Willamette Theatre Presents 'Beauty Queen of Leenane'

Willamette University Theatre announces its third show of the 2008–09 season, Martin McDonagh’s “Beauty Queen of Leenane.” This production runs Feb. 20–March 7, with a preview performance Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Theatre Playhouse on campus. Performances are Thursday–Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. The play contains adult language and situations, and is not suitable for children.

The Tony Award-winning play contains the brash humor, rich language and inventive storytelling that mark Martin McDonagh as one Britain’s most promising young writers. His gift for dialogue and dark humor is complemented by the talents of Willamette faculty, students and staff.

The dark, offbeat comedy takes place in a small house on a big hill in County Galway, Ireland, where the Folan women live out an uneasy truce. Forty-year-old Maureen and her elderly but iron-willed mother, Mag, spend their days in endless rounds of petty insults and physical threats as each maneuvers for control of their isolated existence. But when an old family friend reappears and offers Maureen a chance at love and a new life, this terrain grows treacherous and the two women, bound by blood but driven by desperation, will do anything to survive. The play’s glimpse into the Folan family dynamic illustrates thought-provoking contemporary themes.

Direction will be provided by Willamette University Theatre co-chair and acting professor Susan Coromel, and the cast includes senior theatre/psychology major Tara McLauchlan as Mag, junior theatre major Britt Lauer as Maureen, senior theatre major Cory Goble as Pato, and freshman theatre major Joshua Rice as Ray.

Technical elements of the production will by created by faculty, staff and students. Professor Christopher Harris will conceptualize the visual surroundings, instructor Rachel Kinsman Steck will light the show, and senior theatre major Anya Ballinger will design the costumes.

The March 1 matinee will feature an American Sign Language interpreter. Please note that curtain times have changed to 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets through the Willamette University Box Office at (503) 370-6221 or by email at thtr-tix@willamette.edu. Opening night is $12 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Please contact the box office for specific pricing and details. The Willamette campus is located at 900 State Street in Salem. For more information contact the Theatre Department at (503) 370-6222 or visit www.wutheatre.com.

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Willamette University Dance Theatre Presents Making the Way

Willamette University Dance Theatre presents its 2008 dance concert, Making the Way. A preview will be shown Thursday, Nov. 20, with regular performances Nov. 21 and 22, all at 7:30 p.m. A Sunday matinee will be held Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. All performances will be in Kresge Theatre on the Willamette campus. The performance will explore diverse dance and music styles, incorporating theatrical elements of design, acting and narrative.

Willamette dance instructor Virginia Belt choreographed several pieces, including Last Fall, which incorporates music from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem. The piece, based on Auguste Rodin's Gates of Hell, portrays the abstract journey of the descent into hell, and is a resetting of a piece Belt previously choreographed for a professional dance company.

Willamette dance instructor Katherine Sanders choreographed three pieces that cover a full spectrum of dance styles and energy, from modern to jazz to hip hop. Students Alexandra Ninneman and Tessa Allen have choreographed a piece that focuses on the concept of conflict and chaos within oneself.

Technical elements of the production will by coordinated by Theatre Department faculty, staff and students. Instructor and resident designer Bobby Brewer-Wallin designed the costumes, and student Anthony Harvey designed the lights, with the assistance of Willamette alumnus Ben Crop.

Please note that evening curtain times have changed to 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Willamette University Box Office at (503) 370-6221 or emailing thtr-tix@willamette.edu. Opening night performances are $12 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Please contact the Box Office for specific pricing and details. The Willamette campus is located at 900 State St. in Salem. For more information contact the Theatre Department at (503) 370-6222 or visit www.willamette.edu/cla/theatre.

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Willamette Presents Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night"

Willamette University Theatre is proud to announce its first show of the 2008–09 season, William Shakespeare’s comedy, “Twelfth Night,” opening Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m., with a preview performance Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Performances are scheduled Oct. 18 through Nov. 1, with Thursday through Saturday evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Additionally, there will be a special Saturday matinee Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Performances will be in the Kresge Theatre at Willamette University. Please note that our evening curtain times are now 7:30 pm.

One of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies, “Twelfth Night” cunningly entwines bittersweet tales of frustrated love. Shipwrecked in the land of Illyria, her brother lost at sea, Viola finds herself in the middle of a bizarre love triangle. Employed by Duke Orsino and disguised as a boy, she is sent on an embassy of love to Countess Olivia, who finds herself smitten by the intriguing messenger. Love, mistaken identities, disguises, revenge, passion and music make “Twelfth Night” a deliciously disturbing and funny play.

“Twelfth Night” also provides a relevant and thought-provoking experience to a contemporary audience. The ideas of madness and vice will be explored, as well as the theory that, ultimately, what we are looking for as humans is “somebody to love.” Through movement, text and design, the play will offer a visual and intellectual feast for the viewer, and raise questions regarding love, honor and the individual’s place in the world.

The theatre is pleased to welcome Willamette alumni Michael Brusasco as guest director. Brusasco has performed in several professional theatre companies and was a founding member of the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minn. Special guest Brent Barnes will join the cast as the cynical, self-proclaimed “puritan” Malvolio. Barnes is an ensemble member of Hypatia Theatre Company in Chicago and appeared off-Broadway and with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in “Grasmere.” Regional Theatre credits include six seasons with the Utah Shakespearean Festival and the U.S. premiere of “The Parfumerie” in Urbana, Ill. Technical elements of the production will by provided by Willamette University Theatre faculty, staff and students. Chris Harris will conceptualize the visual surroundings, drawing on a classic Elizabethan stage set with many surprises. Rachel Kinsman-Steck will light the show, and Bobby Brewer-Wallin will design the costumes.

Again, please note that evening curtain times have changed to 7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, call (503) 370-6221 or reserve tickets by email at thtr-tix@willamette.edu. Opening night is $12 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Contact the Box Office for specific pricing and details. The Willamette campus is located at 900 State Street in Salem. For more information contact the Theatre Department at (503) 370-6222 or visit www.willamette.edu/cla/theatre.

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Willamette Theatre Presents ‘The Women’

Willamette University Theatre announces its final show of the 2007–08 season, Clare Boothe Luce’s “The Women.” The production runs March 7, 8 and 13–15 at 8 p.m., and March 9 and 16 at 2 p.m., with a preview performance March 6 at 8 p.m. Performances are in the Kresge Theatre at Willamette University.

“The Women” is a gleefully malicious comedy about New York socialites, their twisted marriages and the delicious gossip that ruins their reputations. Smart, sexy and scandalous, these femme fatales close Willamette’s 2007–08 season with style.

