SSCC Theatre Announces 2007-2008 Season

After completing a successful 2006-07 season with hit productions of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and a near sold out run of Fiddler on the Roof, produced jointly with Hillsboro High School, the Southern State Community College theatre department is excited to release the schedule of upcoming productions for 2007-08.

Taking place Nov. 9 – 11, 2007 is Bloody Poetry. Some of literature’s most complicated poets will grace the stage of SSCC this fall. Playwright Howard Brenton’s fascinating drama, staged to acclaim in London and New York, has in its cast of characters Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Shelley and Claire Goodwin. Taking place in Italy, it concerns the characters' various ideas about radical politics and free love. Along the way, a number of serious questions are raised, not the least of which is why fervent radicals seem so often to be done in by their reprehensible characters. Bloody Poetry is not child friendly and will be directed by Rainee Angles, SSCC theatre and speech instructor.

Scheduled for Jan. 26, 2008 is the second annual Theatre ASAP competition. Whether it's a small cast one act, an epic musical or a large cast period play ... most things that take place in theatre take time and even months usually. But, what if it was possible to write, direct, produce, rehearse, memorize and perform a play in a twenty four hour period? You'd call that crazy. We call it, Theatre ASAP. This year promises some exciting new changes to last year’s program which can only make things more complicated for our daunted writers. Don’t miss this one of a kind theatre event! Theatre ASAP will be directed by Benjamin Gullett and Rainee Angles.

As always, Southern State’s theatre students take part in performing a one act play as part of their final grade. This event is free to the public and plays March 19, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

Taking place May 30 - June 1, 2008 will be The Curious Savage. Mrs. Savage has been left ten million dollars by her husband and wants to make the best use of it, in spite of the efforts of her grown up stepchildren to get their hands on it. These latter, knowing that the widow's wealth is now in negotiable securities, and seeing they cannot get hold of it, commit her to a "sanatorium" hoping to "bring her to her senses." But Mrs. Savage is determined to establish a fund to help others realize their hopes and dreams. In the sanatorium she meets various social misfits, men and women who just cannot adjust themselves to life, people who need the help Mrs. Savage can provide. John Patrick’s comically light-hearted, family friendly play, The Curious Savage will be directed by Rainee Angles.

During August 22 - 24, 2008, the production Assassins will be taking place. This most American of musicals lays bare the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate the president of the United States, in a historical “revusical” that explores the dark side of the American experience. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman bend the rules of time and space, taking us on a nightmarish rollercoaster ride in which assassins and would-be assassins from different historical periods meet, interact and in an intense final scene inspire each other to harrowing acts in the name of the American Dream. This production will be directed by Benjamin Gullett and David White.

Still remaining this season is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Scheduled to take place August 17 - 19, 2007, shows will be held in the Edward K. Daniels Auditorium on the central campus in Hillsboro. Every last one of the Bard's plays (abridged ever so slightly ... maybe a little bit more than slightly) comes to the SSCC theatre stage in this "high-speed roller-coaster" of a play that takes all of Shakespeare's plays and condenses them down to a two act, 97 minute, streamlined performance. The Today Show says "If you like Shakespeare, you'll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you'll love this show!" Join us on August 17 at 7:30 p.m., August 18 at 7:30 p.m. or August 19 @ 3:30 p.m. for one wild ride, escorted by Brian Deatley, Benjamin Gullett and Andy Tabor performing all of Bill's famous roles. Directed by Rainee Angles.

Season tickets are now available exclusively through the SSCC theatre website. If   2007-08 season tickets are purchased by Aug. 3, tickets for Shakespeare (Abridged) are included free! For more information about the 2007-08 season, please visit www.sscctheatre.com.