Another Exciting Season of Theatre and Dance Planned at Southern Miss
Tue, 09/13/2011 - 08:36am | By: Matthis W. Piel III
The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Theatre and Dance in the College of Arts & Letters is gearing up for a great fall season of performances which will include showstoppers such as “King Lear,” “Fences,” and “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
“King Lear,” Shakespeare's powerful tragedy, will be presented in a highly theatrical production featuring AEA guest artist Mark Kincaid in the title role. Kincaid is a renowned classical actor who has worked at major theatres throughout the country.
“Fences,” set in 1957 Pittsburgh, follows the story of Troy Maxson, a former Negro Baseball League star excluded from the major leagues. Maxson's bitterness takes its toll on his relationships with his wife and son but leads to an affirmation of the power of hope and human resilience. August Wilson won the Pulitzer Prize for this brilliant drama in 1987.
“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” is the hilarious story of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Winning isn't everything, and losing doesn't make you a loser. The lively productionwon the 2005 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical.
Among the other planned performances:
Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company in Concert -- The company works to promote the understanding of and appreciation for the art form of dance, while making dance accessible to everyone.
Repertory Dance Company at Southern Miss Fall Concert -- The first Repertory Dance Company concert of the year features work by students, faculty and guest artists, all performed by the department's most talented students.
Studio 115 Dance Concert -- The intimate setting of the Studio 115 Concert is a chance to see dance up close. Opening night will also feature a post-performance discussion with the artists.
Chicago Dance Artists' Series -- This brings Chicago's cutting-edge choreographers to Southern Miss and Hattiesburg audiences. Look for open rehearsals and performances/video showings by these artists throughout the year.
For event dates, times and ticket information go to www.southernmisstickets.com or call 601.266.5418/ 800.844.8425. For information about the performances go to www.usm.edu/theatre or www.usm.edu/dance.