Delight in the comic hijinks of "Once in a Lifetime" at UNT, guest directed by Dallas' Susan Sargeant

Wednesday, April 1, 2015 - 16:06
Category:

What: Once in a Lifetime, a comedy written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart that takes place in Hollywood in 1927 when the movie industry is on the cusp of the talkies revolution. Presented by the UNT Department of Dance and Theatre.

When: 7:30 p.m. April 23, 24, 25, 30, May 1, 2; 2 p.m. April 26, May 3

Where: University Theatre, located in the RTFP Building, 1179 Union Circle, Denton

Tickets: Tickets cost $7.50 for students, UNT faculty/staff and senior citizens and $10 for adults. The box office is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and one hour prior to the performance. For more information, call 940-565-2428, email dat-boxoffice@unt.edu or visit Dance and Theatre online.

Parking: Parking is free directly behind the RTFP Building for the performances Friday through Sunday. For more information about parking on the UNT campus please visit: www.unt.edu/transit/. Contact: 940-565-2428 or UNT Dance and Theatre online

What else: Guest directed by Susan Sargeant, award-winning artistic director of WingSpan Theatre Company. A symposium on "Hollywood's Transition to Sound Filmmaking" will take place at from 5 p.m. April 28 (Tuesday) in Room 184 of the RTFP building.

DENTON (UNT), Texas – A laugh riot will erupt on stage when the University of North Texas' Department of Dance and Theatre presents the play "Once in Lifetime."

The comedy, which will run April 23 - 26 (Thursday – Sunday) and April 30 – May 3 (Thursday – Sunday) at the University Theatre in the RTFP Building, takes place in Hollywood in 1927. The silent movie industry is about to die as "The Jazz Singer," which features talking for the first time, has opened. The characters are on a collision course of physical comedy, biting wit and snappy one-liners, said guest director Susan Sargeant.

"The play is marvelous fun," Sargeant said. "George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, the playwrights, are comedy gold and very much alive and well in this wonderful collaborative gem. Plus, 'Once in a Lifetime' is also historically informative about a time in both film and theatre history."

The play also supports a large cast with 24 cast members.

"Since 'Once in a Lifetime' takes place in the 1920s, the students are learning about a different sensibility of style and comedy," Sargeant said. "The play still has 'legs' as we say in the theatre."

Besides Sargeant, other prominent figures in the Dallas-Fort Worth community scene are involved behind the scenes. The scenic designer is Randel Wright, who has designed numerous sets for Dallas Summer Musicals and Dallas Children's Theater, and properties designer is Robin Daffinee Coulonge, a UNT alumna.

Tickets cost $7.50 for students, UNT faculty/staff and senior citizens and $10 for adults. The box office is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and one hour prior to the performance. For more information, call 940-565-2428, email dat-boxoffice@unt.edu or visit UNT Dance and Theatre online.

Learn more about the era by listening to anecdotes and viewing clips about the technology and the human side to the process at the free symposium "Hollywood's Transition to Sound Filmmaking" at 5 p.m. April 28 (Tuesday) in Room 184 of the RTFP building. Harry Benshoff, professor of radio, television and film at UNT, and Sean Griffin, chair and associate professor of film and media arts at Southern Methodist University, will serve on the panel.

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