STERLING — There is something in store for everyone with this year’s Sterling College Theatre season, which will include three musicals, an American literature classic, a new, unusual one-man play, an original student showcase; and a Shakespearean comedy with a Western twist. The slate of shows offers a wide variety and range of experiences for both the audience and the performers and technicians.
This year’s season actually started in August with the production of “Vanities,” the musical which was the culminating project of three graduating senior theatre students. This musical is based on the popular play “Vanities” and follows the lives of three Texas cheerleaders as they navigate the ups and downs of life, love, and friendship.
Production is well underway for the next show, which will be Sterling College’s Homecoming musical - “Guys and Dolls.” This is one of Broadway’s best-loved musicals and features music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The show revolves around the colorful characters of New York City gamblers and showgirls as well as the straight-laced street missionaries. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12-14 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 15 in Culbertson Auditorium.
Next up will be “There Is No Light,” a performance showcase featuring senior Bryson Brownlee and friends on Oct. 30 and 31. Appropriate to the show’s dates, it will include works by Edgar Allen Poe and Shakespeare as well as some macabre-themed songs. The show will be staged in Upper Wilson.
Arthur Miller’s powerful drama “The Crucible” is now regarded as a staple of American literature. It is a thought-provoking exploration of the Salem witch trials and the human capacity for fear, hysteria, and manipulation. It will be staged Nov. 16-18.
The final musical of the year will be “The Drowsy Chaperone” which will be presented in mid-February. The show is billed as a “musical within a comedy.” It takes the audience into the world of a reclusive musical theater fan who brings his favorite 1920’s musical to life in his drab apartment. It’s a meta-theatrical experience full of humor and catchy tunes.
The popular one-person show “Every Brilliant Thing” will be brought to life in early March. This unusual show tackles the topic of mental health and resilience in a touching and interactive way, as the audience becomes involved in listing “every brilliant thing” that makes life worth living. This show will also be staged in Upper Wilson.
Shakespeare’s classic comedy, “The Taming of the Shrew” will come to life in early April in a Wild-West style production. The popular title explores themes of gender roles and relationships as it tells the story of one man’s attempts to “tame” a strong-willed woman.
The entire theatre season will close on April 27 as theatre students, music theatre students, and others bring to the stage An Evening of One-Acts and Dance.
Online tickets for each show will be available online at www.sterling.edu/arts and will also be offered at the door before each performance. “Guys and Dolls” tickets are now available.
