The McPherson College theatre department announces its 2019-2020 theatre season, which includes a once-in-a-lifetime invitation to perform one of its productions internationally in January.
Last year the McPherson College theatre department celebrated 100 years of theatre at the college. It would be understandable if the department took a rest after those celebrations, but instead its focus is on the growth of the program for the next 100 years starting with many new productions for this season.
A one-night only performance for the McPherson area of “Speak Truth to Power” will celebrate the end of an international theatre tour that will take students and alumni to India. Dr. Herb Smith, professor of religion and philosophy, and Jd. Bowman, professor of theatre, will lead the tour group and stage the production in Kerala, India.
The 2019-2020 season is also built around the strengths of senior theatre students preparing their capstone productions this year. For his senior project in acting, J. Tanner Trigg takes on delicate subject matter in “The Christians,” Liz Thornton will showcase design and technical direction in “Outside Mullingar,” and Dani Wilcock’s special effect design will be featured in “Creepy! Creepy!”
This season’s theatre line-up features something for all tastes with premiere performances and one fan favorite.
- August 29-31 – “The Christians,” by Lucas Hnath
- October 4-5 & 11-12 – “Dearly Departed,” by Jessie Jones & David Botrell
- November 21-23 – “Daddy Long Legs,” music & lyrics by Paul Gordon, book by John Caird, based on the novel by Jean Webster (Kansas premiere)
- January 25, 2020 – “Speak Truth to Power,” by Ariel Dorfman, based on the book by Kerry Kennedy
- February 17-21 – “Creepy! Creepy!” based on the books by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown (world premiere)
- April 16-18 – “Outside Mullingar,” by John Patrick Shanley
First Nighters, the season ticket holder organization, continues with a themed meal before every production. For more information about how to become a season ticket holder, contact the McPherson College Theatre Box Office at (620) 242-0444.