The play focuses on the lives of several Manhattan socialites in the 1930s, including Mary Haines, the sweet, faithful wife of Stephen. When Mary finds out that Stephen has been seeing a shop girl named Crystal, she is advised by her friends and family to ignore the infidelity. However, when news of Stephen’s affair is published, Mary decides against all recommendations to leave her husband. Two years later, Stephen has married Crystal, who proves to be a fickle wife. With the help of her friends, Mary attempts to expose Crystal and win back Stephen’s love.

The play examines several poignant subjects that are relevant today, including love, marriage, pride and friendship. Perhaps most pointedly, playwright Clare Boothe Luce reveals the lengths to which women will go to protect their families and their dignity.

“The Women” is directed by guest artist Karen Vaccaro, who has been a mainstay in Chicago theatre since 1982, working as a director and actress. She has won three Joseph Jefferson Awards for her work.

Technical elements of the production will provide a varied portrayal of 1930s settings. Scene designer and department co-chair Chris Harris will create the play’s visual surroundings, Bobby Brewer-Wallin will create the stylish 1930s wardrobe, and Willamette Theatre technical director Rachel Steck will serve as lighting designer. The cast features 19 young actresses from Willamette and the surrounding area.

To purchase tickets, contact the Willamette University Box Office at (503) 370-6221 or reserve tickets by email at thtr-tix@willamette.edu. Opening night is $12 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Contact the box office for specific pricing and details. For more information, call (503) 370-6222 or visit www.willamette.edu/cla/theatre.

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Willamette University presents Driving Under the Influence

SALEM, Ore. — Willamette University Theatre will present its second show of the 2007–08 season, Nick Zagone’s Driving Under the Influence, Nov. 9, 10 and 15–17 at 8 p.m., and Nov. 11 and 18 at 2 p.m., with a preview performance Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. The performance will be in the Kresge Theatre at Willamette University.

“Life,” they say, “is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Find out what John Lennon and Yoko Ono meant as you follow eight crazy kids past their post–high school daze and on into suburbia, marriage, 2.5 kids — or not — and you’ll see it’s more fun when life doesn’t turn out as planned.

Visiting playwright Zagone, who graduated from Willamette in 1990, is a founding member of Open Circle Theatre in Seattle. He is winner of the International One-Page Play Competition in New York, the Mark A. Klein Playwriting Award, a Seattle Times Footlight Award, a Fulton Opera House Award and an artistic director’s Achievement Award from the San Fernando Valley Theatre League Alliance. Zagone has worked with the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, the Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT and Printer’s Devil in Seattle, Cal-State Stanislaus and Stage 3 in Sonora, Calif. His screenwriting credits include the short Brainstorm and the feature Ricky Is Famous. He also has his own production company, Quality Pie Theatre.

Directing will be guest artist Marc Friedman, whose recent directing credits include Texts for Nothing by Samuel Beckett, The City Wears a Slouch Hat by Kenneth Patchen and John Cage, Bleeding in the Dark, and dramaturgical work for Hand2Mouth Theatre’s original show, Repeat After Me. Friedman currently teaches with the Northwest Children’s Theatre and is a member of the Voice and Speech Trainer Association.

Scene designer and Theatre Department Co-Chair Chris Harris will conceive the play’s environmental surroundings, Bobby Brewer-Wallin will design costumes, and senior theatre major Ben Crop will serve as lighting designer.

To purchase tickets, call the Willamette University Box Office at (503) 370-6221 or contact them via email. Opening night is $12, and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Contact the box office for specific pricing and details. The Willamette campus is located at 900 State Street in Salem. For more information contact the Theatre Department at (503) 370-6222 or visit the theatre website.

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Willamette University presents “The Importance of Being Earnest”

SALEM, Ore. — Willamette University Theatre is proud to announce its first show of the 2007–08 season. Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” will run Sept. 28–29 and Oct. 4–6 at 8 p.m., and Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 at 2 p.m., with a preview performance Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. All performances will be in Willamette’s Kresge Theatre.

Wilde’s final and most recognized play, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” is a masterpiece of modern comedy. More than a century later, it is a respected and studied piece of literature as well as a favorite with audiences.

The play tells the tale of Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, young men who have taken to bending the truth in order to add excitement to their lives. Jack invents an imaginary brother, Ernest, who he uses to escape from his dull home in the country to frolic in town. Algernon uses the same technique, only in reverse; his imaginary friend, Bunbury, provides a way to pursue adventures in the country. Their deceptions eventually cross paths, resulting in a series of crises that threaten to spoil their romantic pursuits.

The play will be directed by Theatre Department Co-chair Susan Coromel and feature guest artist Raissa Fleming as Lady Bracknell. Theatre Department Co-Chair Chris Harris will conceive the visual surroundings, Bobby Brewer-Wallin will create period costumes and Technical Director Rachel Steck will serve as lighting designer.

To purchase tickets, contact the Willamette University Box Office at (503) 370-6221 or go online. Opening night is $12 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Please contact the box office for specific prices. Willamette University is at 900 State in Salem. For more information contact the Theatre Department at
(503) 370-6222 or visit our website.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents Willa Cather Pioneer Story

Willamette University Theatre presents “O Pioneers!” April 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 at 8 p.m. and April 15 and 22 at 2 p.m., with a preview April 12 at 8 p.m. The performance will be in the Kresge Theatre at Willamette University.

“O Pioneers!” is based on a novel by Willa Cather and tells the story of Alexandra Bergson, who takes charge of her father’s Nebraska homestead after his death. She holds her farm and family together through harvest, drought and poverty, until her three brothers are ready to stand on their own.

“Cather wasn’t the first writer to feminize the Western landscape, but she remains one of the most enduring because Alexandra’s story still has meaning,” said Director Tom Butler. “She neglects part of her emotional life while taming the land, and only just before it’s too late does Alexandra allow herself to respond to the man she loves.” Lyrical songs and stories reflect on the pioneer experience, from crossing the Atlantic to homesteading and surmounting tragedies.

Cather’s novel was adapted by Darrah Cloud, with music by Kim Sherman.

Theatre Department Chair Christopher Harris designed the sets, including the prairie landscape, Bobby Brewer-Wallin created period costumes, and Vikki McGuire oversees lighting. Portland-based Jen Reynak is a guest designer.

The company features students Sarah Hamilton, Charlie Owen, Anthony Harvey, Amanda Washko, Stephen Cole, Ben Weyerhauser, Andrew Theis, Matt Romein, Aaron Smith, Lesli Okorn, Eliza Leoni, Cory Goble, Joshua Lee, Kelsey Scott, Kirsten Maki, Olivia Saccomanno and Kristine Janssen.

