The Department of Theatre and Dance presents a diverse new season that runs from September through May and includes new dramatic works, unique musical theatre projects and three dance performances. All tickets to events are $15 unless otherwise noted. Below is just a sampling of this exciting new season. Please refer to the full season schedule included with this release for more information.

Dramatic Works
Eurydice (Oct. 9-19) Award-winning playwright and MacArthur “genius” Sarah Ruhl re-imagines the Orpheus myth, told from heroine Eurydice's point of view where Eurydice has to make her ultimate decision – whether or not to follow Orpheus back to the land of the living.

All in the Timing (Feb. 17-22) David Ives’s hilarious collection of one-act plays called All in the Timing is fast-paced, clever and wickedly funny. Time magazine called this collection "theatre that aerobicizes the brain and tickles the heart."

The Meadowland Project (April 1-5) This new work by Rogelio Martinez is directed by Deborah Saivetz, which gives life and perspective to this popular NJ playground.

Musical Theatre (in partnership with the John J. Cali School of Music)
Crazy for You (Nov. 18 -23) With music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin combined with brilliant choreography, this show’s unique blend of singing and dancing creates the quintessential American Broadway musical. 

Four Short Musicals (April 30-May 4) Scott Davenport Richards directs an evening of 4 unique new short musicals by some of the most talented new musical theatre authors at work today.

Dance Performances
Works-A-Foot (Dec. 3 -7) This performance features To Have and To Hold, a work by Joanie Smith and Daniel Shapiro. The program will also include among others, Let Go, a dance trio for men by Maxine Steinman.

DanceWorks (April 15-19) This production will feature a work by world-renowned choreographer Susan Marshall and May O’Donnell’s Pursuit of Happiness, a piece created to celebrate the country’s Bicentennial in 1976.

DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Oct. 9th &10th at 7:30 pm
Oct. 11th at 8:00 pm
Oct. 12th at 2:00 pm
Oct. 15th, 16th & 17th at 7:30 pm
Oct. 17th at 1:00 pm
Oct. 18th at 8:00 pm
Oct. 19th at 2:00 pm
L. Howard Fox Theatre

Eurydice
By Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Deborah Saivetz

Award-winning playwright and MacArthur “genius” Sarah Ruhl's re-imagining of the Orpheus myth, told from heroine Eurydice's point of view.  Eurydice re-learns language and memory until she has to make her ultimate decision – whether or not to follow Orpheus back to the land of the living.

DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE JOHN J. CALI SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Nov. 18th – 21st at 7:30 pm
Nov. 19st at 1:00 pm
Nov. 22nd at 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm
Nov. 23rd at 3:00 pm
Alexander Kasser Theater

Crazy for You
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Book by Ken Ludwig
Directed and choreographed by Clay James
Conducted by Paul Hostetter
Musical Direction by Aaron Jodoin

With music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin combined with brilliant choreography, this show’s unique blend of singing and dancing creates the quintessential American Broadway musical.

Dec. 3rd (preview), 4th & 5th at 7:30 pm
Dec. 5th at 1:00 pm
Dec. 6th at 8:00 pm
Dec. 7th at 2:00 pm
Memorial Auditorium

Works-A-Foot

This performance features To Have and To Hold, a work by Joanie Smith and Daniel Shapiro. This piece explores the essence of the human condition: love, loss, grief and our brief but poignant time on earth. The performance will include among others, Let Go, a dance trio for men by Maxine Steinman.

Dec. 4th & 5th at 7:30 pm
Dec. 6th at 8:00 pm
Dec. 7th at 2:00 pm
Dec. 8th -11th at 7:30 pm
L. Howard Fox Theatre

Hooking Up: Two Evenings of Short Plays
Two of Us (Dec. 4, 6, 8, 10)
Three’s a Crowd (Dec. 5, 7, 9, 11)
Directed by Susan Kerner and Suzanne Trauth

Two evenings of theatre performed in repertory with short works by American writers Neil LaBute, Terrence McNally and others. Two of Us explores intimacy in romantic relationships while Three's a Crowd confronts the world outside our comfort zone.

Feb. 17th-20th at 7:30 pm
Feb. 20th at 1:00 pm
Feb. 21st at 8:00 pm
Feb. 22nd at 2:00 pm
L. Howard Fox Theatre

All in the Timing
By David Ives
Directed by Jim Ligon

David Ives’s hilarious collection of one-act plays called All in the Timing is fast-paced, clever and wickedly funny. All in the Timing is a delight that Time magazine called "theatre that aerobicizes the brain and tickles the heart."

March 4th (preview)– 6th at 7:30 pm
March 6th at 1:00 pm
March 7th at 8:00 pm
March 8th at 2:00 pm
Memorial Auditorium

Dance Collage

Dance majors get their creative juices flowing through new choreographic repertoire in this all student performance. The pieces will be created and drawn from the modern, ballet, jazz and hip hop idioms in this performance of all new premiere works.

March 10th -13th at 7:30 pm
March 13th at 1:00 pm
March 14th at 8:00 pm
Alexander Kasser Theater

Homburg
Adapted by Jorge Cacheiro from Heinrich von Kleist
Directed by Jorge Cacheiro

On the battlefield, a prince defies orders and leads his men to victory only to find that he has been sentenced to death for insubordination. Homburg, a new work, examines the relationship between the individual and the state as well as the artist and his work.

WORLD PREMIERE!
April 1st -3rd at 7:30 pm
April 3rd at 1:00 pm
April 4th at 8:00 pm
April 5th at 2:00 pm
L. Howard Fox Theatre

Meadowlands Project
By Rogelio Martinez
Directed by Deborah Saivetz

The NJ Meadowlands area has a long and colorful history. Many consider it a wasteland; some know it as a sports complex and it is also the rumored grave of Jimmy Hoffa. This new play gives life and perspective to this popular NJ playground.

April 15th – 17th at 7:30 pm
April 17th at 1:00 pm
April 18th at 8:00 pm
April 19th at 2:00 pm
Alexander Kasser Theater

DanceWorks

This performance will feature a work by world-renowned choreographer Susan Marshall and May O’Donnell’s Pursuit of Happiness, a work created to celebrate the country’s Bicentennial in 1976.

April 30th& May 1st at 7:30 pm
May 1st at 1:00 pm
May 2nd at 8:00 pm
May 3rd at 2:00 pm
May 4th-May 6th at 7:30 pm
L. Howard Fox Theater

Four Short Musicals
Directed by Scott Davenport Richards
Musical Direction Aaron Jodoin
Costumes by Debra Otte

Scott Davenport Richards directs an evening of 4 unique new short musicals by some of the most talented new musical theatre authors at work today.

Media Contact:
Alfred R. Fredel, Media and Marketing Director
Peak Performances @ Montclair
Fredela@mail.montclair.edu
973-655-3004

Released: August 4, 2008