UNT Theatre presents "Bent," chronicling love, suffering of homosexuals persecuted by Nazis

Wednesday, October 15, 2014 - 12:56
Category:

What: UNT Theatre's production of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play Bent, which portrays the endurance of love and the necessity of human dignity of homosexual men imprisoned by Nazis in the Dachau concentration camp during World War II. Please note: This play contains sexual content, graphic violence and nudity.

When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 (Thursday), Oct. 31 (Friday), Nov. 1 (Saturday), Nov. 6 (Thursday), Nov. 7 (Friday) and Nov. 8 (Saturday); 2 p.m. Nov. 2 and Nov. 9 (Sundays)

Where: University Theatre, on the first floor of UNT's RTFP Building, 1179 Union Circle, Denton

Tickets: $10 for adults; $7.50 for students, seniors and UNT faculty and staff. Tickets may be purchased by credit card over the phone by calling (940) 565-2428 or (817) 267-3731, ext. 2428. Box office opens an hour prior to the show.

DENTON (UNT), Texas – UNT Theatre's first mainstage production this season starts Oct. 30 with a jarring, thought-provoking play that recounts the persecution of homosexuals by the Nazis through a personal look at the lives of very different men.

Bent, a 1979 play by Martin Sherman, is for mature audiences only, with scenes that contain sexual content, graphic violence and nudity. Performances continue through Nov. 9. The play is directed by UNT Professor of Theatre Timothy Wilson.

"The scope of atrocity associated with the Holocaust is unimaginable," said Wilson. "Through theatre the reality of life under chaotic and oppressive circumstances allows personal identification and understanding. Often we say, 'I'm going to see a play or a film.' This is a play designed as an experience – one to be felt and absorbed and perhaps applied to one's own circumstances."

The play starts by telling the story of Max and his boyfriend, Rudy, who end up on the run from Hitler's army and are packed off for the Dachau concentration camp. In the camp, Max befriends Horst, a gay man who refuses to let the Nazis persecution diminish his acceptance of himself.

"The student actors in this play are involved in taking risks. By investing in each character from Nazis, to citizens to those interred in camps, these actors have made personal investments in experiencing the reality of oppression. Their understanding of the Holocaust has been deepened," said Wilson.

Bent will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 (Thursday), Oct. 31 (Friday), Nov. 1 (Saturday), Nov. 6 (Thursday), Nov. 7 (Friday) and Nov. 8 (Saturday); and at 2 p.m. Nov. 2 and Nov. 9 (Sundays) in the University Theatre, on the first floor of UNT's RTFP Building, 1179 Union Circle, Denton.

Tickets are $10 for adults; $7.50 for students, seniors and UNT faculty/staff. Tickets may be purchased by credit card over the phone by calling (940) 565-2428 or (817) 267-3731,ext. 2428. Box office opens an hour prior to the show.

UNT News Service
News_Service@unt.edu
(940) 565-2108