Seton Hill Theatre Announces 2006-2007 Season
In addition to offering a dynamic season of professional theatre, Seton Hill will provide a host of services for teachers, students and SHU Theatre fans. Performance information is as follows:
Mazel by Amy Hartman (co-produced with the Holocaust Center of the United Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh)
Director: Jonathan Rest
Mazel, a new play written by Amy Hartman and inspired by the life of Holocaust survivor Jack Sittsamer, portrays a family in which Holocaust memories – kept secret – create bitter family conflict. The conflict threatens to destroy the family until an unlikely angel intervenes. The angel inspires the family to take an amazing journey back through time and half-way around the world to find the truth that unites them. Mazel is hopeful and angry, provocative, compelling, funny, sad, ironic and visceral. It deals not only with the history of the Holocaust, but how we can overcome its legacy – as the universal struggles of family, war and God unfold in our present day world and in the human heart. Seton Hill University Theatre is proud to host the first public performances of Mazel Friday, October 6, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; Saturday, October 7 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, October 8 at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, October 10 at 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, October 11 at 10:30 a.m.; Thursday, October 12 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Friday, October 13 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, October 14 at 8 p.m.
An Evening of One Act Plays by Anton Chekhov
Director: Americus Rocco
The good doctor (Anton) Chekhov, physician by trade, humorist by habit, doses up side-splitting laughter as his characters make their back-pedal pilgrimage from privilege to paucity. Small moments are magnified as these tortured souls attempt dignity one socially catastrophic day at a time. For as Dr. Chekhov said, Any idiot can face a crisis - it's the day to day living that wears you out. If laughter is the best medicine, you can’t miss this collection of comedies. Doctor’s orders. An Evening of One-Act Plays by Anton Chekhov will be presented at Seton Hill Friday, November 10, 2006 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, November 12 at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, November 14 at 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, November 15 at 10:30 a.m.; Thursday, November 16 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Friday, November 17 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, November 18 at 8 p.m.
Everyman
Director: Terry Brino-Dean
When God sends Death for Everyman, Everyman summons his assets, attributes and accomplishments to accompany him. Will worldly goods go with him? Will Beauty? Kinship? In this new look at the English 15th century morality play, we come face to face with final judgment through the eyes of Everyman and, as T. S. Eliot says, …wait for his escape … bound and helpless in a hut to which his enemies are about to set fire. Everyman will be presented at Seton Hill Friday, February 23, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 24 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 25 at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, February 27 at 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, February 28 at 10:30 a.m.; Thursday, March 1 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Friday, March 2 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, March 3 at 8 p.m.
Weird Romance, Two One-Act Musicals of Speculative Fiction
Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by David Spencer, book by Alan Brennert and David Spencer
Director: Denise Pullen
With stunning music by Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid) and cunning lyrics by David Spencer, these two one-acts mix in a little science with their fiction as they transport us melodiously, magically to the future and the far-distant past to tell their tales. In The Girl Who Was Plugged In a bag lady looking to improve her lot agrees to transplant her soul into a sexy, cyber-celebrity advertising android. Of course, the big boss’ son falls for her. But which her? In Her Pilgrim Soul a scientist discovers a spirit suspended in a living holograph, an event that sends him on an expedition to his own soul. Weird Romance will be presented at Seton Hill Friday, April 27, 2007 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 28 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, May 1 at 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, May 2 at 10:30 a.m.; Thursday, May 3 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Friday, May 4 at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, May 5 at 8 p.m.
Venue/Ticket Information: All Seton Hill Theatre performances are held in Reeves Theatre on Seton Hill University’s Greensburg, Pennsylvania campus. Reeves Theatre is a disabled accessible and climate-controlled facility. Parking is free. Single admission tickets are $12. Seton Hill students (with valid ID) can purchase tickets for $5. Students from any school can purchase rush tickets five minutes before curtain, subject to availability, for $5 (with valid school ID). Groups of 16 or more can purchase tickets at a rate of $10 each with a reservation and advance payment. Purchase a subscription and receive one ticket to each of the four productions for $40. Order tickets by phone: 724-838-4241 or by e-mail: boxoffice@setonhill.edu. Seton Hill Theatre’s box office opens September 1, 2006.
Other Seton Hill Theatre Program Information & Events:
Talk Back Sessions provide opportunities for audience members to engage in dialogue with special guests, performers, Seton Hill faculty and other audience members about the aesthetic, political and cultural issues raised by the performance. Talk Backs are offered after the Sunday afternoon matinee and second Friday performances of each production, we groups interested in additional dates may request them through Seton Hill’s box office, 724-838-4241.
Special receptions follow all Friday night opening performances.
Student directed one act plays will be presented in the studio theatre at St. Mary Hall on Seton Hill’s campus December 3 and April 1.
Dance concert in Reeves Theatre December 8.
Free study guides for school classrooms, community groups, and/or individual patrons help to enrich the theatrical experience by guiding explorations of the historical and social contexts particular to each play. Guides contain background information on the play along with classroom/group activities for use both before and after the performance. Study Guides are available for all productions approximately one month before openings by calling the Seton Hill Theatre box office at 724-838-4241.
Harlan Gallery, a professional art exhibition space located near Reeves Theatre at Seton Hill, will be open prior to all Theatre performances. For more information on Harlan Gallery, visit www.setonhill.edu or contact Gallery Director Carol Brode at 724-830-1071 or brode@setonhill.edu.
The Seton Hill University Theatre Program has a long history of educating theatre majors for careers in the professional theatre while playing a vital role in the educational life of the campus. Seton Hill’s Theatre Program offers four full-length productions (as well as a number of shorter works) each year that generate audiences of over 3,500 and speak to topics addressed in courses across Seton Hill’s curriculum. For more information on the Theatre Program at Seton Hill, please visit www.setonhill.edu or call 724-830-0300.