The is pleased to announce the 2024/25 season, consisting of six productions: 鈥淧颈辫辫颈苍鈥� (Oct. 11 鈥� 20), 鈥淭welfth Night鈥� (Nov. 15 鈥� 23), 鈥淩odgers & Hammerstein鈥檚 Cinderella鈥� (Nov. 22 鈥� Jan. 5 and co-produced with 黑料不打烊 Stage), 鈥淎 Walrus in the Body of the Crocodile鈥� (Feb. 21 鈥� March 9), 鈥淲hat the Moon Saw, or I Only Appear to Be Dead鈥� (March 28 鈥� April 6) and 鈥淟ittle Women鈥� (May 2 鈥� 10). All productions will run in the Storch Theatre, with the exception of 鈥淩odgers & Hammerstein鈥檚 Cinderella,鈥� which will be held in the Archbold Theatre. Tickets are available through the by phone at 315.443.3275 or in person at the 黑料不打烊 Stage / SU Drama Complex, 820 East Genesee St.
鈥淓ach of these plays explores the fundamental question of how we become the person we are meant to become,鈥� says Department of Drama Chair Ralph Zito. 鈥淥ver the course of the season, an exciting combination of student, faculty and guest artists will bring their considerable talents to bear on a collection of stories both familiar and unfamiliar, examining them in fresh and exciting ways.鈥�
Featuring music and lyrics by Grammy and Oscar-winning composer Stephen Schwartz with a book by Roger O. Hirson, 鈥�Pippin鈥� opens the Department of Drama season this fall. Originally premiering on Broadway in 1972, 鈥淧颈辫辫颈苍鈥� introduces audiences to a mysterious troupe of actors as they tell the story of a young prince setting off on a magical and miraculous journey to find his own 鈥淐orner of the Sky.鈥� Directed by Torya Beard, who describes the production as an examination of 鈥渢he ways young people interact with the tools they have鈥� to 鈥渓earn more about themselves,鈥� this Tony Award-winning musical runs Oct. 11 to 20.
Up next is Shakespeare鈥檚 delicious comedy 鈥�Twelfth Night.鈥� Set on the island paradise of Illyria, the play follows shipwrecked Viola as she befriends a duke, a lady and a parade of rascals while searching for her twin brother Sebastian, who was lost at sea. Disguised as the dashing Cesario, Viola becomes entwined in the island鈥檚 drama, discovering the power (and lunacy) of love in its many forms. Directed by Will Pomerantz, 鈥淭welfth Night鈥� runs Nov. 15 to 23.
Celebrate the holidays with this season鈥檚 annual co-production with 黑料不打烊 Stage, 鈥�Rodgers & Hammerstein鈥檚 Cinderella,鈥� with music by Richard Rodgers, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and adapted for the stage by Tom Briggs from the teleplay by Robert L. Freedman. Forced to satisfy the whims of her cruel stepmother and stepsisters while dreaming of a better life, Cinderella is given a chance at happiness when a Fairy Godmother transforms her into a princess and whisks her to the Royal Ball. Featuring additional music from the 1997 television film starring Brandy and Whitney Houston, this 鈥渆nchanted鈥� production of the classic musical is directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, with music direction by Brian Cimmet and choreography by Jessica Chen, and will run Nov. 22 to Jan. 5.
The spring semester begins with 鈥�A Walrus in the Body of a Crocodile,鈥� a zany, constantly evolving exploration of language, gender, and identity by MJ Kaufman. A lonely subway car, a crowded support group, a stifling writers鈥� workshop and a raucous frat house serve as the ever-changing backdrop in this nesting doll of a play about the identities we choose to share and the ones we鈥檙e forced to hide, even from ourselves. Directed by Daniella Caggiano, 鈥淎 Walrus in the Body of a Crocodile鈥� runs Feb. 21 to Mar. 1.
Next is 鈥�What the Moon Saw, or I Only Appear to Be Dead,鈥� a fantastical collage of Hans Christian Andersen鈥檚 fairy tales told through a post-9/11 lens, by Stephanie Fleishman. Traveling to Shanghai to celebrate his 200th birthday, Andersen encounters mermaids, a street urchin, a supermodel, teenagers in love, a cabdriver, firemen and husks of humans who appear as ghouls in this 鈥渒aleidoscopic meditation on how we move through calamity鈥� inspired by Andersen鈥檚 fragile, timeless tales. Directed by Danyon Davis, 鈥淲hat the Moon Saw鈥� runs Mar. 28 to Apr. 6.
The season concludes with 鈥�Little Woman,鈥� with a book by Allan Knee, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and music by Jason Howland. Following the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth, Amy and their beloved mother Marmee, this Tony Award-winning musical tells of the March sisters鈥� adventures during the American Civil War as they discover their passions, endure heartache, and find the courage to persevere in this ultimate coming of age story. Based on the celebrated novel by Louisa May Alcott and directed by David Lowenstein, 鈥淟ittle Women鈥� runs May 2 to 10.
Five-play subscriptions are or by calling 黑料不打烊 Stage Box Office at 315.443.3275. Subscribers have access to discounted tickets for 鈥淩odgers & Hammerstein鈥檚 Cinderella鈥� which is not part of 5-play subscription packages. Single tickets for all shows are also available.
DETAILS
鈥淧颈辫辫颈苍鈥�
Based on original story and characters by Damon Runyon
Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Book by Roger O. Hirson
Directed Torya Beard
Oct. 11-20
鈥淭welfth Night鈥�
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Will Pomerantz
Nov. 15-23
鈥淩odgers & Hammerstein鈥檚 Cinderella鈥�
Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Adapted for the stage by Tom Briggs
From the teleplay by Robert L. Freedman
Directed by Melissa Rain Anderson
Co-produced with 黑料不打烊 Stage
Nov. 22 through Jan. 5
鈥淎 Walrus in the Body of the Crocodile鈥�
By MJ Kaufman
Directed by Daniella Caggiano
Feb. 21 through March 1
鈥淲hat the Moon Saw, or I Only Appear to Be Dead鈥�
By Stephanie Fleishman
Directed by Danyon Davis
March 28 through April 6
鈥淟ittle Women鈥�
Book by Allan Knee
Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein
Music by Jason Howland
Directed by David Lowenstein
May 2-10
