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Past Productions
The meat and potatoes of the theater department is its production season.
Every year, 4 to 6 productions are mounted in our theaters, the 90-seat
black box Curtain Theater and the 560-seat proscenium Rand Theater.
Productions teams are usually made up of a mix of faculty, graduate
students, and guest artists, with undergraduate students often invited
to serve as assistants, and in rare cases, given the opportunity to
head an element of the production. This mixture of personnel assures
that new talent is mentored and experienced artists have a chance to
experiment and grow. Our graduate directing students generally direct
one piece in the Curtain during their second year and mount a thesis
production in the Rand during their third year. All undergraduates are
involved with productions at some point during their time here: they
must serve on 3 backstage crews as part of their degree requirements.
Most also receive credit for participating as actors, designers, or
technical crew leaders at some point. Below, in reverse chronological
order, are images from productions going back several years, with notes
about any special circumstance surrounding the production.
2007-2008
The Pillowman
by Martin McDonagh
Presented Nov. 8-17 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Director Shawn LaCount, a second-year MFA graduate student, worked with fellow
graduate students Liana Thompson (dramaturgy), Sam Laird (scenic design), Sarah
Nelson (costume design), James McNamara (lighting and sound design) to bring
McDonagh's work to life. Undergraduate students served as assistant designers.
The Rand Lecture: Tony Kushner
Presented
Oct. 9
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner was our guest for our annual
Rand Lecture, participating in a dialogue with faculty member Paul Walsh.
2006-2007
The Caucasian Chalk Circle
by Bertolt Brecht
Presented April 26-May 5 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
The Caucasian Chalk Circle was the thesis production of directing graduate
student Keith Langsdale. The dramaturg on the production, Liana Thompson, was
charged with creating a study guide for high school students who attended the
matinee. Graduate students Robert Christiansen, Sean Cote and
Sam Laird collaborated on the scenic design, while graduate student Bethany
Marx created costumes, and graduate student James McNamara created the lighting
design. We were joined by guest artists Andrew Lichtenberg (composer), Ellen
Kaz (choreography) and Troy David Mercier (movement trainer). Undergraduate
Robert Strano designed lights.
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The Chairs
by Eugene Ionesco
Presented March 1-10 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Faculty member Julian Olf directed this "tragic farce" by Eugene Ionesco in
our larger Rand Theater. Alumnus Troy Hourie returned to the department to
serve as scenic designer, and guest artist David Wiggall designed the sound,
while actor Ezra LeBank also served as movement coach. Graduate students Dora
Arreola (directorial assistant) and Sarah Nelson (costume designer) rounded
out the design team. Undergraduate Cate McLaughlin stage managed the production.
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A Christmas Carol
adapted by Maryann Lombardi from Charles Dickens
Presented Nov. 30-Dec. 9 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Graduate directing student Maryann Lombardi adapted the Dickens classic for
a new production which she also directed. Dramaturg Talya Kingston, a graduate
student, served on the creative team. The scenic Design was a collaboration
between scenic design faculty member Miguel Romero and his three first-year
design students. Lighting was provided by graduate student James McNamara,
also a graduate student, and Sarah Nelson, a costume design graduate student.
Undergraduate sound design student Robert Strano was also part of the team.
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The Reincarnation of Jaime Brown
by Lynne Alvarez
Presented Oct. 26-Nov. 4 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Recent alumna Sheila Siragusa returned to the department as a guest artist
to direct this piece. Graduate students Robert Christiansen, Sean Cote and
Sam Laird collaborated on the scenic design, while Bethany Marx created costumes
and Brenda Cortina designed lights. Undergraduate Robert Strano designed the
sound for the production.
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2005-2006
Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare
Presented April 27-May 5
in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
For her thesis production, director Jeannie-Marie Brown set the play in a
video game world, incorporating that concept into the sound, designed by R.T.
Brown, the set, created by professor Miguel Romero and his 360 scenic design
class, and the costumes, designed by MFA student Bethany Marx.