To purchase tickets, contact the Willamette University Box Office at (503) 370-6221 or reserve tickets by email at thtr-tix@willamette.edu. Opening night is $12 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Contact the box office for specific pricing and details. The Willamette campus is at 900 State Street in Salem. For more information contact the Theatre Department at (503) 370-6222 or visit www.willamette.edu/cla/theatre.

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Willamette University Presents New Farce Written by Alumna

Willamette University Theatre presents “W(h)acked, an Immorality Play,” written by Willamette alumna Stephanie Timm, as its third show of the 2006–07 season.

Performances are Feb. 16–17 and 22–24 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 18 and 25 at 2 p.m., with a preview Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. They will be held at Arena Theatre in the Theatre Playhouse at Willamette University, 900 State St.

“W(h)acked, an Immorality Play” is a new farce with classic style where the members of the Underground Very Secret Hush Hush Ladies Serial Killer Club invite you to step into the ladies’ room and peek into the world of the followers of Sister Lottie Limerick, a serial killer of the days of old. Haunted portraits, hot janitors, evil plots and naughty secrets combine to make one wickedly hilarious evening. “W(h)acked, an Immorality Play” has received two staged readings at ACT Theatre in Seattle and premiered at Live Girls! in Seattle in October.

Playwright Stephanie Timm’s most recent work, “Crumbs Are Also Bread,” will premiere at Washington Ensemble Theatre in February. Timm, a 1999 Willamette graduate, also wrote “Frankenocchio,” which opened the 2004–05 season at the Empty Space Theatre in Seattle. Her short play, “Lil Heroes,” is a finalist for the 2006–07 Heideman Award. Timm is a principal playwright with Seattle Dramatists and a recent recipient of a GAP (Grants for Artists Projects) award from Artist Trust. She teaches at the Hugo House in Seattle and with the Young Playwrights Program through ACT Theatre.

Willamette student Kyle McBroom, a senior theatre and rhetoric major, will design lights for the production. Designers include department co-chair Chris Harris (set) and resident costume designer Bobby Brewer-Wallin. Their tasks include creating an ornate powder room that can be transformed into the covert meeting place of the club, as well as outfitting the femme fatales and their unfortunate victims.

The cast features Willamette students Corinne Becker as Abhorabelle, Sarah Hamilton as Detesta, Sarah Jo Kendall as Crueliet, Britt Lauer as Lottie Limerick, Tara McLauchlan as Revengaline, Annie Rimmer as Tormentina, and Aaron Smith as the many unfortunate men who come in contact with the Underground Very Secret Hush Hush Ladies Serial Killer Club.

To purchase tickets, contact the Willamette University Box Office at (503) 370-6221 or reserve tickets by email at thtr-tix@willamette.edu. Opening night is $12 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors; matinees are $8 general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Contact the box office for specific pricing and details.

For more information contact the theatre department at (503) 370-6222 or go to www.willamette.edu/cla/theatre.

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Willamette Student Group Presents The Vagina Monologues

Willamette University’s Strength, Health, Equality (SHE) Club presents two performances of The Vagina Monologues Feb. 14 for V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls.

This Obie Award-winning play by Eve Ensler — based on interviews with 200 women about their views on sex, relationships and violence against women — will be performed at 7:30 and 10 p.m. in Smith Auditorium at Willamette University, 900 State St. Tickets are $10, or $5 for Willamette students, and are available starting Feb. 7 at the Putnam University Center information desk. Proceeds will go to a local organization dedicated to ending violence against women and children.

Other activities for V-Day at Willamette include information tables in Putnam University Center Feb. 7 to 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a red shirt campaign Feb. 14 that asks everyone on campus who has been affected or knows someone who has been affected by sexual or domestic violence to wear red. A silent art auction with a theme of “What Is a Woman?” will be held in Smith Auditorium Feb. 14 from 7 p.m. to midnight, along with the play performances.

V-Day raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of The Vagina Monologues. In 2006, more than 2,700 V-Day events were held in 1,150 communities and colleges worldwide. To date, V-Day has raised more than $35 million to aid efforts to end violence against women. The V-Day College Campaign strives to empower women to find their collective voices and demand an end to the epidemic levels of violence and abuse on their campuses, in their communities and around the world.

For more information, contact the Willamette University information desk at (503) 370-6300.

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Willamette University Presents “The Ash Girl”

Coming-of-Age Tale Explores Psyche
Willamette University Theatre presents “The Ash Girl,” its second show of the 2006-07 season, Nov. 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 12 and 19 at 2 p.m., with a preview Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. The performance will be in the Kresge Theatre at Willamette University.

“‘The Ash Girl’ is a modern retelling of the classic Cinderella story in which the Seven Deadly Sins wreak havoc on mankind,” said theatre and dance professor Virginia Belt, who directs the play. “It is a wondrous story of the beauty and terror of finding the strength to confront the monsters in one’s heart.”

Written by Timberlake Wertenbaker, the play returns to the Central European roots of the fairy tale and its 1812 Grimm Brothers interpretation, exploring the conflicting emotions a teenage girl feels about her parents, sisters and boys, and about growing up to be a responsible and self-aware adult. Timberlake Wertenbaker has fashioned a beautiful story of the wonder and the terror of growing up, of and for our time.

“In a world filled with monstrous actions, there is something about fairy tales that reaches down and touches the core of our being, where many of these fearsome actions unite,” Belt said. In Wertenbaker’s thoughtful adaptation of the classic tale, familiar characters have a unique depth and emotion while contending with the monsters at their core: the seven deadly sins.

“In looking for a project on which Willamette University theatre and dance could collaborate, ‘The Ash Girl’ offered lyrical, heightened text, and unique characters and action that beckoned further dance interpretation — the Ash Girl and the prince meet at a ball, after all,” said Belt, who has danced professionally with such companies as the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and American Festival Ballet. “In a sense it is a musical with no singing.”

Willamette University Theatre is pleased welcome guest artist John Parnham, a stage makeup and prosthetics expert, to the production. Parnham has been working in special effects makeup for film, television and theatre since 1995. Recently, his work has been seen in the films “Creep,” “Dark Morning,” “The Lurking,” “The Wish,” “Bale Rue,” the Holsten Pils beer commercial featuring the 450-year-old men, and the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. His work for “The Ash Girl” will enhance the production’s fantastical landscape by turning some of the actors into human-animal hybrids.

The other technical elements of the production embrace the play’s enchantment. Scene designer and theatre department chair Chris Harris will conceive the play’s mystical landscape. Bobby Brewer-Wallin will invent the characters’ otherworldly costumes, and fellow theatre faculty member Vikki McGuire will design the production’s dreamlike lighting. “The Ash Girl” presents a remarkable opportunity for junior theatre major Ben Crop, who is creating the production’s vibrant soundscape.

