Preview
Identifier
Trail to Oregon Program_Page_12
Creation Date
4-14-2023
Disciplines
Arts and Humanities | Theatre and Performance Studies
Description
A-STATE THEATRE 2023-2024 SEASON
Simon Stephen’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Fifteen-year-old Christopher has a mystery to solve. Someone has killed the next-door neighbor’s dog with a garden fork, and Christopher is a suspect. Determined to discover who killed Wellington, the dog, Christopher goes against his father’s wishes by using his incredible brain to investigate the dog’s murder. Though he has never previously ventured beyond the end of his street alone, Christopher’s detective takes him on a frightening journey that tears apart his once-familiar world. The play is a unique and powerful exploration of the inner world of a neurodiverse child and the challenges they face in a society that doesn’t always understand them. Through Christopher’s eyes, audiences are given a glimpse into a world where the rules are different and sensory overload is a constant struggle.
Michael Frayn’s Noises Off
A play-within-a-play farce that follows the antics of a bumbling theater company as they attempt to perform a cheesy comedy. The play opens during a final dress rehearsal, where the cast is struggling with their lines, and the set is falling apart. The first act takes place from the perspective of the audience as the play within the play begins. The second act shows what is happening backstage as the actors struggle with personal problems and technical difficulties, causing the performance to become increasingly chaotic. The third act brings everything full circle, as the audience again sees the play from the front, with all the backstage chaos and mishaps now spilling onto the stage. With physical comedy, witty one-liners, and a touch of slapstick, From start to finish, the play is a masterclass in farce and a celebration of the madness that is the theater world.
Steven Martin & Edie Brickell’s Bright Star
A musical that begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and tells the story of two parallel love stories, one in the 1920s and one in the 1940s. The musical follows the journey of Billy Cane, a young soldier returning from World War II, as he discovers a connection to a talented young writer, Alice Murphy. As their stories unfold, the audience is taken on a journey through love, loss, and the power of the human spirit. With a mix of bluegrass, folk, and traditional show tunes, Bright Star music brings the story to life with a unique and unforgettable sound.
Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists
Our final production takes place in Paris during the French Revolution and follows the lives of four women who are trying to navigate the chaos and upheaval of the time. The play focuses on Olympe de Gouges, a playwright and feminist; Marianne Angelle, a Caribbean spy; Charlotte Corday, a radical Girondin; and Gabrielle de Polastron, a wealthy socialite. The four women come together to discuss and debate their place in the revolution as they struggle with personal ideals, desires, and fears. Through their interactions, the play explores themes of feminism, activism, and the cost of revolution. With humor, wit, and a touch of absurdity, “The Revolutionists” brings the French Revolution to life in a fresh and dynamic way. The play is a powerful exploration of the intersection of politics, art, humanity, and social justice.
Publisher
Arkansas State University
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Theatre Program
Keywords
oregon trail, musical, comedy, parody, nostalgia
