The Goshen College Department of Theater is pleased to announce our 2014-2015 Season!!

GOSHEN PEACE PLAYS

GC students and faculty will stage the WORLD PREMIERE performances of the 2014 Goshen Peace Play Contest winners.

–the winning playwright will be our guest for the weekend (more details to come yet this summer)

Performance Dates: October 3-5, 2014

FALL MAINSTAGE

EURYDICE by Sarah Ruhl

a play in three movements, directed by Michelle Milne, M.F.A.

Performance Dates: November 14-16 and 22-23, 2014

Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl, winds romance, death, humor, whimsy, music, and poetry together into a play in three “movements.” Ruhl’s contemporary version of the Greek myth Orpheus is told from the point of view of his wife Eurydice, has subtext that resonates with the death of Ruhl’s own father, and incorporates elements of magical realism.

Eurydice loves literature, and her new husband Orpheus loves music. They attempt to communicate through these related but different languages (literature and music) – leading to some communication challenges, as well as delightfully playful dialogue. Other characters include the child-like, spoiled-brat Lord of the Underworld; Eurydice’s endearing father; and a Very Interesting Man (or at least, he believes he is) – otherwise known as the Nasty Interesting Man, who lures Eurydice to his ultra-high condo on her wedding day. Characters write letters to each other, sent from life to death and back again; Eurydice builds a room out of string; and she travels in a raining elevator. Ruhl’s Eurydice lends itself to playful, dreamlike, and creative interpretation of staging, design, and character – an exciting opportunity for all ensemble (acting and design) members.

The play calls for 3 men, 1 woman (with a potential 2nd woman in an alternate script version), and a “Chorus of Stones,” which can be men or women. The chorus of stones will not be your typical “chorus” role – you will not simply be supporting the story, but you will be integral to it, and to creating the style of the play’s world. We will use Ruhl’s language, but will expand that into as much movement and vocal creativity as the cast wants to bring to the process. There will be a lot of room for creative input! We will use a creative, collaborative, ensemble-based, physically and visually engaging approach to rehearsals – ideally with designers and actors exchanging ideas throughout the process as we create our own particular world of the play.

 

Performance Dates: February 13-15, 2015

SPRING MAINSTAGE

THE BOYS NEXT DOOR by Tom Griffin

A play in two acts, directed by Doug Liechty Caskey, Ph.D.

Performance Dates: March 20, 22, 27-29, 2015

Set in the Boston area, it deals with four men with various mental disabilities who live in a group home. It takes place over roughly a two-month period and consists of brief vignettes about their lives. The play provides a humorous commentary on the men’s lives, taking a surprising turn as Barry’s father comes to visit, and Jack (their caretaker) accepts a new job.

 Our production will be wonderfully challenging and will push us (actors, design/creative team) to honor the human dignity of the developmentally disabled residents of the Goshen community (and beyond).  The cast consists of 7-8 men, 3 women.  Six of the cast members play developmentally disabled adults, and the other 3+ roles include their young social worker (narrator), a domineering father, and various neighbors/co-workers of the residents.  Despite the daily humor and at-times-chaotic scenes that dominate, the play works toward a powerfully poignant ending as we track the fate of the residents and Jack’s own journey toward burnout from his intense work with “the boys next door.”  Those of you who make it into the cast or land a creative team position will be on the front lines of theater for positive social change!