It’s strange how things work out, isn’t it? The Current finally gets a writer to talk about the theater events on campus, and in the first week of publication I have nothing to write about. Other than a few special events, not much went up this weekend.

So, I thought I’d use this introduction to my column to introduce other people. There are so many productions that perform on campus each quarter that it’s easy to miss the more obscure ones. Here, then, are four theatrical productions going up this quarter that you might miss, along with my take on them:

“Festival of Devised Works” 

Directors Justin Shannin, Nikki Rosengren, and Maggie Monahan work with three ensembles to create emotionally complex and socially conscious theatrical pieces. All created from scratch, these pieces promise to be unlike anything you have seen before.

My Take: Seriously, though, these people are working hard, and the tickets are only $3. And it’s this coming weekend! RUN!

Spectrum, Shanley Pavilion, April 11-12

“The Lilliput Troupe”

Gaby Febland’s new play takes a vaudevillian look at the true story of a troupe of seven dwarves on their journey across the tumultuous landscape of Europe during World War II, and their experiences in the laboratory of Josef Mengele. A meaningful story during the week of Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

My Take: New work is very often a bunch of people sitting in a room being angry, so it’s refreshing to have a play journey to such miraculous places as this one does.

Vertigo, Shanley Pavilion, April 24-26  

“The Heidi Chronicles” 

What is the role of a woman in the world? Follow the life of Heidi Holland, from her high school years in the 1960s to her success as an adult in the 1980s. What does it really mean to call oneself a feminist? Wendy Wasserstein’s Pulitzer prize-winning play tackles all these issues and more.

My Take: Lipstick Theatre is constantly producing theater as good – if not better – than StuCo, and this play will certainly be no exception to that trend.

Lipstick, Shanley Pavilion, June 5-7 

“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” 

The Charles Dickens novel of the same name that this Tony-winning musical is based on was left unfinished at his death. This year’s Freshman Musical invites the audience to participate, voting on different parts of the story to create one of over 800 different endings! #questioneverything

My Take: I personally think this show could be the best one on campus this year, but then again, being in it creates a pretty significant bias.

Jones Great Room, May 22-24 

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