Welcome to the Monmouth University Performing Arts productions!
As you plan your activities for the upcoming year, be sure to include the outstanding activities and presentations from the Department of Music and Theatre. We’d love to see you as part of our productions in the cast or crew or as an enthusiastic member of our audiences. We are pleased to announce events you won’t want to miss:
Coming up right away is an exciting Networking event in Woods Theatre. It’s an opportunity for MU students to hear directly from MU alumni who are now professionals in the music industry. They will give career information on music production, performance, and marketing on September 25 at 7 pm. This is followed by the annual Founder’s Day celebration on October 9th when you can hear our Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Choir, and Concert Chorus in performance at Pollak Theatre.
The first theatre production is the stirring drama that speaks to these times. In 1998, the University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepherd was found dead on the outskirts of Laramie, having been tortured because he was gay. Reaction to the event caused the Tectonic Theatre Project to create “The Laramie Project,” a drama using the thoughts and comments of the inhabitants of the area and the news media. It has since been performed across the country and was a film for HBO. Under the direction of Dr. John J. Burke, Monmouth’s production will run November 7 through 16 in the historic Woods Theatre. To be a part of the cast, you are invited to audition on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 pm. Samples of scripts and rehearsal information may be picked up at the Woods Theatre office.
The holiday season brings “WinterSong,” an evening of poetry and music by the University’s choirs, bands, orchestra, and combined community choir and hand bell choir. It will be held in the main lobby of Wilson Hall, surrounded by lighted trees and holiday themed decorations, on Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 pm. Conducted by Dr. David Tripold, it is always a sold-out event, so get your tickets early.
While it seems a long way off, we are already at work on two diverse musical productions for the spring of 2014: the hit comedy musical “Little Shop of Horrors” in March and a concert in April, “Spring Awakenings.” “Little Shop” is the story of the hapless florist who picks up a plant from outer space and includes the words and music of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken in songs like the title tune, “Suddenly Seymour” and “Somewhere That’s Green.” It will run March 5 to 13 in Woods Theatre.
“Spring Awakenings” will feature three perennial favorites: Franz Shubert’s “Symphony #5 in B-flat major,” “The Lark Ascending” by Ralph Vaughn Williams, and “Vespers” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Presented in Pollak Theatre, they will be performed by the Monmouth University Orchestra and collegiate chorus on April 17.
In addition to productions, you can hear the MU Pep Band at football and basketball games, or you can join in with them as membership is open to all students, advised by Professor Bryan Jenner.
We hope to see you at these exciting arts events, to experience live performances, featuring your classmates and friends in the beautiful arts venues here at Monmouth University.
Joe Rapolla. department chair
John J. Burke, Ph.D, director of theatre arts