The company features Alex Britain, an undeclared freshman from Bellingham, Wash., as Otter; Kiri Dyken, a senior theatre major from Angels Camp, Calif., as the Ash Girl; Drew Foster, a senior theatre major from Portland, Ore., as Angerbird; Cory Goble, a sophomore theatre major from Las Vegas, Nev., as Amir; Laura Hoff, a junior theatre major from Fresno, Calif., as Judith; Sarah Jo Kendall, a sophomore theatre major from Moscow, Idaho, as Ruth; Eliza Leoni, a senior theatre major from San Francisco, Calif., as Zerha; Britt Lauer, a freshman theatre major from Danville, Calif., as Lust; Tara McLauchlan, a sophomore theatre and psychology major from Woodinville, Wash., as Mother; Ben Nockles, a senior theatre and math major from Gresham, Ore., as Paul; Lesli Okorn, a senior theatre major from Tigard, Ore., as the Fairy in the Mirror; Charlie Owen, a senior theatre major from Asheville, N.C., as Pridefly; Jason D. Panzer, a junior theatre major from Puyallup, Wash., as the Man in the Forest; Annie Rimmer, a junior theatre major from Portland, Ore., as Gluttontoad; Kelsey Scott, a freshman theatre and English major from Napa, Calif., as Slothworm; Alex Smith, an undeclared freshman from Honolulu, Hawaii, as Greedmonkey; Whitney Tenold, a senior rhetoric and media studies major from Spokane, Wash., as Envysnake; Amanda Washko, a freshman theatre major from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, as Sadness; and Laura Wheatman, a senior theatre and English major from Pleasanton, Calif., as Owl.

Dancers in the production include Marley Abel, a sophomore psychology major from Ashland, Ore.; Tessa Allen, an undeclared freshman from Davis, Calif.; Sara A. Barnes, a senior rhetoric and media studies major from Portland, Ore.; Gabriele Rose Blahnik, a freshman biology major from Arcata, Calif.; Alexandra Ninneman, an undeclared freshman from Taos, N.M.; Lauren Pressler, a junior history major from Berkeley, Calif.; Cara Saunto, a sophomore economics major from Seattle, Wash.; Theresa Somrak, a sophomore anthropology and Spanish major from Ketchikan, Alaska; and Angela Whitney, a senior politics major from Point Reyes, Calif.

To purchase tickets, contact the Willamette University Box Office at 503-370-6221 or reserve tickets by email at thtr-tix@willamette.edu. Opening night is $12 for general admission and $8 for students and seniors. Most other evening performances are $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors. Contact the box office for specific pricing and details. The Willamette campus is at 900 State Street in Salem. For more information contact the Theatre Department at 503-370-6222 or visit their website at www.willamette.edu/cla/theatre.

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Willamette University Presents Shoebox Shakespeare

Willamette University Theatre presents Shoebox Shakespeare, its first show of the 2006-07 season, Oct. 13 and 14 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 15 at 2 p.m., with a preview Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. The performance will be in the Kresge Theatre at Willamette University.

“Eighty percent of Shakespeare’s plays require nothing more than actors and a playing space,” said Theatre Professor Jonathan Cole. “They rely on the power of the spoken word to indicate time, place and passion.”

Shoebox Shakespeare, he said, presents Shakespeare at his most vital — no elaborate sets, no fancy costumes, just great acting and inventive staging. The performance, which is a collection of the Bard’s best-loved scenes and monologues, is presented in a minimalist style that brings out the vivacity of Shakespeare’s language. Cole and Willamette University students Laura Hoff and Laura Wheatman adapted the scenes and direct.

“This project is near and dear to my heart,” Cole said. “One way to enable theatre to live and thrive is to help young people fall in love with plays. Shakespeare is boring to many high school students and doesn't have anything to do with their real lives. To combat that assumption, we have assembled some of Willamette University's finest actors to bring the Bard from the page to the stage.

“The rough and ready presentation style and the fight scenes, combined with the sheer dramatic and emotional range of the content, should delight even the most jaded audience member,” said Cole, who is an Advanced Actor Combatant certified through the Society of American Fight Directors.

Shoebox Shakespeare presents a remarkable opportunity for artists behind the scenes. Hoff, a junior theatre major from Fresno, Calif., and Wheatman, a senior theatre major from Pleasanton, Calif., serve as assistant directors. They helped adapt and cast the show and will direct a selection of scenes.

The company features Lesli Okorn, a senior theatre major from Tigard, Ore.; Sarah Hamilton, a senior theatre major from Salt Lake City, Utah; Eliza Leoni, a senior theatre major from San Francisco, Calif.; Kyle McBroom, a senior theatre and rhetoric major from Hillsboro, Ore.; Ben Nockles, a senior theatre and math major from Gresham, Ore.; Karen Johnson, a junior history major from Pleasant Hill, Calif.; Annie Rimmer, a junior theatre major from Portland, Ore.; Cory Goble, a sophomore theatre major from Las Vegas, Nev.; Tara McLauchlan, a sophomore theatre and psychology major from Woodinville, Wash.; and Olivia Saccomanno, a freshman psychology major from Grass Valley, Calif.

To purchase tickets, contact the Willamette University Box Office at 503-370-6221 or reserve tickets by email at thtr-tix@willamette.edu. Tickets are $5 for Oct. 12, 14, and 15 performances, and $7 for opening night on Oct. 13. The Willamette campus is at 900 State Street in Salem. For more information contact the Theatre Department at 503-370-6222 or visit the website at www.willamette.edu/cla/theatre/.

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Comic Operetta “H.M.S. Pinafore” Sails into Salem

The Gilbert and Sullivan comic operetta “H.M.S. Pinafore” will be performed Saturday, Sept. 16, at 3 p.m. in the Smith Auditorium at Willamette University.

The Victorian story of class distinction and denied passion will be performed by Mock’s Crest Productions, a professional summer theater company supported by the University of Portland. Now in its 17th season, the company produces high-quality comic opera, employing some of the Pacific Northwest’s finest actors, singers, directors and designers.

When “H.M.S. Pinafore” opened in London in 1878, it was an instant success and ran for 571 performances. It became Gilbert and Sullivan’s first international success — arriving in New York in 1879. Today, it remains one of their most popular operettas with its lyrical melodies and witty libretto.

The operetta’s story takes place aboard the H.M.S. Pinafore, where Little Buttercup sells wares to the crew. Seaman Ralph Rackstraw’s mind, however, is focused on the captain’s daughter, Josephine, whom he loves despite her lofty social status. Josephine is in love with Ralph as well, but cannot admit her attraction to a man of such low rank.

