Old Globe
“Bright Star” is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. www.theatricalrights.com

October 18 – November 8, 2020 | Marroney Theatre

Inspired by a true story and featuring the Tony®-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. With beautiful folk and country melodies and powerfully moving characters, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tightly in its grasp, Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.

Shakespeare in Love
by Tom Stoppard, Lee Hall, and Marc Norman
“Shakespeare in Love” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company.

November 8 – December 6, 2020 | Tornabene Theatre

We all know William Shakespeare as a brilliant, imaginative, funny, trendsetting playwright whose work has held up to the test of time better than any other. We know he lived in the 16th century and that he performed plays for the Queen, but how did Shakespeare become the Shakespeare we know today? In this exciting play by Lee Hall, adapted from the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, we get to witness a version of what might have been. Did Shakespeare have writer’s block from time to time? Did he need a muse to write his famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet? Lee Hall’s version of this successful screenplay follows the same story of Shakespeare meeting and falling in love with an aristocratic woman who wishes she could be an actor, and transforms it for the stage, just as Shakespeare did with stories in his day.

Hot Pink, or Ready to Blow
by Joanie Drago

February 7 – 28, 2021 | Marroney Theatre

Co-produced with Arizona Theatre Company
When New Pompeii’s annual sacrifice fails to satisfy the local volcano’s appetite for virgins, three totally 80’s teenage girls concoct a brilliant plan to save themselves. Presented in partnership with Arizona Theatre Company, this audacious and fearless twist on the classic high school comedy incinerates double standards, as our heroines take control of their destiny by following one simple rule: get laid or die trying! We are pleased to welcome guest director Veronika Duerr, along with playwright Joanie Drago, who will continue their collaboration on this hilarious new work.

Measure for Measure
by William Shakespeare

March 15 – April 4, 2021 | Tornabene Theatre

Measure for Measure is one of Shakespeare’s richest, and perhaps controversial plays, mixing comedy and drama in a story of love and power. As the newly appointed leader, Angelo wants to rid the city of moral decay—until he falls for a young nun pleading for the life of her brother. Justice, lust, hypocrisy, and redemption take center stage in this timeless classic, along with bold characters and illustrative, weaponized language.

Sunday in the Park with George
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Orchestrations by Michael Starobin
Originally Produced on Broadway by The Shubert Organization and Emanuel Azenberg
By arrangement with Playwrights Horizons, Inc. New York City which produced the original production of “Sunday in the Park With George” in 1983
Sunday in the Park With George is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com

April 11 – May 2, 2021 | Marroney Theatre

Inspired by the painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s stunning masterpiece, merges past and present into beautiful, poignant truths about life, love and the creation of art. One of the most acclaimed musicals of our time, this moving study of the enigmatic painter, Georges Seurat, won a Pulitzer Prize and was nominated for an astounding ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

About Arizona Repertory Theatre
Arizona Repertory Theatre (ART) is a theatre company within the University of Arizona College of Fine Arts School of Theatre, Film & Television. ART presents six productions each season designed to educate and train theatre students, and provide wildly entertaining experiences for audiences. ART performs over 80 performances each season from September through May. ART comprises students from the Acting and Musical Theatre program with design and production support provided by students in the Design and Technology program. Arizona Repertory Theatre invites audiences to experience the future of theatre and ‘See Tomorrow’s Stars Today.’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women take center stage at Arizona Repertory Theatre in Sarah DeLappe’s play The Wolves 

Tucson, AZ, February 11, 2020 – As part of Arizona Repertory Theatre’s 2019-2020 season, the UA School of Theatre, Film & Television (TFTV) presents Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves from February 8 – 23, 2020 in the Tornabene Theatre (1025 N. Olive Rd, Tucson, AZ 85721).

The Wolves, directed by TFTV Instructor Claire Marie Mannle, offers an unflinching, intimate glimpse into the world of a high school women’s soccer team. While warming up for the last few games of their season, nine teammates navigate questions of identity, community and society. Playwright Sarah DeLappe’s unique, overlapping dialogue moves from moments that are deadly serious to awkwardly hilarious, but always true to life. With an ensemble of distinct female characters, this fast-moving play offers audiences a window into the intense world of female adolescence. The Wolves was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

“This play is demanding, both to perform and to witness. It requires a heightened attention which I think is part of the unique value of live theatre. Although contemporary, the play has a timeless, familiar feel and has similarities in structure to everything from Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men to Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own while still being surprising and original. We are immersed into the world of what it feels like to be a Generation Z female teenager through the lens of indoor soccer. The play is also exhilarating – it should be performed at the pace of a good soccer match. Sarah DeLappe has achieved something remarkable – she offers us an ensemble of unique, flawed, powerfully real characters who happen to be women,” says Mannle, the director of this production.

