WFU announces 2005-2006 theatre schedule

Directed by Cindy Gendrich, associate professor of theatre at Wake Forest, “Hayfever” is a 1925 classic regarded as Coward’s funniest play. It follows the adventures of the eccentric Bliss family and their guests on a weekend trip in the country.

Scott McPherson’s award-winning play “Marvin’s Room” will run Oct. 28-29 and Nov. 2-5. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m., and a matinee performance will run at 2 p.m. Nov. 6. Directed by Ray Collins, adjunct instructor in theatre, the play is a moving story of death, love and commitment in which Bessie, a 40 year-old woman who has dedicated her life to care for her father and aunt, finds herself in need of help from her long estranged sister Lee.

In the spring semester, the theatre department will present Romulus Linney’s “Gint,” a retelling of Ibsen’s classic tale “Peer Gynt.” Directed by Sharon Andrews, associate professor of theatre, the play unfolds like a strange dream and tells the story of Pete Gint, a young man living in the Appalachian Mountains in 1917. The plot follows Pete as he goes out into the world, becomes an old man, and begins a nightmarish journey home. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10-11 and Feb. 15-18 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 19.

The season will conclude with the musical “Kiss Me Kate.” The play, based on the book by Bella and Sam Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, will be directed by John E.R. Friedenberg, director of theatre. In the play, Fred and Lilly are a divorced pair of actors brought together by Cole Porter who has written a musical version of “The Taming of the Shrew.” The couple seems to act a great deal like the characters they play, and the success of the production is threatened by a fight on opening night and two thugs who believe Fred owes their boss money. The show will run at 7:30 p.m. March 31-April 1 and April 5-8 and 2 p.m. April 9.

The theatre season line-up also includes Wake Forest’s traditional Studio Series of one-act plays directed by senior theatre majors. All Studio Series plays are held in the Ring Theatre of Scales Fine Arts Center.

Studio Series I includes “Virtual Reality” by Alan Arkin, “The American Century” by Murphy Guyer and “Hello Out There” by William Saroyan scheduled for Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

Studio Series II, featuring “All About Al” by Cherie Vogelstein, “Red Carnations” by Glenn Hughes and “In the Western Garden” by Stuart Spencer, will run Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 11 at 4:30 p.m.

Christopher Durang’s “Business Lunch at the Russian Tea Room,” Benjamin Bettenbender’s “Siren Song of Stephen Jay Gould” and David Ives’ “Long Ago and Far Away” make up the performances for Studio Series III. Performances will be Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m.

Season tickets are available by mail (P.O. Box 7264, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109) or at the University Box Office in the theater lobby of Scales Fine Arts Center.

Adult season tickets are $36; $30 for senior citizens, Wake Forest faculty and staff; and $15 for students. Tickets for individual performances cost $12; $5 for students. Studio Series tickets are free for season ticket holders and $2 each for non-season subscribers.

The Anthony Aston Players, a student theatre group separate from the Wake Forest theatre and dance department, will again produce their student-directed shows this spring. Productions have not yet been chosen, but the dates are Feb. 2-4 and March 23-25. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Ring Theatre. The Anthony Aston Players’ productions are not included in subscription packages. Tickets are available at the door for $5; $3 for students.

For more information, call the Wake Forest theatre and dance department at 336-758-5295 or visit www.wfu.edu/theatre.