The Captain hopes his daughter will wed Sir Joseph Porter, but Josephine refuses to acknowledge him. Sir Joseph believes a British sailor is any man’s equal. Taking Sir Joseph’s cue, Ralph declares his love to Josephine, who confesses her feelings for him. Plans are made to smuggle the couple ashore to be married, but the lovers’ intentions are betrayed. The play takes a surprising twist as Little Buttercup saves the day.

The operetta is directed by Thomas Graff, with music conducted by Roger Doyle. Ernie Casciato plays Sir Joseph Porter, Thomas Prislac Jr. plays Captain Corcoran, James Langston Drake plays Ralph Rackstraw, Anne McKee Reed plays Josephine, Alexis Crump Hamilton plays Little Buttercup and John Vergin plays Dick Deadeye.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, and are available at the door or at the Pentacle Theatre Ticket Office, 145 Liberty St. NE, 503-485-4300. There is a service charge added. Discounted prices are available for the Willamette community. For more information contact the Department of Music at 503-370-6255.

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Multimedia Performance Addresses Cancer

Companydance will perform “Swing a Club: facing cancer,” a powerful multimedia dance work, Saturday, March 18, at 8 p.m. in the Kresge Theatre at Willamette University. There is a $5 suggested donation, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. Call the theatre box office at 503-370-6221 or email thtr-tix@willamette.edu to reserve tickets.

Through the use of dance, visual art, text and music, Swing a Club explores themes of life and death, hope and grief, support and letting go. The integration of several forms of expression creates multiple points of entry that make the work accessible to everyone. This event is the inaugural program of a series featuring speakers and performers who use new technologies in the creation and presentation of art works in a variety of media. The work was conceived and directed by Anthony Roberts, artist in residence at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. Roberts also performs with the troupe.

“This is an opportunity for us to say ‘this is what matters to me’ and to honor that,” Roberts said in describing his work. “It’s about getting closer to your family and what you love and asking yourself how you are going to pass on that love to others.”

The program is sponsored by the Keck Initiative in the Arts and Technology in cooperation with Willamette University Integrated Technology Services.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “Three Farces and a Funeral”

Willamette University Theatre will perform its third spring production “Three Farces and a Funeral,” an adaptation of Chekhov adapted by Robert Brustein. This performance is directed by Susan Coromel, and designed by guest designer Tim Stapleton.

The production will open Friday, April 23 at 8:00 p.m. with a preview on Thursday, April 22, also at 8:00 p.m. The show will run April 22-24 and April 29- May 1 at 8:00 p.m., with matinees April 25 and May 2 at 2:00 p.m. and a student matinee on April 29 at 11:00 a.m. The May 2 performance will be signed for the hearing impaired.

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Student and senior tickets are $6 for all shows. The preview is half price. Please pay special attention to our student matinee on March 11 at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $5 per student, and one chaperone is admitted free with every 10 students. For ticket reservations and group rates, please contact the box office at 503-370-6221.

Robert Brustein, previous artistic director of the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA, has taken three of Chekhov’s most popular comedies; The Marriage Proposal, The Bear, and The Wedding Party and linked them with excerpts from the playwright’s poignant, romantic love letters and scenes from his life. You’ll laugh in recognition at the age-old rituals of love, courtship, and marriage in this effervescent flight of farces.

If you have any questions regarding any of the productions this season, please call 503-370-6222.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “The Promise”

Willamette University Theatre will perform its second spring production “The Promise,” by Aleksei Arbuzov, translated by Ariadne Nicolaeff. This performance is directed by Bruce Hostetler, and designed by guest designer Tim Stapleton.

The production will open Friday, March 5 at 8:00 p.m. with a preview on Thursday, March 4, also at 8:00 p.m. The show will run March 4-6 and 11-13 at 8:00 p.m., with matinees March 7 and 14 at 2:00 p.m. and a student matinee on March 11 at 11:00 a.m. The March 14 performance will be signed for the hearing impaired.

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Student and senior tickets are $6 for all shows. The preview is half price. Please pay special attention to our student matinee on March 11 at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $5 per student, and one chaperone is admitted free with every 10 students. For ticket reservations and group rates, please contact the box office at 503-370-6221.

“The Promise” opens during the three-year siege of Leningrad in 1942, as three young people find shelter together and establish a triangular relationship. The girl wants to be a doctor. One of the boys dreams of becoming a poet, while the other has decided to be an engineer so that he may build bridges. Over the next 17 years, the intricacies of the triangle and the rising and falling of their hopes for each other and themselves create a touching search for life fulfillment.

In April and May The Willamette University Theatre will present “Three Farces and a Funeral,” an adaptation of Chekhov by Robert Brustein and directed by Susan Coromel. Productions will run April 22 - May 2.

If you have any questions regarding any of the productions this season, please call 503-370-6222.

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“Our Country’s Good” Opens At Willamette University

Based on a true story, “Our Country’s Good” takes place during the founding of Sydney, but its depiction of nation-building resonates with many of the issues we face today in trying to rebuild Iraq or Afghanistan.

As the first ship of convicts (petty criminals--pickpockets, not murderers) tried to establish a new colony in Australia, the officers had great trouble maintaining order. The supply ships that were to bring additional food were delayed, supplies were running out, the land was not arable, and the convicts and officers were pushed to the limits. As they grew hungrier, the convicts began to steal food and to try to escape. In an attempt to maintain control, the officers kept increasing punishment for crimes. Those who stole a loaf of bread were first given 50 lashes, then 100 lashes, then death by hanging. But since punishment did not relieve the convicts’ hunger, this strategy did not work. The colony became a chaotic and violent place, divided by extreme prejudice.

“Our Country’s Good,” written by Timberlake Wertenbaker and directed by Tori Haring-Smith, previews at the Willamette University Theatre Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. Regular 8 p.m. performances are also scheduled for Nov. 14-15 and Nov. 20-22. Matinees are scheduled for Nov. 16 and Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. The Nov. 23 performance will be signed for the hearing impaired.

Preview tickets are $5 for the general public and $3 for students and seniors. Evening performance tickets are $10 for the general public and $6 for students and seniors. Matinee tickets are $8 for the general public and $6 for students and seniors. Tickets are available beginning Nov. 10. Reservations may be made any time during regular working hours by calling 503-370-6221.

”The play is a plea against violence. It shows that punishment is not always the means by which a society controls and heals itself,” said director Haring-Smith. “Because the play demonstrates how theatre builds community, it will be staged in the round. In this way, the actors will be enveloped by the audience, and the audience will be aware of itself as a community, albeit a temporary one.”

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “Our Country’s Good”

Willamette University Theatre will perform its second fall production “Our Country’s Good,” by Timberlake Wertenbaker. This performance will be directed by Tori Haring-Smith, and featuring Tim Stapleton as guest designer.