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Arms and the Man
By George Bernard Shaw
Presented March 2-11 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
MFA student Sarah Patterson designed the costumes for this production, which
also featured a rotating set by professor Miguel Romero. Lights were by James
McNamara, an MFA student. The piece was directed by Gil McCauley, with dramaturgical
support provided by Lauryn Sasso.
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House of Desires
By Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
Presented December 1-10 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
This piece, which included original music composed by Vincent
Olivieri, featured the scenic design of MFA student Mariana Fernandez and costumes
by June Gaeke. The work was presented in a special matinee to high school students,
who also learned about the play and its author through workshops presented
by the dramaturg, Margaret Inners, working with the department's poublic relations
director, Anna-Maria Goossens, and the outreach assistant, dramaturgy MFA student
Lauryn Sasso.
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Gum
By Karen Hartman
Presented October 27-November 5 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
This production featured set design by undergraduate Sean Cote, costumes by
graduate student Bethany Marx and lights by undergraduate Robbie Strano. Directed
by Maryann Lombardi, the piece dealt with women's place in a repressive
society. To help facilitate discussion about the subject, dramaturg Talya Kingston
planned a series of panels with experts on subjects related to the play.
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2004-2005
Life Is a Dream
By Pedro Calderón de la Barca, translated by Harley Erdman and Lauryn
Sasso
Presented April 28-May 7 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail
to enlarge the photo.
When the play's original director had to step out at the last minute, we were
thrilled to get, as his replacement, guest director Kara-Lynn Vaeni. The production
was the premiere of a brand-new translation of the Spanish Gold Age work, created
by theater chair Harley Erdman, working in tandem with MFA student Lauryn Sasso.
Angels in America, Part One:Millennium Approaches
By Tony Kushner
Presented April 7 to 16 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail
to enlarge the photo.
Our production of Angels in America featured set design by faculty
member Miguel Romero. The production was the thesis work of directing MFA student
M. Honatke Miller. The production featured a cast drawn from our undergraduate
majors as well as other on-campus performers.
Big Love
By Charles Mee
Presented Dec. 2 to 11 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail
to enlarge the photo.
Charles Mee's adaptation of the Aeschylus text, The Suppliant
Women, was staged
in the Rand Theater with a creative team consisting almost entirely of students.
Graduate student Marianna Fernandez designed the set, with Margo Caddell,
also an MFA student, designing lighting. Nellica Rave served as costume designer,
and undergraduate Michael Lee created the sound design. Guest artist Christopher
Haynes composed some original works for the piece.
Curse of the Starving Class
By Sam Shepard
Presnted Nov. 4 to 13 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail
to enlarge the photo.
When we asked students what they wanted
to see on our stages, Sam Shepard's name came up more often than any other.
We obliged by mounting a production of this work, with set design by Miguel
Romero. Costumes were by MFA student Nellica Rave, undergraduate Jarrod Jahoda
contributed lights, and guest sound designer Vincent Olivieri rounded out the
lead designer team. A mix of undergraduates and graduate students served as
their assistants.
2003-2004
The Trojan Women
Adapted from Euripides by Jean-Paul Sartre
Presented April 29-May 8 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Euripides'
powerful play examining the aftermath of war was brought to the Rand stage in a production director
by MFA student Greg Allen, with sets by fellow MFA student Mariana Fernandez, lights by Margo
Caddell and costumes by Nellica Rave. Guest artists David Wiggall created the sound design.
The
Captivation of Eunice Williams
Music
by Paula M. Kimper, Libretto by Harley Erdman
Presented April 14-18 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Alumna Linda McInerney returned to direct this workshop production of a new opera, created to mark
the 300th anniversary of real-life events in Deerfield. Theater and Music students were cast in the
piece, which went on to a full production in Deerfield in the summer.
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All's Well That Ends Well
By William Shakespeare
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Adjunct faculty member Alec Wild's area of expertise is Shakespeare, and he displayed his knowledge
when he directed our production of All's Well That Ends
Well. Alumnus Troy Hourie returned to design
the sets, while two undergraduates, Michael Salvas and Michael Lee, designed lights and sound,
respectively. MFA student Katrice Hurley created the costumes.
