The 2011-12 theatre season, “A Season of Classics,” is being called a success, as more than 7,700 people attended the four productions.

“We’re very grateful that the campus and the St. Joseph community have been so supportive,” said Tee Quillin, assistant professor of theatre and cinema. “We knew that a four-show season was ambitious, but we were also confident that audiences would embrace and appreciate the spectacular talents of our students.”

“Romeo and Juliet” played to sold-out audiences over four performances in October, with a total attendance of 1,340. “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas” drew nearly 3,500 people to 11 performances in December. More than 1,000 people attended the four performances of “Arsenic and Old Lace” in February, with more than 1,800 attending the eight performances of the musical “Little Shop of Horrors” in April.

Dates have already been set for the 2012-13 season, “A Year of the Tony,” and five productions are scheduled.

“We’re stretching ourselves again next season, with two musicals and what we’re calling a ‘repertory coupling’ of two plays on alternate nights over two weekends,” said Dallas Henry, assistant professor of theatre and cinema. “We hope the community will again come out and enjoy what’s sure to be a memorable season.”

     2012-13 shows include:

  • Oct. 4-7: “J.B.” by Archibald MacLeish. This modern retelling of the Biblical story of Job won the 1959 Tony Award for Best Play.
  • Nov. 29-Dec. 8:  “Annie,” book by Thomas Meeha, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charmin, based on the Tribune Media Service comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.” The story of the spunky Depression-era orphan who wins the heart of billionaire Oliver Warbucks won the 1977 Tony Award for Best Musical.
  • Feb. 21-24 and Feb. 28-March 3: “Private Lives,” by Noel Coward and “God of Carnage,” by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton. “Private Lives,” one of the most sophisticated, entertaining plays ever written, won the 2002 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. “God of Carnage,” a comedy about grown-ups who meet to discuss the behavior of their children and become increasingly childish themselves, won the 2009 Tony for Best Play.
  • April 11-14: “Sweeney Todd,” book by Hugh Wheeler, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, based on a version of “Sweeney Todd” by Christopher Bond. This rare instance of a musical thriller, with its tale of murderous barber-ism and culinary crime, won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Tickets are available at mwsutix.com, or call the box office at 816-271-4452.
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