The production will open Friday, Nov. 14 at 8:00 p.m. with a preview on Thursday, Nov. 13, also at 8:00 p.m. The show will run Nov. 13-15 and 20-22 at 8:00 p.m., with matinees Nov. 16, and 23 at 2:00 p.m. and a student matinee on Nov. 20 at 11:00 a.m. The Nov. 23 performance will be signed for the hearing impaired.

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Student and senior tickets are $6 for all shows. The preview is half price. Please pay special attention to our student matinee on Oct. 9 at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $5 per student, and one chaperone is admitted free with every 10 students. For ticket reservations, please contact the box office at 503-370-6221.

“Our Country’s Good” is a testament to the power of the human imagination to overcome prejudice. Based on a historical incident that occurred during the colonizing of Australia, this play explores the causes of racial, class and gender violence in a story that is frightening, funny, romantic, and uplifting.

In February The Willamette University Theatre will present its “Spring Dance Concert”, directed by Virginia Belt. Productions will run Feb. 12-15.

If you have any questions regarding any of the productions this season, please call 503-370-6222.

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“Savage in Limbo” Plays At Willamette

“Savage in Limbo” opens at Willamette University Theatre Feb. 20th.

Directed by Ted DeChatelet, the play tells the story of Denise Savage, a “wild-haired, strong, belligerent and scared 32-year-old virgin” who passes a tumultuous evening with four old acquaintances in a decrepit New York bar.

The play is highly theatrical and both vulgar and poetic in its use of adult language and unpredictable twists.

John Patrick Shanley, whose screenplay for “Moonstruck” won both the Writer’s Guild Award and an Academy Award for best original screenplay, wrote the provocative play.

Play dates are Feb. 20-22, 27-28 and March 1 at 8 p.m. The Feb. 23 and March 2 matinees begin at 2 p.m.

Tickets range from $3 to $10. For ticket information, call 503-370-6221.

DeChatelet has worked as a professional actor both in New York City and for various regional theatres such as Classic Stage Company, Buffalo Studio Arena, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the Shakespeare Festivals of Colorado, North Carolina, Illinois, Georgia and Connecticut. Most recently DeChatelet originated the role of Jaisu in the world premiere of David Ives' "Polish Joke" at A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE in Seattle. DeChatelet has trained extensively with the Society of American Fight Directors and has choreographed fights at several theatres across the country including Queens Theatre in the Park, 23rd Street Playhouse and Theatre 3 in New York City, Illinois Opera Theatre and Illinois Repertory Theatre. DeChatelet received his MFA in acting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has studied acting with Wynn Handman in New York City. DeChatelet is a member of the Actor's Equity Association and is currently represented by the Erhart Talent agency in Portland, Ore.

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“Big Love” Plays at Willamette

“Big Love,” written by Charles Mee and directed by Lisa Rothe, opens at the Willamette University Theatre Nov. 14 and plays Nov. 15-16, and Nov. 21-23 at 8 p.m. Matinees are scheduled for Nov. 17 and 24 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $3 to $10. For ticket details call 503-370-6221.

The hit of the 2000 Humana Festival of New American Plays, “Big Love” is an outrageously hip, disarmingly funny look at men, women and the inescapable power of love.

On the eve of their wedding, and the brides-to-be are not amused. Promised as infants to their cousins, the girls are having second thoughts about marriage. Stealing away on the family yacht, they seek asylum at a sumptuous Italian villa. The boys soon arrive in hot pursuit and the resulting nuptials quickly turn into a knock-down, drag-out, no-holds-barred war between the sexes.

Rothe most recently directed “Top Girls” at Stella Adler in New York City and played Madge in “Time and the Conways” off Broadway with the Epic Theatre Company. She has directed and taught at various theatres and universities across the country including Manhattan Theatre Source, Riverside Theatre in Iowa City, NYU, Chautauqua Theatre Conservatory and Long Island University.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents “The Diviners”

Willamette University Theatre presents "The Diviners" by Jim Leonard Jr., directed by Guest Director Michael Griggs with Guest Artist Ted deChatelet.

The production begins with a preview on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. The show will run Oct. 4 and 5 and Oct 10 through 12 at 8 p.m. Matinees run Oct. 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. and Oct. 10 at 11 a.m.

The play takes place in rural Zion, Indiana, during the depression of the 1930's. It brings together a disturbed young man and an itinerant preacher disenchanted with the hollowness of pious religiosity. Both men struggle with events from their past, until the inner turmoil of one life is fused with the childhood trauma of the other in the play's climax … "The Diviners is a splendid drama by a playwright with poetic as well as human feeling" - Variety Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for Sunday matinees. Student and senior tickets are $6 for all shows. Preview is half price.

For ticket reservations please contact the Box Office at 503-370-6221. For additional information, contact Alyssa Bradac, Willamette University Theatre publicity manager, 503-370-6222.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “All My Sons”

Willamette University Theatre will perform "All My Sons" by Arthur Miller, directed by Guest Artist Rod Ceballos.

The production begins with a preview on Thursday, April 18, at 8 p.m. The show will run April 19 and 20 and April 25-27 at 8 p.m. Matinees will run April 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. and a special student matinee will be held April 25 at 11 a.m.

"All My Sons" was the first great theatrical success for Arthur Miller and won him the Drama Critics award for Best New American Play in 1947. Set in post World War II America, the play examines what happens to a man brought into the direct path of the consequences he has created. Indeed, he discovers "the pit of insecurity beneath the surface of life."

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for Sunday matinees. Student and senior tickets are $6 for all shows. Preview is half price. A discounted student matinee is scheduled for April 25 at 11 a.m. Tickets are $5 per student, and one chaperone is admitted free with every 10 students. For ticket reservations, please contact the Box Office at 503-370-6221. For additional information, contact Suzanne Kersh at 503-370-6222.

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“Threepenny Opera” at Willamette

The Willamette University Music Theatre Workshop will present "The Threepenny Opera" by Bertolt Brecht April 5-6 at 8pm and April 7 at 2pm in Smith Auditorium on the University campus. With music by Kurt Weill and English adaptation by Marc Blitzstein, the opera will be conducted by Ben St.Hilaire and directed by Jan Powell.

This fresh staging of one of the most blistering and unforgettable musical dramas of the 20th century brings Mack the Knife to life in contemporary times. Barriers will crumble between actor and character, performer and audience. In this production, a group of homeless people takes up residence in abandoned Smith Auditorium and invites the well-fed public to enjoy their "Beggar's Opera" with a twist.

The suave con man, Macheath, is irresistible to women and coldhearted as a shark. He plies his dirty trade in a colorful underworld of panhandlers and prostitutes, corrupt police and thieves. Deceit after deceit builds to one of the most audaciously hilarious finales in contemporary theatre.

