By Maegan Rocio
Staff Writer
The Baylor theatre will be presenting a new line up of five plays for the Fall 2012 semester, giving students and faculty something to look forward to later in the year.
The students of the Baylor theatre department put on seven to eight productions each school year. The department will show two productions during the fall semester and three productions in the spring.
“Students and faculty can expect a very eclectic season,” Stan Denman, professor and chair of the theatre department, said.
“For example, Hecuba is a Greek tragedy and 39 steps, which I am directing, is a spoof on Hitchcock thrillers. [The theater department] tries to choose a season that will give students the widest range [of theatrical experiences] as possible.”
The department’s faculty will not be the only directors on hand for this year’s production.
Waco local Christopher Peck and Jessi Hampton, who are third year graduate students, will be directing Hecuba and Born Yesterday, respectively. Both students are working towards earning their master of fine art degree in directing.
“[Directing Hecuba] is wonderful and terrifying,” Peck said. “[The play is] exciting with elements of danger and beauty. It’s an exciting piece and I’m looking forward to [students and faculty] coming and seeing it.”
Hampton was unavailable to comment.
The first production that will be featured during the fall, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, is a musical comedy that will be directed by Baylor theatre staff member Lisa Denman.
“Well, [Dirty Rotten Scoundrels] is a modern play,” Denman said. “It’s very relevant to an audience of today. It’s very clever, has great songs, and lots of twists and turns in the plot.”
Denman provided some insight about two main characters in the upcoming production, but was careful to not spoil the story line.
“The two [main] guys are con men, they are sort of…what they do, that’s what they do. They con people out of the money.”
Denman is thrilled about her job as director and how she will work on the characterization of each role so that each individual part will be more dynamic.
Post-production discussions occur after each play has finished its scheduled showings. Anyone who attended the plays is allowed to attend.
Tickets are available and can also be purchased by phone by calling the Baylor Theatre Box office at 254-710-1865 or in person by visiting the Baylor Theatre Box Office in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center.
Individual tickets cost $18.00. Faculty and student tickets are discounted at $15.00 with a Baylor ID.
Tickets for a group of 10 or more are $15.00 each while tickets purchased for a group of 20 or more are $10.00 each.
Season tickets for the 2012 – 2013 theatre season are on sale at the Baylor University Theatre Arts Online Ticket Office for $75.
Season ticket holders will receive a 40 percent savings on the original ticket price, early seating reservations, special invitations to the annual patron reception, and exclusive ticket exchange privileges.
An official brochure for the 2012 – 2013 theatre season can be picked up at the Baylor Box Theatre Office in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center and a theater season calendar can be viewed along with the story.
