2008 – 2009 PLAYBILL

Fall 2008
Spring 2009

Fall 2008:

SLY FOX

Written by Larry Gelbart, Based on Volpone by Ben Jonson
Directed by Susan Hargrave Pate
October 1, 2, 3, & 4 at 7:30 p.m.; October 5 at 2:00 p.m.
Wismer Theatre
Volpone, the classic comedy from the pen of Ben Jonson, has been moved from 17th century Venice to the Wild West, complete with tough judges and saloon girls. Volpone is now Foxwell J. Sly, and is up to similar tricks…stealing from three greedy rich opportunists to become richer himself. “Sly, pretending to be on his death bed, says he will name each of the three as his sole heir. The extent that the trio will go to acquire Sly's fortune knows no bounds. One goes so far as to disinherit his only son; another offers up his wife to the lecherous Sly. Sly is aided and abetted by his conniving servant in grabbing the other men's gold.” “Truly funny and exhilarating ... brings real comedy back to the theatre.... There's nothing like pure fun.”   N.Y. Post

UBU ROI

Written by Alfred Jarry
October 22, 23, 24, & 25 at 7:30 p.m.; October 26 at 2:00 p.m.
Directed by Katie Whitlock
Harlen Adams Theatre
Murder, Mayhem, Madness…Join us for an evening of absurdity and political caricature as we present Ubu Roi.  Premiering in 1896, creating riots in the artistic community, this landmark piece by playwright Alfred Jarry parodied art, politics, and his high school physics teacher in one evening.  Pastiching Shakespeare, destroying theatrical convention, and introducing the 'anti-hero,' Jarry presents us with a despot, Ubu, as he murders his way to the throne of Poland generating mayhem in his wake.  Considered the precursor of several anti-realist movements, this absurd play presents a biting satire of political power and a cautionary commentary on the human condition wrapped in grotesque humor. 

BERNARDA ALBA

Words and Music by Michael John LaChuisa
Based on the play The House of Bernarda Albaby Federico García
Directed by Joel P. Rogers
November 12, 13, 14, 15 at 7:30 p.m.; November 16 at 2:00 p.m.
Wismer Theatre
BERNARDA ALBA is a master work by Michael John LaChiusa, who has brought us such critically acclaimed hits as Hello Again, The Wild Party, Marie Christine. LaChiusa brings a musical voice to Federico Garcia Lorca's final 1936 masterpiece, The House of Bernarda Alba, through pulsing castanets, trilling Spanish guitars and resounding rhythmic stomps.  BERNARDA ALBA tells the tales of a powerful matriarch, who imposes a strict rule on her household following her second husband's funeral: "Not a breath of outside air is going to enter this house. It's going to feel like we've bricked up the doors and windows," she proclaims. Bernarda's five daughters, however, struggle with her cold wishes. The girls' dreams and desires challenge their mother's harsh rules and the outside world begins to slowly permeate their isolated existence.

FORMATIONS AND AFFIRMATIONS

(Choreography Showcase)

Directed by Susan Hargrave Pate
December 5 & 6 at 7:30 p.m.; December 7 at 2:00 p.m.
Ruth Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall
Martha Graham once said: "…we look at the dance to impart the sensation of living in an affirmation of life, to energize the spectator into keener awareness of the vigor, the mystery, the humor, the variety, and the wonder of life." This year's Chico Dance Theatre continues its long and successful tradition of presenting student choreography in a multitude of styles -- featuring Chico State's best dancers and exploring those places where the power of theatre meets the beauty and exhilaration of dance.

Spring 2009:

IN THE BLOOD

Written by Suzan-Lori Parks
Directed by William J. Johnson
March 4, 5, 6, 7 at 7:30 p.m.; March 8 at 2:00 p.m.
Harlen Adams Theatre
Hester, La Negrita, lives with her five kids under a bridge. Fathered by five different men, they are the joy of Hester’s life and she does whatever is necessary to hold them together as a family and “get a leg up.” Five adult actors double as Hester’s children and the people who try – or claim – to help her: her social worker, her doctor, her best friend, her minister and, finally, her ex-boyfriend and love of her life.  Poetic, ironically funny and deeply moving, Suzan-Lori Parks weaves the threads of Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter with the reality of life in today’s inner city to reveal a particular image of American Puritanism that is truly “in our blood.”

THE LEARNED LADIES

Written by Moliere, Translation TBA
Directed by Cynthia D. Lammel
April 1, 2, 3, & 4 at 7:30 p.m.; April 5 at 2:00 p.m.
Wismer Theatre
Often the desire to appear competent impedes our ability to become competent,
because we are more anxious to display our knowledge than to learn what we do not know.-- Madame de Sable, a contemporary of Moliere
In typical Moliere style, everyone gets what they deserve.  Molière spent his career poking fun at anyone he felt had it coming: including Doctors, Lawyers, and the Clergy. The playwright believed that no one should be exempt from satire. In this 1672 play, Molière takes aim at the intellectual and artistic pretentiousness of Parisian salon society. The play centers around a group of women intent on improving their social standing through intellectual achievement. So proud are these women and men of their quest for knowledge, however, that they neglect to realize that they aren’t actually gaining any. Eccentric characters, hilarious dialogue, mistaken intentions, lots of romantic intrigue and fast-paced action make this one of Molière’s comic masterpieces.

DONNA STONE BREED MEMORIAL STUDENT-DIRECTED ONE-ACTS

Ruth Rowland Taylor Recital Hall
April 16, 17, & 18 at 7:30 p.m.; and April 19 at 2:00 p.m.
This year's students tackle compelling short plays and adaptations in two very different bills -- a different adventure each evening. Student directors experience, first hand, the unique view from the director's chair -- as well as the joy of escorting their peers on an excursion to others times, places and circumstances. (Specific plays TBA.)

CRAZY FOR YOU

Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, Book by Ken Ludwig
Laxson Auditorium
Directed by Michael C. Mazur
May 6, 7, 8, & 9 at 7:30 p.m.; and May 10 at 2:00 p.m.
In the best tradition of classic American musical comedy, CRAZY FOR YOU uses beloved Gershwin songs to tell the story of Bobby Child, a well-to-do 1930's playboy, whose dream in life is to dance. And despite the serious efforts of his mother and soon-to-be-ex-fiancée, Bobby achieves his dream! The show, which takes us on a singing and tap-dancing journey from New York City to the American West and back, won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1992.  CRAZY FOR YOU includes such show-stopping songs as “I Got Rhythm,” “Naughty Baby,” “They Can't Take That Away from Me,” “But Not for Me,” “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” “Embraceable You” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” It's a high energy comedy which includes mistaken identity, plot twists, fabulous dance numbers and, of course, that classic Gershwin music.

For ticket information, please call the University Box Office at 530-898-6333.