Ticket prices range from $15 to $32. Discounts available for seniors, students, military, UA employee/alumni and groups of 10 or more. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.arizona.edu, by calling the College of Fine Arts Box Office at (520) 621-1162 or in person at 1025 N. Olive Road. Box office hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 1-5pm.

The Wolves has an approximate run time of 90 minutes and there will be no intermission. The production contains some strong language that may be considered offensive. A pre-show discussion is scheduled on Sunday, February 16, 2020 at 12:45pm in the Harold Dixon Directing Studio (Drama Bldg. Rm 116). This discussion will be led by Dr. Jessica Maerz, an associate professor at TFTV, and Emily Fuchs, both of whom are the dramaturgs for this production. A post-show discussion with guests from the Southern Arizona Psychological Association is scheduled on Friday, February 21, 2020 following the performance. The Wolves is sponsored by Production Sponsors ‘Friends of the Theatre Advisory Board.’

Claire Mannle earned her MFA from the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater and her BA from Smith College. A New York City native raised in the Midwest, she came to Tucson via Los Angeles where she worked with The Grand Guignolers, Cornerstone Theater Company, A Noise Within, and The Antaeus Academy. Her other directing work includes a collaboratively devised adaptation of Euripides’ The Bacchae for SITI Company’s Skidmore Intensive, Nor Any Drop to Drink, a devised play about water issues in the Southwest (UA Studio Series) as well as Eurydice and Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play for The Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre where she is Associate Artistic Director.

About Arizona Repertory Theatre
Arizona Repertory Theatre (ART) is a theatre company within the University of Arizona College of Fine Arts School of Theatre, Film & Television. ART presents six productions each season designed to educate and train theatre students while providing an incredibly entertaining experience for audiences. ART performs over 80 performances each season from September through May. ART is modeled after professional theatre companies and consists of students from the Acting and Musical Theatre program with students from the Design and Technology program providing design and production support. Arizona Repertory Theatre invites you to experience the future of theatre and “See Tomorrow’s Stars Today!”

MEDIA CONTACT
Jordan Lorsung, Marketing
(520) 626-2671 | jlorsung@email.arizona.edu | Media photos available now at the ART Press Room.

For Immediate Release:  March, 22 2019

Media Contact:  Julie Vance, Marketing Director

(520) 626-2686 | julievance@email.arizona.edu

Arizona Repertory Theatre presents the Eight Time Tony Award Winning musical, Spring Awakening

Tucson, AZ – Arizona Repertory Theatre presents Spring Awakening, the eight time Tony Award winning musical, April 7-28, 2019 in the Tornabene Theatre located at 1025 N. Olive Road (UA campus located near the SE corner of Park Avenue and Speedway Boulevard).

Spring Awakening, based on Frank Wedekind’s play of the same name, explores with poignancy and passion, the complex journey from adolescence to adulthood of a dozen young people in 1891 Germany.  With a book and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by pop star Duncan Sheik, Entertainment Weekly calls Spring Awakening the most gorgeous Broadway score this decade.

Directed by Assistant Professor Hank Stratton, Spring Awakening is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock-n-roll.  “The juxtaposition of the text against the rock and folk-infused score by Duncan Sheik, and the aggressive (and at times vulgar) lyrics by Steven Sater, may feel contrary or erratic given the play’s overall tone and through line.”  Stratton further explained, “But it is this contemporary cross-styling and disturbing diegetic format that allows for not only our characters, but also our student actors to explore and experience an unending world of primal expression.”

Ticket prices range from $20 to $31.  Discounts available for students, seniors, military, UA employee/alumni and groups of 10 or more.  Tickets can be purchased at tickets.arizona.edu or by calling the College of Fine Arts Box Office at (520) 621-1162 or in person at 1025 N. Olive Road.  Box office hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 12-4pm.

Spring Awakening has a run time of 2 hours 16 minutes including one 15-minute intermission.  A pre-show discussion is scheduled on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 12:45pm.  A post-show discussion with members of the cast is scheduled on Friday, April 26, 2019 following the performance.  Spring Awakening contains mature themes, strong language and partial nudity.  Spring Awakening is sponsored by Richard and Yvonne Morris.

For more information, visit theatre.arizona.edu.  Media photos available March 29, 2019 at the ART Press Room.

About Arizona Repertory Theatre

Arizona Repertory Theatre (ART) is a unique theatre company within the University of Arizona College of Fine Arts School of Theatre, Film & Television.  ART presents six productions each season designed to educate and train theatre students while providing an incredibly entertaining experience for audiences.  ART performs over 100 performances each season from September through May.  ART is modeled after professional theatre companies and consists of students from the Acting and Musical Theatre program with students from the Design and Technology program providing production support. Arizona Repertory Theatre invites you to experience the future of theatre and “See Tomorrow’s Stars Today!”