This school year, Theatre UAB will present an epic battle of the sexes, one of Shakespeare’s best romantic comedies, a family tale of hope after tragedy, an uproarious, Tony Award-winning musical and its annual short play festival. Happening this season are: “Big Love,” “Twelfth Night,” “Rabbit Hole,” the Festival of Ten Minute Plays and “Urinetown: The Musical.” Ticket packages are available, and tickets are on sale now. Call 205-975-2787 or visit Theatre UAB at www.uab.edu/theatre.
From Theatre UAB’s 2013 production of “Bat Boy: The Musical”Oct. 16-20, 2013
Theatre UAB presents “Big Love” by Charles Mee
This radical reconstruction of Aeschylus’ “The Supplicants,” one of the Western world’s oldest plays, boasts the wild premise of 50 brides escaping arranged marriages to 50 grooms. When three of the brides entreat the owner of an Italian villa for help, they are blocked by their intended grooms and a darkly comedic fracas ensues. Save the date for this extravagant group nuptial turned extreme battle of the sexes. “Big Love,” to be directed by Karla Koskinen, contains adult language and themes. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. nightly Oct. 16-19 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, in the Sirote Theatre at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. General admission tickets are $12 and $15; student tickets $6; and UAB employee and senior citizen tickets $10. Call 205-975-2787 for tickets. Visit Theatre UAB at www.uab.edu/theatre.
Nov. 13-16 and Nov. 20-23, 2013
Theatre UAB presents “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare
It is “Twelfth Night” and love is in the air in the Dukedom of Illyria. A shipwreck separates Viola from her twin Sebastian. She then falls for Count Orsino and masquerades as a man in order to serve in his court. Orsino in turn sends the “boyish” charge on his behalf to court the Countess Olivia, who falls head over heels for Cesario – Viola in drag. Things get really complicated when Viola’s lost twin arrives on the scene. With surprises and disguises at every turn, this cross-dressing tale of mistaken identity is one of Shakespeare’s most delectable romantic comedies. “Twelfth Night” is to be directed by Jack Cannon. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. nightly Nov. 13-16 and Nov. 20-22, with a 2 p.m. show Saturday, Nov. 23, in the Odess Theatre at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. General admission tickets are $15; student tickets $6; and UAB employee and senior citizen tickets $10. Call 205-975-2787 for tickets. Visit Theatre UAB at www.uab.edu/theatre.
Feb. 19-23, 2014
Theatre UAB presents “Rabbit Hole” by David Lindsay-Abaire
Eight months ago, Becca and Howie Corbett were a happy suburban couple with everything they desired. A shocking, sudden loss derails their domestic bliss, forcing them to confront grief in markedly different ways. “Rabbit Hole,” to be directed by Dennis McLernon, is a painfully honest, hopeful and unexpectedly witty exploration of a family reuniting in the wake of unimaginable tragedy. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. nightly Feb. 19-22, with a 2 p.m. show Sunday, Feb. 23, in the Sirote Theatre at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. General admission tickets are $12 and $15; student tickets are $6; and UAB employees and senior citizen tickets are $10. Call 205-975-2787 for tickets. Visit Theatre UAB at www.uab.edu/theatre.
March 10-15, 2014
Theatre UAB presents the 11th Annual Festival of Ten-Minute Plays
Theatre UAB’s enormously popular festival features eight new plays that are off the grid in originality. Smart, edgy, shrewd, shocking and often hilarious, this is a night of theater the audience will discuss long after the curtain closes. Super-short plays are written, directed and acted by students, staff and faculty. The festival is to be produced by Lee Shackleford. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. nightly March 10-14, with a 2 p.m. show Saturday, March 15, in the Odess Theatre at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. All tickets are $5; arrive early as this festival always sells out. Plays contain adult language and themes. Call 205-975-2787 for tickets. Visit Theatre UAB at www.uab.edu/theatre.
April 9-13, 2014
Theatre UAB presents “Urinetown: The Musical” by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis
In a Gotham-like city, a catastrophic 20-year drought has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets to conserve water. The citizens must use pay-per-use amenities owned and operated by Urine Good Co., a malevolent corporation run by the corrupt Caldwell B. Cladwell. Amid the people, a hero decides he has had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom. Winner of three Tony Awards and one of the most uproariously funny musicals in recent years, “Urinetown,” to be directed by Valerie Accetta, has been touted as reinvigorating the very notion of what a musical can be. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. nightly April 9-12 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, in the Sirote Theatre at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. General admission tickets are $12 and $15; student tickets $6; and UAB employee and senior citizen tickets $10. Call 205-975-2787 for tickets. Visit Theatre UAB at www.uab.edu/theatre.