USM's Department of Theatre Announces 2016-2017 Season

The University of Southern Maine Department of Theatre is announcing its 2016-2017 season, a collection of five productions ranging in style and content from the lyricism of Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood" and the whimsy of Julia Cho's "The Language Archive" to the power of "Dance USM" and the wit of the Shakespeare-based opera, "The Merry Wives of Windsor." The season will conclude with a special theatre, music and visual art collaboration, "Molded By the Flow," that will hold opening nights in both Lewiston and Gorham.

The season is also begins with new staff. Andrew Harris, a longtime actor, director and organizer throughout Maine's arts community, will serve as the department chair. Professor Cary Libkin, who directed the spring 2016 musical, "Reefer Madness," will be teaching theatre, musical theatre, and directing, and will lead the development of a strategic plan for the program. Lecturer Sara Valentine has also joined the staff, where she will be teaching acting and directing. All three will also be directing shows this season.

"Under Milk Wood"

A play for voices by Dylan Thomas

Directed by Andrew Harris

"To begin at the beginning: It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black...": - and so the lyrically written, riotously funny and deeply moving portrait of the circle of a spring day in the small Welsh seaside village of Llareggub begins...with ghosts and dreams before dawn, the brilliance and noise of day, to the rain of dusk and the bawdy night! The play was first given a 'try-out' performance in 1953 in New York and promptly hailed as, "probably the richest and certainly the earthiest theatre experience of the season." On January 25th 1954 the B.B.C. broadcast the play, complete and as it was intended - resonating with the Welsh 'singing voice'. We pass along to you, our audience, the very same words Dylan Thomas gave to his actors in 1953, "Love the words."

Sept. 30 to Oct. 9, 2016

Friday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 2 at 5 p.m.

Wednesday, October 5 at 5 p.m. (All seats $5)

Thursday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 9 at 5 p.m.

Main Stage, Russell Hall, USM Gorham Campus

$15 general public; $11 seniors/USM employees/alumni; $8 students

Box Office: (207) 780-5151, TTY 780-5646 or visit usm.maine.edu/theatre

"The Language Archive"

By Julia Cho

Directed by Sara Valentine

"Even with all my languages, there still aren't the right words."

When George, a serious-minded linguist with a passion for preserving dying languages discovers cryptic notes hidden in his shoes and coffee cup, he begins to think his wife might be trying to tell him something. But can he decipher the enigmatic language? Through a series of encounters both poignant and perplexing, this whimsical and quirky comedy explores the nature of love, and the attempts we make to find and express it.

Nov. 10 to 13, 2016

Thursday, November 10 at 10:00 a.m. - HS Matinee

Thursday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 12 at 2 p.m.

Sunday, November 13 at 5 p.m.

Main Stage, Russell Hall, USM Gorham Campus

$15 general public; $11 seniors/USM employees/alumni; $8 students

Box Office: (207) 780-5151, TTY 780-5646 or visit usm.maine.edu/theatre