Northwestern University Announces Upcoming Season and Calendar

The Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) and the department of performance studies at Northwestern University will kick-off the 2008-09 season this fall with a Tony Award-winning musical and two special performance piece events that will examine, document, analyze and theorize on cultural rituals, public identifies and political positions.

To start the month on Oct. 2, E. Patrick Johnson will mark the launch of his new book “Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South” with a free performance inspired by several of the book’s subjects. For the first production in its 2008-09 season, TIC will present the music, song and spectacle of “Sweeney Todd” (Oct. 31 to Nov. 9) by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim, directed by George Cederquist. A special performance of “Sugar” by OBIE Award-winning playwright and guest artist Robbie McCauley will be held Oct. 31.

All events are open to the public and will take place on Northwestern’s Evanston campus, and ticket information for each event follows each performance listing, as noted below.

The Theatre and Interpretation Center and Performance Studies October calendar will include:

“Pouring Tea” performance/reading based on E. Patrick Johnson’s just published book, “Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South,” 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, McCormick Tribune Center Forum, 1870 Campus Drive, Evanston campus. E. Patrick Johnson, professor and chair of Northwestern’s performance studies department, will assume the voices of some of the subjects of his new book “Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South,” including gay activist Duncan, 60-year-old Atlanta artist Freddie, and 93-year-old “Countess Vivian” of New Orleans. Johnson’s oral history is the first book-length study ever to specifically look at gay black men living south of the Mason-Dixon Line and explores how they survive in a region thought to be hostile to gays. A book signing will take place after the performance. Admission is free. For more information call (847) 491-3171 or visit http://www.soc.northwestern.edu/epjohnson.

“Sweeney Todd” by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2; 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6; 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7; 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, Josephine Louis Theatre. An exhilarating stage production of music, song and spectacle, this Tony Award-winning musical by Hugh Wheeler and Stephen Sondheim is based on the 19th century legend of Sweeney Todd. Returning home after 15 years in the Australian penal colonies on false charges, a middle-class barber joins forces with the owner of the worst meat pie shop in London to seek macabre vengeance on those who have wronged him. Directed by George Cederquist, the results of this dark plot are mass murder, a booming meat pie business and grave misfortune. Ticket prices are $20 for the general public; $18 for seniors 65 and older, Northwestern faculty and staff and area educators and administrators; and $10 or full-time students and children. Single tickets go on sale Oct. 7 and may be purchased through the TIC Box Office at (847) 491-7282.

“Sugar” by Robbie McCauley, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, Alvina Kraus Studio in Annie May Swift Hall, 1920 Campus Drive, Evanston campus. OBIE Award-winning playwright, theater director and nationally renowned performance artist Robbie McCauley will perform “Sugar,” a solo work that examines her struggle with diabetes as connected to slavery, war, work, romance and food. McCauley has consistently explored the “herstory” of black women. Admission is free and seating space is limited. For more information call (847) 491-3171.

NORTHWESTERN NEWS: www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/

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