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Othello
By William Shakespeare
Presented Dec. 4-12 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
The first of our pair of Shakespeare productions of this year took place in the Rand. Faculty
members Gil McCauley and Alec Wild shared the stage with students as actors in the piece. Behind the
scenes, it was MFA student Sheila Siragusa directing, with guest artist Angela Bonacasa
choreographing the fights and Vincent Olivieri designing the sound. Hampshire College student
Jeorgea Beck designed the sets, and MFA student Nellica Rave the dostumes. Undergrad Michael Salvas
designed the lights.
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Proof
By David Auburn
Presented Oct. 30-Nov. 8 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
MFA student Melissa Miller was the director of our production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning
work. Graduate student Amy Davis designed the sets, while faculty members
June Gaeke and Penny Remsen lent their talents to the costume and lighting
design, respectively. An undergraduate was also part of the design team:
Tom O'Connell, who created the sound design.
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2002-2003
A Lesson Before Dying
Adapted by Romulus Linney from the book by Ernest J. Gaines
Presented May 1-10 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
MFA director Greg Allen secured the rights to Chic Street Man's music from the original production.
Alumnus Brian Ruggaber created the set design. This production also saw the official dedication of
the new sound system in memory of late alumnus Norman Rothstein.
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Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
by Tom Stoppard
Presented April 3-12 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
For the first time ever, an undergraduate production team was invited to mount its production as
part of the official season and on the Rand stage. The run broke box office records for the
department.
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Some Asians
by Alice Tuan
Presented Feb. 27 to March 8 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
This co-production with the Northampton-based Fund for Women Artists, which brought playwright Alice
Tuan, one of the artists on the group's roster, to UMass for a residency that included class visits
and presentations to the community. Hampshire College student Jeorgea Beck was the guest scenic
designer for the piece, and David Wiggall was the guest artist for lighting design. One of our
talented undergraduate students, Paige Hubbell, provided the sound design.
A co-production with the Fund for Women Artists and New WORLD Theater.
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The Mineola Twins
by Paula Vogel
Presented Dec. 5 to 13 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Acting Professor Julie Nelson took the roles of Jim and Sarah opposite first-year acting student
Anne McDonnell, who played Myra/Myrna. Dramaturg Megan Smithling set up a number of events and
created a website linked to the production.
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Love in Disguise
by Marivaux
Presented Nov. 7 to 16 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
This production of Marivaux's Le Prince Travesti was the English-language premiere of the
piece, with the translation created by dramaturg Dan Smith, a graduate student in the department.
The production also served as revered theater faculty member Ed Golden's last directing project for
the department, and the cast featured one of his first students, local actor and director
Andy Lichtenberg, as well as a number of his current students.
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2001-2002
Crossing John at the Crossroads
by Gilbert McCauley with Bill Lowe
Presented May 2 to 11 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
This piece, incorporating spoken word, dance, music and theater, created
by faculty member Gilbert McCauley with renowned jazz composer Bill
Lowe. The actors, a mix of students and community members, were joined
by members of the band Jazz-O-Tree onstage. Gil directed the piece,
and fellow faculty member June Gaeke designed the costumes. Scenic
design was by graduate student Brian Cote, and talented undergrad
Sarah Jakubasz did the lights.
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Woyzeck
Adapted by Julian Olf from a translation by Gideon Lester
Presented April 11 to 20 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Faculty member Julian Olf adapted this play from Gideon Lester's translation,
transforming the black box into a circus-inspired setting. Helping to
create the world of the play were the cartoonish, oversized props created
by undergraduate designer Glenn Sturgis, the spotlights and other effects
offered by graduate student Jonathan Wyman and the primary colors and
bold shapes of guest designer Kate Thaw.
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Love's Labor's Lost
by William Shakespeare
Presented Feb. 28 to March 9 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
This production was presented to local children in a student matinee;
over 300 attended, making it one of the most successful outreach programs
of the last three years.
