For those looking for a break from serious drama, an upcoming stage production showcasing the work of one of America's leading comedy writers may be just the thing. Durang? Durang! - An Evening of 12 Short Plays by Christopher Durang will be presented at Grand Valley State University in four performances December 7-10.
The show, as part of the Theatre program's Student Directors Series, is designed, directed and acted entirely by GVSU students, the vast majority of them Theatre majors. It is the first student-directed production to be included in the GVSU Theatre Department's mainstage lineup.
Trinity Bird, a Theatre major from Bronson, Mich.,designed and directs the production, described as an over-the-top sketch comedy. He said he used several criteria when selecting which of Durang's one-act plays to use. I feel the pieces I chose show an overall variety of Durang's work, he said. I also picked several that were open to new concepts ¿ my favorite, perhaps, involving putting a Bob Fosse style to Durang's parody of 'Medea.'
All 12 of the plays are character driven, noted Bird, which puts emphasis on the ensemble cast of eight outstanding actors, who play a total of 31 roles. The student cast features Theatre majors Matthew T. Allan of Battle Creek, Chris S. Teller of Chicago, Dan Kennedy of Traverse City, Tamira A. Henry of Muskegon, Heather Hartnett of Holland and Sheila Williams of Jenison. Also included are Betsy J. Loomis of Traverse City and recent GVSU graduate Katherine Mayberry from Grand Haven. The technical staff for the production is composed entirely of Theatre majors.
Bird recently directed GVSU student productions of Nunsense and Biloxi Blues, which won him a certificate of merit from the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival. His off-campus directing credits include productions of The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Hillsdale Civic Theatre.
The GVSU production of Durang? Durang! includes the short plays Mrs. Sorken, Phyllis and Xenobia, Women in a Playground, Funeral Parlor, DMV Tyrant, One Minute Play, Canker Sores and Other Distractions, The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of Where Babies Come From, Medea, Gym Teacher, Woman Stand Up and Naomi in the Living Room.
Durang? Durang! will play for four performances: December 7, 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m., and December 10 at 2 p.m., in the Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center on the GVSU Allendale Campus. Tickets ¿ $5 general admission, $3 for special populations ¿ are available in the Performing Arts Center ticket office or by calling (616) 895-2300. Note: The production includes some adult language and situations that may not be suitable for all audiences.
