The BRIT Programs Presents THE SHAUGHRAUN

The Shaughraun, Dion Boucicault's comic melodrama masterpiece, tells the story of a wealthy Irishman wrongfully convicted of being a rebel and his shaughraun (vagabond) friend's efforts to help him. Be prepared for treacherous villians, daring escapes, noble heroes, double crosses, cliff- top chases, love at first sight, and damsels in distress! Adult themes, language and nudity.

A reception will be held after the opening night show, Feb. 18 in the Theatre 1 lobby.

To mark its 20th Anniversary, the BRIT program will produce the classic Dion Boucicault melodrama, The Shaughraun. Directed by Malachi Bogdanov, Associate Artistic Director of the English Shakespeare Company, and designed by Bruce French, winner of the Theatre Design Trust Award, the production will undertake a determinedly physical theater approach, in keeping with the Theatre Department's commitment to vigorous, exciting, and challenging performance. Actor and voice specialist Corin Mellinger rounds out this year's contingent.

The Shaughraun premiered in New York in 1874, where it enjoyed enormous popular success. It tells the story of a wealthy Irishman wrongfully convicted of being a Fenian rebel and his shaughraun (vagabond) friend's efforts to help him. Treacherous villains, daring escapes, noble heroes, double crosses, clifftop chases, love at first sight, and damsels in distress!

The production team will work extensively with materials from the USF Libraries' Dion Boucicault Theatre Collection in the development of this interpretation of The Shaughraun. The collection consists of approximately 800 items, including printed and manuscript play scripts, sides, stage directions, letters, prompt books, photographs and musical scores.