It all starts with The Simpsons.
A new season of plays is about to begin at University Players, and with it comes a refreshing and bold new look for the 60-year old theatre company with a new logo and a bold palette of posters for the 6 shows of the season. The 60th Anniversary Season promises to be a thrilling and dramatic look at the theme of love and war, accompanied by special events throughout the school year.
“We look forward to captivating our audiences with this year’s selection of classic and contemporary works,” says School of Dramatic Art Director Tina Pugliese. “Theatre can be a life-changing experience by its power to make us think, feel, and wonder about all sorts of possibilities; this season is filled with a variety of themes that are sure to entertain and inspire.”
Opening the season is a modern comedy, Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play by Anne Washburn and directed by Lezlie Wade. Lezlie returns to University Players after directing last year’s production of Les Belles Soeurs. She is notably directing in her 6th Stratford Festival season, where her production of An Ideal Husband runs through October.
Mr. Burns takes place in the near future after an apocalyptic event takes out electricity to the entire world. A group of friends bonded by the need to survive recall a favourite episode of the Simpsons, and unknowingly create the stories which will become the historic legends of a new era. Not just for fans of the long-running animated series, it is a musical tribute to the modern mythology of pop culture and a darkly funny exploration of a post-electric existence.
All performances from Wednesday to Saturday start at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinee performances are at 2 p.m. On Sunday September 23, a “Talk Back” discussion with the actors will follow the performance. Essex Hall Theatre is located on the University of Windsor campus on the corner of Wyandotte and Patricia.
Individual and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.universityplayers.com or by calling the box office at 519-253-3000 x2808. University of Windsor students can purchase a ticket for just $8, and regular price tickets start at $19.
University Players 60th Anniversary Season Includes:
Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play
by Anne Washburn – directed by Lezlie Wade
September 21 – September 30, 2018
A Streetcar Named Desire
by Tennessee Williams – directed by Kelly Daniels
October 26 – November 4, 2018
Journey’s End
By R.C. Sherriff – directed by Jim Warren
November 23 – December 2, 2018
The Penelopiad
by Margaret Atwood – directed by Kelli Fox
February 1 – February 10, 2019
God of Carnage
by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton – directed by Heather Davies
March 1 – March 10, 2019 (Hatch Studio Theatre)
Love and Information
by Caryl Churchill – directed by Marc Bondy
March 22 – March 31, 2019
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