UMD Theatre Season Preview
The upcoming theatre season at UMD will focus on engaging members of the community. Head of Theatre Department, Mark Harvey, explains that while last year’s productions were aimed towards UMD students, this year they are hoping to reach out to the people of Duluth.
“Our season is going to be a lot of fun,” Box Office Manager, RaeAnn Jones, said.
While last year’s season tackled more serious issues, this season is all about having fun.
“We want everyone to be excited,” Harvey said.
“One River,” premiering Sept. 29, is a production written by UMD professor Tom Isbell. This original show is based on the One River, Many Stories project, started by the UMD journalism department last year. It will feature stories from real Duluthians about their personal experiences with the St. Louis River.
“It's about Duluth. There are characters in it that are people that I know,” Harvey said.
In October, “Shakespeare In Motion,” will be a collection of dances inspired by Shakespeare. Students are able to come up with original routines to showcase their love for Shakespeare.
“We wanted it to be centered around the fact that William Shakespeare’s First Folio will be exhibited at the Tweed for the month of October,” Harvey said.
Come December, “She Loves Me” is the first production that will appear on UMD’s mainstage theatre. This will be a very special production this year as Michael Brindisi, from the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, will be directing.
“He was thrilled, he said he could have cast it three times,” Harvey said. “He is really excited to be directing this for us, and we are just thrilled to have him.”
The first show in Spring semester, “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare,” is a fast-paced contemporary comedy.
“It is hilarious for people who know Shakespeare, but it’s also really fun for people who have never seen a Shakespeare play in their life,” Harvey said.
March’s “Marvin’s Room” is the most serious of this year’s productions and will hit the Dudley Experimental Stage. This powerful story deals with a family who has a member suffering from a terminal illness.
“This family comes together to try to grapple with issues that haven’t been dealt with,” Harvey said.
This production will also feature a guest director, William Payne, who is the School of Fine Arts’ dean.
“The Little Mermaid” is this year’s final production and big blockbuster hit. There is hope that it will bring lots of Duluth families to the show.
“I’m expecting that we will get some princesses and mermaids attending,” Jones said.
With this season ready to begin, students can get season tickets that give you a ticket to all three of the Mainstage shows. An individual ticket is $8 and you can get season tickets for $15. Tickets for “One River” are also on sale now.
Shakespeare in Motion
Directed by Rebecca Katz Harwood
October 20-22 at 7:30pm
October 23 at 2pm
One River
Directed by Tom Isbell
September 29-October 1 & October 4-8 at 7:30pm
October 2 at 2pm
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Directed by Jenna Soleo-Shanks
By Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield
February 2-4 & 8-11 at 7:30pm
February 5 at 2pm
She Loves Me
Directed by Michael Brindisi, Guest musical director
Book by Joe Masteroff
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Based on a play by Miklos Laszlo
December 1-3 & 7-10 at 7:30pm
December 4 at 2pm
Disney's The Little Mermaid
Directed by Kate Ufema, musical directed by Andy Kust
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater
Book by Doug Wright
April 13-14 & 19-22 at 7:30pm
April 15, 22 & 23 at 1pm
Marvin’s Room
Directed by SFA Dean, Bill Payne
By Scott McPherson
March 2-4 & 14-18 at 7:30pm
March 19 at 2pm
