UNT's Department of Dance and Theatre 2015-16 season features enduring classics, innovative works

Tuesday, August 25, 2015 - 20:44
Category:

DENTON, Texas (UNT) – Comedy classics, innovative choreography, and intense dramas will be among the works presented by the Department of Dance and Theatre at the University of North Texas for the 2015-16 season.

The dance department will produce two concerts – with The New Choreographers Concert featuring advanced students and the Faculty Dance Concert highlighting dance works by national/internally renowned guest artists and faculty.

"Choreography and performances by our students and faculty are guaranteed to bring exciting and powerfully performed works," said Mary Lynn Babcock, associate professor of dance.
The theatre program will stage two classic comedies – Phillip Barry's The Philadelphia Story and Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. The season opens with the thought-provoking Fefu and Her Friends from Marie Irene Fornes. Later audiences will visit Ireland's County Donegal in Brian Friel's masterpiece Dancing at Lughnasa, his tribute to the spirit and valor of the women who raised him.

Audience members can purchase tickets at the box office, which is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and one hour before each performance at the Radio Television Film and Performing Arts Building. For more information, call 940-565-2428, email dat-boxoffice@unt.edu or visit the Department of Dance and Theatre online.

Parking is free directly behind the RTFP Building Friday through Sunday. For more information about parking on the UNT campus please visit: UNT Parking and Transportation online.

Fefu and Her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes
7:30 p.m. Sept. 24, 25, 26; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 2, 3 and 2 p.m. Sept. 27 and Oct. 4
Studio Theatre, Radio Television Film and Performing Arts Building
Directed by Sally Vahle, associate professor of voice and acting and recently named "Best Actress" from D Magazine's "Best of Big D."
Tickets cost $7.50 for students, UNT faculty/staff and senior citizens and $10 for adults.
A story of the struggle for equality between men and women in a time when it was sorely lacking, Fefu and Her Friends sheds light on the rather sizeable social gap between the two genders.

The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry
7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, 6, 7
2 p.m. Nov. 8
University Theatre, Radio Television Film and Performing Arts Building
Guest directed by David Denson, artistic director of Upstart Theater of Dallas.
Tickets cost $7.50 for students, UNT faculty/staff and senior citizens and $10 for adults.
A true comedy of manners contemporizing the nature of divorce in an exceedingly witty fashion, the play shines a light on the social hierarchy of the era as we experience the delightful hijinks of Tracy Lord our young heroine.

New Choreographers Concert
7:30 p.m. Nov. 20, 21
2 p.m. Nov. 21, 22
University Theatre, Radio Television Film and Performing Arts Building
Tickets cost $5.
Artistic director is Mary Lynn Babcock, associate professor of dance.
Advanced choreography students present original dance works.

Faculty Dance Concert
8 p.m. Feb. 11, 12, 13
2 p.m. Feb. 14
University Theatre, Radio Television Film and Performing Arts Building
Artistic director is Robin Lakes, associate professor of dance.
Tickets cost $7.50 for students, UNT faculty/staff and senior citizens and $10 for adults.
Students will perform a work-in-progress from guest choreographer Ana Maria Alvarez, founder and artistic director of Contra-Tiempo dance theatre in Los Angeles.

Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel
7:30 p.m. March 10, 11, 23, 24, 25
2 p.m. March 12, 26
Studio Theatre, Radio Television Film and Performing Arts Building
Directed by Marjorie Hayes, managing director of theater production, associate professor of acting-directing and award-winning international director.
Tickets cost $7.50 for students, UNT faculty/staff and senior citizens and $10 for adults.
A group of Irish sisters try to keep their spirits up when their brother returns from a mission trip in this Tony Award-winning play.

Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
7:30 p.m. April 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30
2 p.m. April 24, May 1
University Theatre, Radio Television Film and Performing Arts Building
Directed byValerie Hauss-Smith, adjunct professor of theatre and award-winning director of the Junior Players of Dallas.
Tickets cost $7.50 for students, UNT faculty/staff and senior citizens and $10 for adults.
At the insistence of Queen Elizabeth and by her royal command, Shakespeare was given a mere 14 days to present a play starring the great Falstaff unfettered in love, consumed with lust and exuberant with sensual pleasures.

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