Theatre UAB will present the musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Angels in America, Part I: Millennium Approaches,” “Hay Fever,” the Festival of 10-Minute Plays, and an original musical, “Savage,” as part of its 2018-19 season.
Theatre UAB's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," fall 2017.Theatre UAB is the performance company of the University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Theatre.
This season will include two musicals, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “Savage,” an original work conceived and developed by UAB Professor of Theatre Karla Koskinen. Theatre UAB will present the world premiere of the play April 10, 2019.
Theatre UAB also will present “the greatest laboratory for playwriting imaginable,” the 15th Festival of 10-Minute Plays. All of the plays in the festival are written, directed and acted by students, staff and faculty from the Department of Theatre.
Visit the UAB Department of Theatre online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre, or call the department at 205-934-3236.
For the 2018-2019 season, Theatre UAB will present:
Oct. 17-21
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk awards for Best Book, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” has charmed audiences across the country. Six quirky adolescents compete in the bee, run by three equally quirky grown-ups. A riotous show, complete with audience participation, this play contains adult language and situations. Music and lyrics by William Finn; book by Rachel Sheinkin; conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with additional material by Jay Reiss. Directed by Roy Lightner with music direction by Carolyn Violi. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17-20 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 21 in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, Sirote Theatre. Admission is $15 and $20; student tickets are $6. Tickets for UAB employees and senior citizens are $10. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Visit Theatre UAB online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.
Nov. 7-10 and Nov. 14-17
“Angels in America, Part I: Millennium Approaches”
Separate but connected New Yorkers grapple with sexuality, politics and religion during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Tony Kushner’s celebrated epic is compassionate, spiritual, often witty and completely captivating. This play contains strong sexual content and adult language. Directed by Jack Cannon and Hayley Procacci. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7-10 and Nov. 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Nov. 17 in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, Odess Theatre. Admission is $15; student tickets are $6. Tickets for UAB employees and senior citizens are $10. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Visit Theatre UAB online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.
Feb. 20-24, 2019
Scene from Theatre UAB's production of "Silent Sky," spring 2018.“Hay Fever”
Misunderstandings and tantrums abound when the four members of the self-absorbed Bliss family each invite a guest for the weekend. Noel Coward’s beloved play is a delightful mix of high farce and comedy of manners. Directed by Dennis McLernon. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20-23 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 24 in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, Sirote Theatre. Admission is $12 and $15; student tickets are $6. Tickets for UAB employees and senior citizens are $10. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Visit Theatre UAB online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.
March 4-8, 2019
Theatre UAB Festival of 10-Minute Plays
Experience an evocative, radical, touching and often hilarious selection of short plays written, directed and performed by Theatre UAB students, faculty and staff. This festival is one of Theatre UAB’s most popular offerings, for a great price. This festival contains strong adult language and situations. Produced by Lee Shackleford. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. March 4-8 in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, Odess Theatre. Admission is $5; performances in this festival often sell out. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Visit Theatre UAB online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.
April 10-14, 2019
“Savage”
An original musical conceived and developed by UAB Associate Professor of Theatre Karla Koskinen, “Savage” recounts the startling, true tale of a Mbuti man, Ota Benga, taken in the early 1900s by missionary and anthropologist Samuel Verner for exhibition at the St. Louis World’s Fair and, later, The Bronx Zoo. Displaced and cruelly exploited, Ota Benga is left to marginally exist in a world he does not understand, never able to return to his homeland. This world premiere seamlessly blends fiction, history, dance, traditional African Congo music and ragtime, as well as contemporary melodic and rap styles. Book and lyrics by Tommy Newman; music by Jaime Lozano and Newman; translations provided by Kazadi Wa Mukuna, Ph.D. Directed by Koskinen and Valerie Accetta, with musical direction by Carolyn Violi. Choreography by Roy Lightner. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. April 10-13 and at 2 p.m. April 14 in in UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, Sirote Theatre. Admission is $15 and $20; student tickets are $6. Tickets for UAB employees and senior citizens are $10. For tickets, call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org. Visit Theatre UAB online at www.uab.edu/cas/theatre.
Theatre UAB's 2017 production of the musical "Working."Each show in Theatre UAB’s season is cast almost entirely from the student body. Approximately 50 students usually perform in the shows, with a crew numbering 50-60 students working in costume construction, lighting, props and more. Each show averages about 100 students participating, which is roughly the number of the department’s majors. Theatre UAB offers hundreds of opportunities each year for student writers, actors, technicians, running-crew members, stage managers, dramaturgs or directors, and more than 100 opportunities each year for students to design scenery, costumes, lighting or sound.
In addition to the department’s main-stage productions, 19 students participate in the Theatre UAB Touring Program. The student tour groups travel to schools, retirement homes and community centers on Fridays throughout the school year. Last season, the Theatre UAB touring companies performed 50 shows in 18 cities in 13 counties, and entertained more than 10,000 people.
This season’s tour shows will include “The Diva Tour,” a tribute to the women who shaped popular music; “Broadway Today!” featuring a medley of contemporary songs currently on Broadway and at the movies; “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”; and “Taming the Bully Thing,” featuring human-size puppets and energetic human actors. For information and booking, call Theatre UAB Tour Groups at 205-934-3237.