Theater and Performance Studies Season
Friends, Far and Near
2018-19 Theater & Performance Studies Program season at the Davis Performing Arts Center
The 2018-19 Theater & Performance Studies Program season, FRIENDS, FAR & NEAR, is characterized by partnerships and co-productions. We are collaborating with the Czech Embassy, Svanda Theatre from Prague, the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, Mask and Bauble Dramatic Society, and Theater J, to name a few — and of course we still have an exciting line-up of events through our ongoing partnership with Arena Stage. The plays themselves echo this theme as well — friendship formed, challenged, destroyed and fostered are strong motifs in several of the productions.
September 20-23
Svanda Theatre: Four Plays from Prague
with The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, in association with the Embassy of the Czech Republic and City of Prague, Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, and Arts Institut – Theatre Institut
All are performed in English, except for Havel’s “Protest” which will be performed in Czech with English subtitles.
Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 4 p.m. (post-show talkback) and 7:30 p.m. (post-show reception)
The Good and the True
By Tomas Hrbek, Lucie Kolouchová, Daniel Hrbek
Translated from Czech by Lucie Kolouchová
English Adaptation by Brian Daniels
Directed by Daniel Hrbek
“A remarkable piece of verbatim theatre” (Yorkshire Evening Post), this play weaves together testimonies of two Auschwitz survivors who led similarly extraordinary lives, but never actually met: Athlete Miloš Dobrý and actress Hana Pravda.
DAVIS CENTER, DEVINE STUDIO THEATRE
Friday, September 21, 2018 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 4 p.m. (post-show talkback)
Two one-act plays
Protest
By Václav Havel
Translated from Czech by Jan Novak
Directed by Daniel Hrbek
The Debt
By Marek Hejduk
Translated from Czech by Alex Zucker
Directed by Daniel Hrbek
What happens when two writers meet – one who is not allowed to write and the other who writes whatever he wants? What if the first one has a surprising proposal for the second one? And what if the two of them meet years later when they can write freely but it is not working? Brilliant Václav Havel´s dialogue is confronted with the dramatic attempt of a debuting author.
DAVIS CENTER, DEVINE STUDIO THEATRE
Saturday, September 22 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 23 at 2 p.m.
Pankrác ’45
By Martina Kinská
Translated from Czech by Barbara Day
Directed by Martina Kinska
Casting for an execution…Based on the real-life incarceration of five women in the Pankrác Prison during a time of post-WWII national cleansing in Czechoslovakia, this story explores the relativity of guilt, responsibility for one’s actions, and the struggle to survive within the machinery of history.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FRIDAY/SATURDAY EVENING: $18 GENERAL | $15 FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI, SENIOR | $10 STUDENT
ALL OTHER PERFORMANCES: $15 GENERAL | $12 FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI, SENIOR | $7 STUDENT
Thursday-Saturday, November 8-10 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 11 at 2 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday, November 15-17 at 8 p.m.
Our Class
Written by Tadeusz Slobodzianek
Directed by Professor Derek Goldman
Our Class tells the powerful, sweeping story of 10 Polish classmates—five Catholic and five Jewish—over 80 years of their lives from the 1920s to the early 2000s. As they grow up, their lives take dramatically unexpected turns as their country is torn apart by invading Soviet and German armies. Friend betrays friend and violence quickly escalates, reaching a crescendo that forever haunts the survivors. Winner of the prestigious Nike Literary Award, and based on true events in the Polish town of Jedwabne, Our Class has profoundly affected audiences around the world since its premiere at London’s National Theatre. Prof. Derek Goldman reunites with members of the artistic team from his celebrated 2012 professional production at Theater J for a new student production of this urgently timely play that cuts to the core of Georgetown’s mission and values. This production is part of the Georgetown University Theater & Performance Studies Program’s 2018-19 season, Friends, Far & Near.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FRIDAY/SATURDAY EVENING: $18 GENERAL | $15 FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI, SENIOR | $10 STUDENT
ALL OTHER PERFORMANCES: $15 GENERAL | $12 FACULTY, STAFF, ALUMNI, SENIOR | $7 STUDENT
Thursday-Saturday, January 24-26 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 27 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, January 30-Saturday, February 2 at 8 p.m.
Co-production with Mask and Bauble Dramatic Society
Speech and Debate
By Stephen Karam
Directed by Mark Camilli (COL ’19)
Advised by Professor Maya E. Roth
Stage Managed by Abi Franklin (COL ’19)
Following the sex scandal of the Republican mayor of Salem, Oregon, three outcast teens are brought together by an unconventional debate team at Salem High School complete with a musical version of The Crucible and a plot to take down the corrupt adults around them. Solomon, a nerdy teen passionate about journalism, hopes to expose homophobic closeted men in positions of power. Diwata’s trying to out her creepy drama teacher who blocks her dreams of stardom. Howie, new to the school, is fighting for the first gay/straight alliance in the area. In this dark comedy with music about sexuality, identity, and power, no one’s secrets are off limits… including their own.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, DEVINE STUDIO THEATRE
$12 GENERAL | $8 STUDENT
Wednesday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, March 15 & 16 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. (Opening)
Wednesday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. (Cast talkback post-show)
Saturday, March 23 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m. (Creative Conversation post-show) and 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27 at 12 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 31 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (evening post-show symposium)
Wednesday & Thursday, April 3 & 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
In Partnership with Theater J
The Jewish Queen Lear
Jacob Gordin’s Mirele Efros
English Translation by Nahma Sandrow
Directed by Adam Immerwahr
English-language world premiere!
If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother! Written in 1898, Gordin’s story of power and pride revolves around Mirele Efros, a wealthy widow and clever businesswoman who wants to find a good wife for her son. When her children turn against her, Mirele experiences a fall of Shakespearean proportions. Wildly successful in its time, Gordin’s masterpiece of Yiddish theater shines in a scintillating new English translation. Produced in partnership with Theater J and directed by Theater J’s Artistic Director. Featuring Tonya Beckman, Valerie Leonard, Sasha Olinick, Sue Jin Song, and Frank X.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
$30-$64 general | GU student/faculty/staff discount available with valid I.D. and applicable code.
Read more about the production on Theater J’s site.
View an archive of past Theater and Performance Studies Seasons.