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Diary of a Madman
Based on the stories of Nikolai Gogol, adapted and directed by Lisa
Channer and Vladimir Rovinsky
Presented Dec. 6 to 14 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Alumna Lisa Channer and her husband, Vladimir Rovinsky, are co-founders
of the Cold War Theatre Project/Novi Most, a group which presents bi-lingual
Russian and English theater and seeks to bridge the cultures of Russia
and America. With the help of dramaturg Dan Smith and assistant director
Sheila Siragusa, both graduate students, they adapted Russian writer
Nikolai Gogol's short stories, including the titular piece, into a play
that commented on madness and the challenges of communicating across
cultures, languages and time. Vladimir played the lead role, and worked
with the student and community actors in the piece on Russian theater
techniques. The production was designed by UMass graduate students —
including lighting by Izzy Einsidler, sound by Jonathan Wyman, and sets
by Brain Cote — and by undergraduate Anna Wronsky, who handled costumes.
A co-production with the Cold War Theatre Project/Novi Most.
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The Ohio State Murders
by Adrienne Kennedy
Presented Nov. 8 to 17 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Dramaturg Priscilla Page created a series of educational lectures and
readings of Adrienne Kennedy's other work around the production we scheduled
into our season in November 2001. This production was directed by Danielle
Sertz, an MFA candidate, with scenic design by Steve Hayes, lighting and
sound by undergraduates Sarah Jakubasz and Michael Meneguzzo, respectively,
and costumes by guest artist Kate Thaw.
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2000-2001
Archipelago of Delight
by Harley Erdman, Christopher Haynes and Miguel Romero
Presented April 26 to May 5 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
This musical with puppetry was created by professors Harley Erdman and
Miguel Romero with Springfield College professor Christopher Haynes composing
the music. The puppets were created by Miguel with graduate and undergraduate
students, working together with German mask-maker, puppeteer and sculptor
Sebastian Roser in our shop - a collaboration that began in January of
that year with a special three-week workshop in mask and puppetry-making
with Roser.
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Stop Kiss
by Diana Son
Presented April 5 to 13 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Dramaturg Priscilla Page, a graduate student, used the opportunity to
present a series of programs examining some of the issues facing women
and lesbians that were raised in the play. New WORLD Theater's Roberta
Uno directed.
A co-production with New WORLD Theater.
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The Crucible
by Arthur Miller
Presented March 2 to 10 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Arthur Miller's The Crucible drew large crowds during its performances
at UMass, which included a student matinee for almost 500 high school
and middle school students.
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House of Wives
by Fatima Gallaire, translated by Tom and Carolyn Shread
Presented Dec. 7 to 15 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
A group of graduate students brought UMass a US premiere performance of
a play by one of France's most renowned contemporary writers, Fatima Gallaire.
Dramaturgy MFA student Tom Shread and his wife, Carolyn, a doctoral candidate
in the French department, translated Gallaire's Les Co-Epouses (changing
the title to House of Wives along the way), and directing grad
student Lucinda Kidder directed the production, which featured lighting
by a UMass alumna, New York lighting designer Lara Dubin. MFA students
Brian Cote and Kathy Hemann did the set and costume design, respectively.
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Dr. Faustus
by Christopher Marlowe
Presented Nov. 9 to 18 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
MFA directing student Tanya Kane-Parry updated Marlowe's classic, mixing
the original text with modern language, adding movement, and setting the
whole play in a setting that recalled the glitzy, sham pleasures of a
modern Las Vegas-type world as much as Faustus's Reformation era. Costumes
by Kate Thaw and sets by Steve Hayes, both graduate students, helped create
that world, with undergraduate lighting designer Brendan Murray, and alumnus
sound designer Nick Keenan.
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The Misanthrope
by Moliere, translated by Constance Congdon, with Virginia Scott
Presented Oct. 18 to 21 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
To celebrate the publication of her book Moliere: A Theatrical Life,
Professor Virginia Scott directed this production, which featured a new
translation by alumna Constance Congdon, who worked from Virginia's literal
translation of the original French. Alumnus Rob Wu, a recent graduate
of NYU, took the lead role. Costume design was contributed by professor
June Gaeke, and the set is by undergrad Louise Groll, who painted an intricate
carpet design. Lighting is by undergraduate Melissa Mizell.
