Theatre By the Students, For the Students (April 20-25)
By Courtney Hebert
Every semester, the Queenes Companye offers the Saint Joseph College community a play that is relevant to the student body and displays current issues we face in the world today. In recent semesters we’ve performed plays having to do with capital punishment, war, feminism, family drama, and a variety of other topics. This spring’s production of Masters and Novices: Plays Old and New from Page to Stage features more involvement and creative control by students than ever before.
Under the guidance of Dr. Mark Zelinsky, this week-long festival of one-acts will present 8 student-directed plays, featuring student actors as well as guest artists from outside the school. A by among such beloved playwrights as Edward Albee and Tennessee Williams, audiences will also be able to enjoy the world premieres of four original plays written by students from Dr. Zelinsky’s play-writing class last semester. These originals deal with subjects ranging from sexual orientation to satirical portrayals of negative cultural stereotypes, and so much more. These are the plays that will be performed:
Night A
As He Was by Kim Kim’s (SJC grad student) – The main character Chris comes out to his family as transgender on Thanksgiving.
Bittergirl by Lawrence & Moore – Women learn about getting over getting dumped.
Finder’s Keepers by Cori Sheehan (SJC student) – Four easily recognized types argue over money that is not theirs.
A Perfect Analysis Given by a Parrot by Tennessee Williams – A prophecy by from an unlikely source becomes self-fullfilling.
Night B
Cold Coffee Heart by Ashley Nelson (SJC student) – This play deals with isolation and the misperceptions people have of one another.
A Late Lunch by G.L. Horton – Two old friends try to find common ground in spite of the different directions their lives have taken since one of them became a mother.
Leaves of the Fall by Jill M. Scott (SJC alum) – Ginny’s wife, ex-husband, and daughter deal with unresolved issues at Ginny’s funeral, as she watches unseen.
The Zoo Story by Edward Albee – A dark comedy that explores themes of isolation, loneliness, social disparity and dehumanization in a commercial world.
Week night performances begin at 7:30 pm the week of April 20, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for the general public. Each night will feature 4 of the total 8 plays, so check with the box office or on posters around campus for which days have which plays. SEE ALL 8 PLAYS AT A SPECIAL PRICE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 25 AT 3PM when we run them back-to-back with complimentary snacks and beverages served at a long intermission. Tickets for this special Saturday event are $7.50 for SJC students and $15 for all others. The plays are for mature audiences only due to language, sexual behavior, and brief nudity. All shows will be held in the Bruyette Auditorium. Please contact the Driscoll Box Office at 860-231-5555 for tickets (which may also be purchased at the door) or for further information about the productions please contact Mark Zelinsky, Director of the Queenes Companye, at 860-231-5252 or mzelinsky@sjc.edu
