News
May 23, 2018The Theatre Institute at Sage announces 18-19 Season of Six Shows: Community is Key!
The Theatre Institute at Sage (TIS) announces a six-show season for 2018-19. With this year’s season, we explore the wonder of human connection and the beautiful spectrum of communities large and small. There is no bond quite like the one between theatre artists; our group of students at TIS build strong ties every day through creating, working and living together. The unique community they have created will last a lifetime, support them during hardship, and help celebrate their triumphs. Here at TIS and in the wide world beyond, “Community is Key!”
The first show is Thorton Wilder’s classic play OUR TOWN, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. OUR TOWN tells the story of an early twentieth-century small town, Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. Narrated by the “Stage Manager”, we follow the Gibbs and Webb families, residents of Grover’s Corners, through twelve years of life changes. With humor, wit, and exceptionally powerful storytelling, Wilder delivers universal lessons about what it means to be human and part of a community. OUR TOWN will be directed by David Bunce and runs October 3-14 in the Schacht Theater. It is recommended for ages 12 and up.
TIS celebrates another anniversary- the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I- with BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR. Billy was the worst student in the Royal Military College and went on to become the most decorated officer of the Royal Canadian Flying Corps in World War I. John Gray and Eric Peterson’s hilarious and poignant play tells the story of high-flying escapes, love, and loss on the front lines of battle in this two-man show featuring a piano player who accompanies Billy as he regales the audience with tales of war and includes all the characters he met along the way. BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR will be directed by Michael Musial and runs October 19-28 in the Meader Little Theater. It is recommended for ages 12 and up.
TIS has a special treat for family audiences this holiday season: THE SNOW QUEEN, a play with music directed by David Baecker. Kids of all ages will be delighted by THE SNOW QUEEN, the Hans Christian Anderson story that served as inspiration for Disney’s hit animated film Frozen! Join Gerda on a dangerous and whimsical quest to save her best friend Kai before he is trapped forever in the Snow Queen’s palace. Dare to enter a world where flowers sing, animals talk, and riddles yearn to be solved in this musical tale of friendship, love, and coming of age. THE SNOW QUEEN runs November 29-December 13 in the Schacht Theater.
Next up is BASKERVILLE, directed by David Baecker. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being murdered one by one and the renowned sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, along with his trusted sidekick, Dr. Watson, must work feverishly to crack the curse before it dooms the newest heir. Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises, and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than forty characters. Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be! BASKERVILLE runs February 6-17, 2019 in the Schacht Theater, and is recommended for ages 10 and up.
The Theatre Institute student community is prominently showcased in our next offering. Produced by students Xavier Aleman and Camryn Beck, UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT is a devised theatre experience based on the stories of real college students of the last decade. With the onset of social media, new technology and growing concern for social justice, the journey that today’s college student must embark on is filled with unique tribulations and struggles. “How have our expectations of student life differed from its reality, and how will these differences affect us? This is a chance to experience that change, spoken in our own voices.” UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT will run April 4-7, 2019 in the Meader Little Theater, and is recommended for ages 16 and up.
We close our season with our children’s musical for all ages, ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE’S “WE ARE IN A PLAY!” Based on the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems, with script and lyrics by Mo Willems and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, this is a fun and frolicking romp for the whole family. An elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie are best, best, “bestus” friends, but Gerald worries that something could go wrong that would end their friendship. Piggie is not worried at all. She’s even happier and more excited than usual, because she and Gerald are invited to a party hosted by the Squirrelles, three singing squirrels who love to have a good time. And so begins a day when anything is possible. ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE’S “WE ARE IN A PLAY!” runs May 29-June12, 2019 in the Schacht Theater.