Tickets are $8 for the general public, $6 for students and seniors and $3 for Willamette University faculty, students and staff in the music office beginning Monday, April 1.

For more information call 503-370-6255.

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“Stop Kiss” Opens Feb. 15

Willamette University Theatre opens its first spring production, “Stop Kiss,” Friday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. with a preview on Thursday, Feb. 14, also at 8 p.m. The show will run Feb. 15-16 and Feb. 21-23 at 8 p.m., with matinees on Feb. 17 and 24 at 2 p.m. The Feb. 24th performance will be signed for the hearing impaired. A post-show discussion with the cast and crew will be held at the Feb. 21 performance.

Tickets at the Willamette Kresge Theatre Box Office are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Student and senior tickets are $6 for all shows. Preview is half price.

“Stop Kiss” is a relatively new piece by playwright, Diana Son. At the heart of this funny, touching play are two single women trying to make their way in New York. Callie is a “hip” woman who is in the “know”-- the right restaurants, the right clubs, the right streets to drive on. She knows almost everything, except what she wants.Sara has just recently come to New York and is the perfect antithesis of Callie. She is out of the loop but knows exactly what she wants. The new dynamic that Sara represents in Callie’s life turns everything upside down. When Callie impulsively kisses Sara, they both make a leap of self-awareness and trust. Full of the tenderness of romance and the ugliness of violence, this contemporary comedy-drama reminds us all of the need to seize the day in the matters of love.For more ticket information, please call 503-370-6221.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “Speaking Names”

Willamette University Theatre is pleased to present a student performance project, “Speaking Names.”

"Speaking Names" combines prose, poetry, and song into a theatrical presentation of events from the history of Willamette University as seen through the eyes of the playwright, Willamette senior Sarah Johnson. The play includes stories of three Willamette presidents, the myths and culture of the Kalapuyan tribes native to the area, and two college newspaper editors fighting with student government about freedom of speech.

The play will be presented as a staged reading. The ensemble cast includes Jenna Ciralli, Bracken Killpack, Michael Lowery, Carrie McIntyre, Esperanza Plath, and Duncan Robertson, each in multiple roles.

The reading will preview in Cone Chapel Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. Evening readings will be held Nov. 2 and 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Montag Amphitheatre, weather permitting, and a matinee will be held in Cone Chapel Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. In case of inclement weather, both Montag readings will be held in Cone Chapel. There will be a discussion with the actors, crew, and playwright directly after each reading.

Admission is free. Seating is limited. For more information, please contact Suzanne Kersh at 503-370-6222.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents “How I Learned To Drive”

Willamette University Theatre will perform "How I Learned to Drive" by Paula Vogel and directed by Susan Coromel.

The production will open Friday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. with a preview on Thursday, Nov. 9, also at 8 p.m. The show will run Nov. 10-11 and 16-18 at 8 p.m., with matinees Nov. 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. and Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. A post-show discussion with the cast and crew will be held after the Nov. 16th 8 p.m. performance.

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Students and senior tickets are $6 all shows. Preview is half price. For ticket reservations, please contact the box office at 503-370-6221. For additional information, contact Jen Druback, Willamette University's theatre publicity manager, at 503-370-6222.

Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "How I Learned to Drive," explores the complex relationship between the main character Lil'Bit and her Uncle Peck as he teaches her the rules of the road and of life. Vogel takes us on a journey down the roads of rural Maryland in the 60's and 70's and leads us through a tale of forgiveness and survival. Disarmingly funny, the play recaptures the confusing swirl of adolescence and how one woman learned to live with, rather than be defeated by, the scars of time. This play contains adult scenes and language.

In December, Willamette University will be producing "Selling It," a student written/student directed play. The play was written by Willamette University senior Scotty Iseri and is being directed by Willamette senior Joe Bolenbaugh.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents “Quilters”

Willamette University Theatre Presents "Quilters" October 4, 2001

Willamette University Theatre will perform "Quilters" by Barbara Damashek and Molly Newman, directed by Susan Coromel with Musical Director Susan Vaslev and Guest Artist Suzy King.

The production opens Friday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. with a preview on Thursday, Nov. 8, also at 8 p.m. The show will run Nov. 9-10 and 15-17 at 8 p.m., Nov. 11 at 7 p.m., with matinees Nov. 11, 17 and 18 at 2 p.m. and Nov. 15 at 11 a.m.

A musical written by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek, "Quilters" received six Tony nominations in 1985, including Best Book and Best Musical.

"In a life filled with backbreaking work and poverty, pioneer women found ways of surrounding themselves with beauty. In the midst of our hectic lives, it is a relief to step back and look at the things that are fundamentally important. The main concern of the tales told here is one of survival." -Karen Lund

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for Saturday matinees and all Sunday performances. Student and senior tickets are $6 all shows. Preview is half price. For ticket reservations, please contact the Box Office at 503-370-6221. For additional information, contact Jen Druback, Willamette University theatre publicity manager at 503-370-6222.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “Art In Action”

Willamette University Theatre will present its annual spring dance concert - "Art in Action." Combining performances in modern dance with humorous interpretations of classical ballet, "Art in Action" explores themes of the human condition sometimes going a little over the edge.

Running for only one weekend, "Art in Action" previews on March 8 at 8:00 p.m. Evening performances are on March 9 and 10 at 8:00 p.m., with a Sunday matinee on March 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Student and senior tickets are $6 for all shows. The preview show is half price. For ticket reservations, please contact the box office at 503-370-6221. For additional information, contact Jen Druback, Willamette University Theatre publicity manager, at 503-370-6222.

Kimberly Christensen, artistic director for the concert, has been the dance instructor at Willamette University for five years. She also teaches at the University of Oregon and danced with the Van Ummersen Dance Company. This year's guest choreographer, Walter Kennedy, was a principal dancer and master teacher for nearly 20 years with the internationally acclaimed Lewitzky Dance Company. Prof. Clay Everett and Willamette student Lindsay Linx Alexanderson '02 will be creating the lighting design.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “Tartuffe”

Willamette University Theatre will perform its final production of this season, Tartuffe, by Molire, directed by guest artist Leslie Brott.

The production will open Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m. with a preview on Thursday, April 19, also at 8 p.m. The show will run April 20-21 and 26-28 at 8 p.m., with matinees on April 22 and 29 at 2 p.m., and April 26 at 11 a.m. The April 29 performance will be signed for the hearing impaired. A post-show discussion with the cast and crew will be held at the April 26 performance.

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Student and senior tickets are $6 for all shows. Preview is half price. For ticket reservations, please contact the box office at 503-370-6221. For additional information, contact Jen Druback, Willamette University Theatres publicity manager, at 503-370-6222.

