From Shakespearean classics to new plays written by faculty, the spring season at the Department of Theatre, Drama and Contemporary Dance will bring six productions to the stage. Tickets start at $10 for students and $20 for the general public.
"Julius Caesar"
Opening Jan. 19 and running through Jan. 27 is the Shakespearean tragedy “Julius Caesar". The story follows Caesar as his power over the Roman Empire becomes more absolute and assassination plots emerge. The show will take place in the Ruth N. Halls Theatre.
“People think of this character of Brutus as this great speaker, this example of what honor is,” said Michael Bayler, the actor playing Brutus in the production. “While we see that on the surface, what is the other side of the character? It’s not just two-dimensional. I’ve been exploring a lot with the director and with the other people in the cast.”
"Bodies of Light"
The 2018 Winter Dance Concert, “Bodies of Light,” runs from Feb. 9 to 11 at the Ruth N. Halls Theatre.
“This year's event highlights the role of dance as it brings visibility to societal issues and elevates the human condition,” according to the theater department website.
The show features Bill T. Jones’ “D-Man in the Water,” one of the first works to address the AIDS crisis, as well as Stefanie Batten Bland’s “Germe.”
Stefanie Batten Bland's website describes "Germe" as work that redefines borders.
“Germe takes place in the moment before definition takes hold,” the website reads. “It is the seed of an idea, the beginning of possibilities.”
"Machinal"
Expressionist play “Machinal” is next, running from Feb. 23 to March 3. Inspired by the real case of murderer Ruth Snyder, the story follows her descent into unhappiness at the hands of gender roles and marriage to her boss.
“Avant-garde, shocking, and surreal, Machinal twists the sensational real-life story of murderer Ruth Snyder into a dark, machine-like world filled with faceless aggressors and distorted shadows,” according to the theater department website.
"At First Sight"
Next in the season is “At First Sight,” a new play by second-year MFA playwright Aaron Ricciardi. The production runs from March 30 to April 7. Ricciardi teaches THTR-T 254: Intro to Playwriting at IU. The play is the centerpiece for IU’s Festival of New Plays, which gives patrons access to the development process and staged reading of early drafts before the performance comes to the Wells-Metz Theatre.
"City of Angels"
Musical comedy “City of Angels” premieres April 13 and runs through April 21 at the Ruth N. Halls Theatre. An homage to the film noir genre of the ‘40s, the story follows two different plots at once. One plotline follows a Hollywood film writer trying to succeed in their dreams, and the other follows a detective as he tries to stop a case before it unfolds.
“'City of Angels' comes alive with action, romance, mystery, and most strikingly, a brilliant jazz score,” according to the theater department website.
"New Moves: Student Choreographers' Showcase"
Last in the season is “New Moves: Student Choreographers’ Showcase,” which runs from April 27 to 28. IU Contemporary Dance seniors will lead the performance with original choreography, sound, text, visual art and film.
