The 2014-2015 theater season at the University of Central Missouri features a musical based on an Adam Sandler film, a Neil Simon play and more
The department of theatre and dance at UCM opens season opens with “The Wedding Singer,” a musical based on the hit film that featured Adam Sandler. It’s your classic “boy has girl, boy loses girl, boy finds different girl who is engaged, boy kisses that girl, confuses that girl, girl’s fiancé isn’t nice anyway, but boy completely loses girl forever nonetheless, but not really” story, according to a news release. The musical is set to run Oct. 8-12.
This musical is directed by John Wilson with musical direction by Kristee Haney and Rob Lawrence and choreography by Ashley Miller.
The next production is “Nickel and Dimed” by Joan Holden, based on the novel of the same name by Barbara Ehrenreich. Julie Rae Mollenkamp directs this play, which runs in the Nickerson Hall Black Box Theatre. The play is about an author who sets out to research minimum wage life firsthand and will be performed Oct. 28-Nov. 1.
Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park,” directed by Richard Herman, follows the newlywed couple Paul and Corie as they begin married life. The play is set for Nov. 18-22.
The spring semester begins with a superhero-inspired dance concert titled “KA-POW!,” directed by Ashley Miller. This dance concert explores the heroes that exist in our everyday lives, in our imaginations, comic books, and in the movies. It runs Feb. 5-7, 2015, in the Highlander Theatre.
“Under Milk Wood” by Dylan Thomas will be directed by John Wilson and runs March 4-8. It started as a 1954 Welsh radio drama, but was adapted into a stage play where an omniscient narrator who invites the audience to listen to the dreams and innermost thoughts of the inhabitants of a fictional small Welsh fishing village.
The season finale, “Spring Awakening,” is a rock musical that navigates youth and the thrilling, confusing time of adolescent self-discovery as well as the shared experience of coming of age. Mollenkamp directs this musical that is based on the controversial German play of the same name that was banned due to its frank portrayal of human sexuality. You can see this Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and Grammy award winning show from April 22-26, 2015, in the Highlander Theatre.
Season tickets are $70 for the general public, $55 for UCM faculty and staff or senior citizens and military personnel, and $35 for UCM students. A season subscriber receives substantial savings, choice seating, ticket insurance, and exchange privileges. Season tickets may be purchased by calling the theater department at 660-543-4020. Children under the age of 5 are not admitted to mainstage and studio productions.