"Tartuffe" is among the greatest literary reflections of religious hypocrisy ever written. A hilariously witty satire, Molire shatters social conventions that continually ring in the ears of present day audiences. Set in 17th century Paris, Orgon, a wealthy aristocrat, adopts the religious zealot, Tartuffe, into his household. Orgon is so taken with the seemingly pious man, that he offers Tartuffe everything in his grasp - money, luxury, even his daughter. However, Tartuffe is not as pious and pure as he lets on. The other members of the household are not as eager as Orgon to accept Tartuffe as their proverbial savior and try to help Orgon realize his folly in his philanthropic misadventures.

Tartuffe is Leslie Brott's directorial debut at Willamette University. She appeared as a guest artist in Willamette Theatre's 1996 production of The Sea, by Edward Bond. Brott is a member of Actors Equity Association, and has extensive acting and directing experience throughout the country at prestigious theaters such as the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Arizona Shakespeare Company and the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.

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Willamette Musical Theatre To Perform “Guys And Dolls”

Willamette University Musical Theatre will perform "Guys and Dolls" on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, April 1 at 3 p.m. in Smith Auditorium.

The April 1 matinee performance will be signed for the hearing impaired. Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors and $3 for Willamette University students. Contact 503-370-6255 for more information.

Considered one of Broadway's most hilarious shows, "Guys and Dolls" has been described as the perfect musical comedy. It is based primarily on the Damon Runyon short story "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown," which describes the unlikely romance between a pure-at-heart urban missionary and a slick Broadway gambler. In 1951, New York Times drama critic Brooks Atkinson wrote of "Guys and Dolls", "It is a triumph of style. In the case of Guys and Dolls, luck has been a lady."

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “Art In Action”

Willamette University Theatre will present its annual spring dance concert - "Art in Action." Combining performances in modern dance with humorous interpretations of classical ballet, "Art in Action" explores themes of the human condition sometimes going a little over the edge.

Running for only one weekend, "Art in Action" previews on March 8 at 8:00 p.m. Evening performances are on March 9 and 10 at 8:00 p.m., with a Sunday matinee on March 11 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Student and senior tickets are $6 for all shows. The preview show is half price. For ticket reservations, please contact the box office at 503-370-6221. For additional information, contact Jen Druback, Willamette University Theatre publicity manager, at 503-370-6222.

Kimberly Christensen, artistic director for the concert, has been the dance instructor at Willamette University for five years. She also teaches at the University of Oregon and danced with the Van Ummersen Dance Company. This year's guest choreographer, Walter Kennedy, was a principal dancer and master teacher for nearly 20 years with the internationally acclaimed Lewitzky Dance Company. Prof. Clay Everett and Willamette student Lindsay Linx Alexanderson '02 will be creating the lighting design.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “The Bald Soprano” & “The Lesson”

Willamette University Theatre will perform an evening of two classic one-act plays ­"The Bald Soprano" and "The Lesson" by Eugene Ionesco, one of the foremost playwrights of the "Theatre of the Absurd."

The production will open Friday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. with a preview on Thursday, Feb. 15, also at 8 p.m. The show will run Feb. 15-17 and 22-24 at 8 p.m., with matinees Feb. 18 and 25 at 2 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 11 a.m.

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Students and senior tickets are $6 all shows. Preview is half price. For ticket reservations, please contact the box office at 503-370-6221. For additional information, contact Jen Druback, Willamette University's theatre publicity manager, at 503-370-6222.

Ionesco's first play, "The Bald Soprano," satirizes the monotony of the daily lives of the English, middle class, frozen in their meaningless formalities. He places the tragic and farcical side by side. In "The Lesson," a teacher gains domination over his pupil through his superior use of language.

Several Willamette University theatre professors are involved with this production. Prof. Julie Akers will be directing the production, her fifth at Willamette. Scene design is by Prof. Chris Harris. Light design is by Clay Everett, with costume design by Bobby Brewer-Wallin.

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Willamette Theatre Students To Compete In Prestigious Regional Competition

The Willamette University Theatre’s cast from “How I Learned to Drive” was chosen to compete in the prestigious Kennedy Theatre American College Theatre Festival’s regional competition in Anchorage, Alaska during the week of Feb. 12. Five plays will be chosen from regional competitions throughout the country to perform at the national competition in the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Susan Coromel, co-chair of Willamette’s theatre department, referred to the regional festival as “the Rose Bowl of university theatre.” In addition, Willamette University is the only Oregon university, the only liberal arts university and the only primarily undergraduate program chosen to compete.

The American College Theatre Festival holds annual regional competitions and selects a small number of plays to be performed. This year approximately 40 plays were entered, with four chosen to compete. Willamette University, along with the University of Wyoming, Western Washington University and the University of Alaska, were the four schools invited to perform plays from their fall theatre season. Willamette participates in a region that includes Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

“Participation in the competition and the reputation of the American College Theatre Festival increases Willamette’s visibility,” said Coromel. “The judges that travel to Willamette to view our plays always say they are so impressed with the quality that comes out of our small University.”

The Willamette University Theatre will conduct a benefit performance of “How I Learned to Drive” on Friday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. to offset the cost of traveling to the competition. Ticket prices for this performance have not yet been determined. For more information, contact the theatre box office at 503-370-6221. Penske Trucking is underwriting the cost of transporting the set design and props for the play.

In addition to the play being chosen for this prestigious competition, six Willamette student actors will take part in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition at the regional competition in Anchorage, Alaska. This competition provides students with scholarships. Regional winners are also invited to the Kennedy Center to compete on the national level.

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Willamette University Theatre Presents: “Selling It”

Willamette University Theatre will perform "Selling It," an original work written by Willamette University senior Scotty Iseri and directed by Willamette University senior Joe Bolenbaugh.

The production will open Friday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. with a preview on Thursday, Dec. 7, also at 8 p.m. The play will also be performed on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. and a matinee will be performed Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for evening shows and $8 for matinees. Students and senior tickets are $6 all shows. Preview is half price. For ticket reservations, please contact the box office at 503-370-6221. For more information, contact Jen Druback, Willamette University's theatre publicity manager, at 503-370-6222.

A hilarious satire, "Selling It" is about Geoffrey Castle, a newscaster at a small-town television station, who begins dictating his memoirs to an angry young intern named Doris. As the day progresses, the memoir gets longer, the promos go bad, the news director gets angrier and angrier, and Geoffrey slowly loses it.

"Selling It" contains adult language and the use of cigarettes. "Selling It" is not only an original student work but is also designed entirely by students. The set designer is sophomore, Megan Bladow, the light designer is sophomore, John B. Hall and the costume designer is junior, Katy Benson.

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