By Joshua Samuel
Staff Writer
The CSUDH theater and dance department brings reality to the stage this season with stories of the undocumented in America, an egomaniacal tyrant, and a trip to a place where hell is other people among the stories that will be told in its upcoming 2018-19 season.
Four plays and two dance concerts comprise the season, which begins Oct. 12 with the play “Undocumented” (see accompanying article). In November, one of the strangest, and most influential plays of the 20th Century will be staged: Alfred Jarry’s “Ubu the King.” Though its debut was in 1896, it is widely viewed as a predecessor to such 20th Century movements as modernism, surrealism, and theater of the absurd. More recently, the play, which features a greedy, vulgar self-indulgent revolutionary turned tyrant, has been mentioned in relation to a certain sitting president of a certain western Democracy.
The final performance of the fall semester is a dance concert, “Come into the Light” a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. It opens Dec. 6.
“I am very excited to be creating two dances for this dance concert, especially because we will be celebrating LGBTQIA+ artists in this concert while touching upon important issues in the LGBTQIA+ community,” says Marco A Carreon, one of the choreographers.
The first play of the spring semester is Jean-Paul Sartre’s 1944 existential masterpiece “No Exit.”
“No Exit” is a departure from the contemporary shows I’ve done at Dominguez previously,” says director Shonni Holmes. “I’m excited to share this show. I think the themes are strong and relatable and I hope to showcase strong performances from the talented students in our department.”
Opening April 12 is William Shakespeare’s popular “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream is going to be a magical, sexy evening of theater,” director Kelly Herman said. “With fun music, dancing and an enchanting playground for the actors to live in. The audience will laugh, love and have a wonderful performance experience that will bring a new appreciation of the greatest playwright of all time.”
The final show of the spring semester will be the Doris Ressl-choreographed “Tipping the Canvas Spring Student Dance Concert,” which opens May 2.
“The spring dance concert, always a lively and inventive evening of dance, features the choreography of our graduating seniors,” Ressl said. “It’s a proud moment for all the faculty to share in the creative successes of our students.”
