University of Notre Dame's FTT to Present Lauren Gunderson's I AND YOU

The University of Notre Dame's Department of Film, Television, and Theatre (FTT) announces I and You by Lauren Gunderson, in the PaTricia George Decio Theatre at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, March 1-5, 2017.

Confined to her home with a serious illness, seventeen-year-old Caroline first encounters classmate Anthony as an unwelcome visitor, when he arrives at her bedroom door to deliver her English homework. But as they spar over Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, they spark an unexpected connection - a connection that leads to a breathtaking twist in the play's final moments, revealing the extraordinary nature of their bond.

Gunderson was recently designated "the most-produced living playwright in America" by American Theatre magazine, thanks in part to the broad popularity of I and You, which received the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award in 2014.

"It's easy to understand how I and You has developed such a strong following," says Kevin Dreyer, FTT's Director of Theatre. "Gunderson's language rings true to these teenage characters, even as they grapple with ideas they are uncomfortable talking about."

FTT's production, directed by faculty member Carys Kresny, features an additional twist - in order to enhance the intimate experience of the production, audience members will be seated on the Decio Stage rather than in the auditorium. "FTT has a history of reimagining space in our smaller venue, the Philbin Studio Theatre," says Dreyer, "and we are all excited to explore the possibilities in the much-larger Decio."

Performances run Wednesday, March 1 - Sunday, March 5; Wednesday - Saturday at 7:30 pm; and Sunday at 2:30 pm. Tickets: Student $7, Faculty/Staff/Senior (65+) $12, General $15. Additional discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be purchased online at performingarts.nd.edu, by phone at 574-631-2800, or in person at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center ticket office. Ticket office hours are Monday­-Friday, 12:00-6:00 pm.

Free parking is available daily after 5:00 pm in the Stayer Center parking lot, just north of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Patrons may now receive free event parking at thE Eddy Street Commons Parking Garage by bringing your event tickets and parking ticket to the DPAC Ticket Office to receive a pre-paid parking voucher.

An accessible lot for disabled patrons is available immediately adjacent to the center; a valid hangtag or license plate is required. There is a ten-minute parking zone on the north drive of the center for ticket pick-up; during inclement weather you are welcome to drop off guests in this area and proceed to parking.

Notre Dame's Department of Film, Television, and Theatre seeks to inspire intellectual inquiry and nurture creativity. We offer both a scholarly and a creative context for the general liberal arts student at Notre Dame as well as those students seeking intensive preparation for advanced study in these fields. The hands-on nature of our curriculum, coupled with a very high degree of student-faculty interaction, provides students with a singular educational opportunity at a university known for its teaching excellence. The FTT performance season is a direct outgrowth of the department's academic program and an integral component of our students' artistic development.

Follow FTT on Twitter @NDFTT. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NDFTT.

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