Released: November 15, 2010
Lincoln, Neb. - University Theatre at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln continues its season with a modern adaptation of the Moliere classic comedy The Misanthrope. Performances run the two weekends before and after Thanksgiving, November 18, 19, 20 and then again December 1, 2, 3, 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Howell Theatre, first floor Temple Building, 12th & R Streets.
Individual tickets for performances are $16, $14 faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $10 students with ID. Season Passes are $50, $40 faculty/staff and senior citizens and are redeemable for four admissions. Tickets and passes are available at http://carsonschool.unl.edu from the Lied Center Ticket Office, 301 N. 12 Monday through Friday 11 AM to 5:30 PM and one hour prior to the performance in the Temple Theatres Lobby, or by telephone at 472-4747 or 800-432-3231. Reservations for performances are strongly recommended.
This academic year, three of University Theatre's main stage productions are directed by students in the Master of Fine Arts: Directing for Stage and Screen program. The guiding vision for our directing program is our deep commitment to telling stories in strongly theatrical work, and bravely exploring all the technologies at our disposal. During the third and final year of the program each director will direct a fully funded main stage production. This is one of the final projects before presenting a thesis for consideration. The first of the three was last month's Dylan directed by Aaron Sawyer. The final will be Iphigenia 2.0 by Charles L. Mee in February and March directed by Shannon Cameron.
The Misanthrope by Moliere is translated and adapted by Tony Harrison. Alceste, the misanthrope of the title played by Alex Jeffery, is disgusted by the hypocrisy, injustice, and overall corruption in human society. Alceste's concern with the issue of justice has to do with the fact that he is embroiled in several lawsuits, the outcome of which are determined not by which party is in the right but by who has the most influence in court. Nonetheless, Alceste is in love with Celimene, played by Calandra Daby, a young widow with a reputation for flirtation and for surrounding herself with suitors and who is a prime example of the insincerity that Alceste despises in others. The voices of reason who understand the games of society are Alceste's best friend Philinte, played by Mike Lee, and his love interest, Eliante, played by Jaimie Pruden.
Other cast members are Joseph Galda as Oronte the would-be poet, Devon Schovanec as Acaste and Billy Jones as Clitandre, potential suitors for Celimene, Ayana DeNovellis as Arsinoe a woman who has her nose in everyone's business, and Shade Ingraham and Sarah Arten as Basque and Dubois, members of the working class.
The production is directed by Cristina A. Skinner. Skinner is a third year MFA Directing student. The production is designed by Amber Naylor (undergraduate - scenic), Bethany Skinner (graduate student -costumes), Laurel Shoemaker (faculty - lighting), and Logan Caldwell (undergraduate - sound). The production is stage managed by undergraduate management student Emily Wall.
CRISTINA A. SKINNER
Cristina returned to Nebraska a few years ago to pursue her MFA in Directing for Stage and Screen after a career in stage management that took her on travels through most of the Midwest. She is in her third year as Artistic Director of Theatrix, the student driven theatrical company within the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. Some of her favorite shows she has directed include Shipwrecked! An Entertainment; The Techie Ballet, which she conceived and mounted during last academic year and then again in August for the Nebraska Repertory Theatre; and Captain Dow and the Hole in the Donut, a children's theatre piece presented at the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre. Cristina graduated from UNL in 1996 specializing in stage management and spent last summer as Director of Audience Development, Assistant Artistic Director, and Producer of Destinations for the Nebraska Repertory Theatre.
Season Passes:
$50 regular; $40 faculty/staff and senior citizen
Each pass allows the pass-holder FOUR (4) admissions to any University Theatre production. Passes are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Passes must be presented at the Ticket Office to redeem for tickets to specific performances. RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED for performances.
Individual Tickets
$16 regular; $14 faculty/staff and senior citizen; $10 student
Individual performance tickets are valid for one performance only.
Individual performance tickets are non-refundable and will not be exchanged.
Tickets/passes available on line at http://carsonschool.unl.edu or by contacting the Lied Center Ticket Office.
Telephone orders with Visa or MasterCard: 402-472-4747 or 800-432-3231.
University Theatre is sponsored by the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and funded, in part, by the Johnny Carson Film and Broadcast Fund.