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1999-2000
Polaroid Stories
by Naomi Iizuka
Presented April 20 to 29 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Professor Gilbert McCauley made his debut with the department with this
production. Iizuka came to campus to visit classes, and participated
in a post-performance audience talkback as well. The piece was a co-production
with New WORLD Theater. The production featured actors from the department
and the community, as well as guest sound design Janet Kalas of New
York.
A co-production with New WORLD Theater.
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The Bacchae of Euripides
by Wole Soyinka
Presented Feb. 24 to March 4 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Graduate student director Judyie Al-Bilali set the action of the play
amid the American Civil Rights movement, and collaborated with Marlies
Yearby, the Tony Award-nominated choreographer of Rent.
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She Stoops To Conquer
by Oliver Goldsmith
Presented Nov. 11 to Dec. 4 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Director Ed Golden set this piece in New England, evoking colonial life in western Massachusetts.
Dramaturg Jenny Werner carried his concept into the program for the play, which resembled an old
farmer's almanac.
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1998-1999
Sanango
by azande
Feb. 25 to March 6 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
MFA student Judyie Al-Bilali directed the production, with scenic design
by then-undergraduate David Korins, now an up-and-coming designer in
New York whose work regularly receives positive coverage in trade publications
and in reviews in the New York Times.
A co-production with New WORLD Theater.
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Something Stirring
by various authors
Presented as an independent event May 5 to 8 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
This event was a showcase of new plays written by undergraduates that
were staged in the Curtain Theater. The piece pictured here, No Room
for Error, was written by Tim Matos and featured scenic design by
David Korins.
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The Mandrake
by Niccolo Machiavelli
Presented April 29 to May 8 in the Durfee Gardens
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Graduate student Tim Mahoney set his production of Niccolo Machiavelli's
comedy The Mandrake in the University's Durfee Gardens.
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1997-1998
So Far
by Constance Congdon
Presented April 30 to May 9 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
For its 25th anniversary, the department commissioned a new play, So
Far, from noted playwright and alumna Constance Congdon. The piece,
performed in the Rand Theater, was directed by Professor Edward Golden,
with costumes by graduate student Medea Maraia.
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Marisol
by Jose Rivera
Presented Feb. 26 to March 7 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Dramaturg Jennifer Werner brought playwright Jose Rivera to the department
in conjunction with the production of his play, which was directed
by Linda McInerney, now head of Old Deerfield Productions.
A co-production with New WORLD Theater.
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Assassins
by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman
Presented Dec. 3 to 13 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
MFA student director Maxwell Mount and music director Robert Ripley brought
Steven Sondheim's Assassins, a piece that examines a half-dozen
presidential assassins and would-be assassins to the stage.
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The Tempest
by William Shakespeare
Presented Oct. 30 to Nov. 8 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Professor Richard Trousdell directed a version of The Tempest which
featured puppets and sets by his colleague Miguel Romero, as his farewell
production before his retirement.
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1996-1997
The Fantasticks
by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt
Presented April 9 to 19 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
MFA graduate student Maxwell Mount directed this version of the classic
musical.
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Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You In the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad
by Arthur Kopit
Presented May 1 to 10 in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Professor Julian Olf directed, with set design from graduate student Troy
Hourie, an alumnus now receiving good reviews for his work in New York.
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1995-1996
Vinegar Tom
by Caryl Churchill
Presented April 17 to 27 in the Curtain Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
This production was directed by graduate student Laura Tichler, with sets
by Loren Mochari and lighting by Emily Stork, both graduate students.
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Pterodactyls
by Nicky Silver
Presented Feb./March in the Rand Theater
Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo.
Nicky Silver came to campus as his contemporary comedy Pterodactyls
was being produced here. The production was directed by Sam Rush, then
a graduate student and now artistic director of the New Century Theatre
in nearby Northampton. The Rand stage set was designed by graduate student
Troy Hourie. Former technical director Chris Higgins constructed the
dinosaur.
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