Students and alumni steal the spotlight with Cal State Fullerton’s spring theater productions. The season kicks off with William Shakespeare’s “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” Directed by Mark Ramont, associate professor of theatre and dance, the romantic comedy — one of The Bard’s most popular — runs Feb. 24-March 12 at the Young Theatre on campus.
The College of the Arts’ MFA-acting cohorts take center stage in Melanie Marnich’s “Tallgrass Gothic,” directed by James R. Taulli, professor of theatre and dance. The March 10-April 9 production in the Hallberg Theatre is set in the Great Plains, where Laura’s desire for a new beginning sets off a violent chain of events. “Tallgrass Gothic” includes harsh language and content, and is recommended for adults only.
Then there’s “Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party,” a decadent musical based on Joseph Moncure March’s 1928 narrative poem. Jeremy Lewis ’15 ’12 (M.F.A., B.A. theatre arts-directing) directs the tale of two lovers, a boisterous fete and a gun, with choreography by William F. Lett, lecturer of theatre and dance, and musical direction by Mitchell Hanlon, professor of theatre and dance. The production runs April 21-May 7 in the Young Theatre, and is also recommended for adults only.
Closing the spring 2017 season is the Spring Dance Theatre, running May 4-14 in the Little Theatre. Coordinated by Gladys Kares, professor of theatre and dance, it features student dancers and faculty, as well as student and guest-artist choreographers.
Tickets are available online or by calling 657-278-3371, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.