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A-State Theatre Announces Lineup for 2019-20 Season

08/27/2019

JONESBORO – Arkansas State University's Department of Theatre today announced its 2019-2020 season of four plays and musicals.

“Into the Woods” begins the season, followed by “Fringe Festival,” “God of Carnage,” and “The Tempest.”

All performances are in Fowler Center on the A-State campus. Tickets for all events are available in advance at AState.edu/tickets.

Marc Williams, interim chair of the Department of Theatre, provided descriptions and dates for the 2019-20 season of performances.

In “Into the Woods,” a musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, a baker and his wife set off to the forest to undo a curse placed on them by a witch. On their journey, they encounter Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, and more of your favorite fairy tale characters. As they venture through the woods to see their wishes come true, they find that “happily ever after” doesn’t come without a price. This production contains adult themes that may be upsetting to younger viewers.

“Into the Woods” will be staged Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11-12, at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are $17, students $12.

Fringe Festival” features the boundless energy of A-State’s student actors, dancers, designers, directors, singers and choreographers in an evening of short plays, dance and song. Some performances may contain adult themes and language that may be upsetting to younger viewers. To experience the entire festival, audiences should attend Fringe A, Fringe B, and Fringe C.

Fringe A performs Thursday and Sunday, Nov. 14 and 17, at 7:30 p.m. Fringe B performs Friday and Monday, Nov. 15 and 18, 7:30 p.m. Fringe C performs Sunday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m. Tickets for a single performance are $6 and a festival pass to all three performances is $12.

On a playground in Brooklyn, Alan and Annette’s son hit Michael and Veronica’s son in the face with a stick, resulting in two broken teeth. In “God of Carnage,” the four parents meet for a civil discussion of the incident. While the evening begins with polite pleasantries, it veers off course into rum-fueled vitriol as the adults devolve into bickering children. Yasmina Reza’s comic masterpiece displays humanity at its most primal and most hilarious extremes.  Adult themes and language may be upsetting to younger viewers.

Performances are Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22, at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-29, at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $15, students $10.

The season concludes with Shakespeare’s beloved romance, “The Tempest.” Twelve years ago, a powerful sorcerer and his teenage daughter were exiled to a mysterious island. She has never seen another human aside from her father — until he causes a powerful storm at sea that washes ashore the very traitors who exiled them years ago. As the sorcerer Prospero plots revenge, his daughter Miranda discovers love at first sight. This spirited romance is considered Shakespeare’s most magical and wondrous play.

Performances are Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, April 23-24, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, students $10.

For more information, one may visit the Department of Theatre website, AState.edu/theatre.

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Artwork for Into the Woods


Artwork for Fringe Festival


Artwork for God of Carnage


Artwork for The Tempest