The dead will rise from the grave ... a witch hunt will decide the fates of three people ... a once glorious institution will face the wrecking ball...and a classic literary character will take his case to court.
Of course, these kinds of occurrences don't happen every day. At the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance, however, such events are just samples of the amazing things on tap for its 2011 - 2012 performance season.
Among the season's highlights are Lanford Wilson's award-winning "Hot l Baltimore" (Sept. 30 - Oct. 9), Arthur Miller's classic "The Crucible" (Feb. 24 - March 4), horror-comedy musical "Zombie Prom" and a new look at Dickens' classic characters in "The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge."
Season subscriptions go on sale April 22, and tickets for individual plays will be available in September. For additional details, call 713-743-2929 or visit the box office website.
Performances are either in the Lyndall Finley Wortham Theatre or Jose Quintero Lab Theatre. Both are located in the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts (Entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard).
The following five plays are included in the school's subscription series.
Sept. 30 - Oct. 9: "Hot l Baltimore" by Lanford Wilson
Eavesdrop on the comings and goings of the eccentric, motley residents of the Hotel Baltimore as they discover their once elegant home is slated for the wrecking ball. Slices of private and public conversations reveal the fears, longings and hilarious foibles of these lost souls as they face an uncertain future. This ensemble comedy sings a tragic lament for the lost values of the "American Dream," fracturing stability while celebrating hope and progress. "Hot l Baltimore" received the Obie Award for Best New Play.
Oct. 14 - 23: "Our Lady of 121st Street" by Stephen Adly Guirgis
The Ortiz Funeral Room is in big trouble. The body of beloved community activist Sister Rose has been stolen from the viewing room. While awaiting its proper return, colorful neighborhood citizens try to confront their grief, checkered pasts and uncertain futures. You'll meet Rooftop, a chronically unfaithful but otherwise popular Los Angeles DJ; Pinky and Edwin, two brothers tragically linked forever; and the outrageously angry Norca, who slept with her best friend Inez's husband. These characters and others are on a collision course with each other that's motivated by rage, pain and a scary desire to come clean - perhaps for the first time.
Feb. 24 - March 4: "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller's Tony Award-winning play was widely acclaimed as a metaphor for the recklessness of Joseph McCarthy and his spurious crusade against communism. This story of the Puritan purge of witchcraft in old Salem is both a gripping historical drama and a timely parable of our contemporary society. Abigail accuses her lover John Proctor's wife of witchcraft. Proctor brings his wife Elizabeth to court to confront the lie, and it is here that the monstrous course of bigotry and deceit is terrifyingly depicted.
April 20 - 29: "The Cripple of Inishmaan" by Martin McDanagh
Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland in 1934, "The Cripple of Inishmaan" is a touching comic tale. Word arrives on Inishmaan that the Hollywood director Robert Flaherty is coming to the neighboring island of Inishmore to film "Man of Aran." The one person who wants to be in the movie more than anybody is "Cripple" Billy Claven, who needs a break from the bitter tedium of his daily life.
April 27 - 29, 2012: Spring Dance Concert
This annual show features contemporary works by faculty and guest artists with pre-professional dance company, the UH Dance Ensemble.
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