Department of Theatre Announces 2022-23 Season Featuring Graduate M.F.A. Students

The Department of Theatre’s 2022-23 subscription season will feature four plays, all written or directed by M.F.A. graduate candidates in fulfillment of their M.F.A. theses.

The season includes classic, contemporary and new plays, as well as a faculty directed musical, that celebrate the diverse perspectives of our students as they explore timely issues and timeless themes. Join our mailing list to get updates when tickets become available.

“Our students have patiently waited out this pandemic while honing their skills on a number of unique projects — this includes the entire cohort, actors, designers, playwrights and directors. However, they are extremely excited to be producing live theatre for our Northwest Arkansas and U of A campus community audience members,” said Michael Riha, professor and chair of the Department of Theatre.

2022-23 SUBSCRIPTION SEASON

This Bitch — Esta Sangre Quiero

By M.F.A. playwright Adrienne Dawes
Music by Eric Johnson
Lyrics by Adrienne Dawes & Lope de Vega (adapted by khattieq)
Directed by guest director Estefanía Fadul
Sept. 30 to Oct. 9 (University Theatre)

When Diana, a ruthless and power-hungry Pilates influencer learns that her social media manager Teodoro is hooking up with her makeup artist Madeinusa, it sparks bitter jealousy. Even though it would be social suicide for her to date someone with zero followers, Diana finds herself falling hard for the smooth-talking Teodoro . . . but if she can’t have him, no one can!

A big, bawdy, bilingual Gen Z comedy inspired by Lope de Vega’s Golden Age comedy El perro del hortelano, (The Dog in the Manger), This Bitch – Esta Sangre Quiero explores the lives of the instafamous and their entourage.

God of Carnage

By Yasmina Reza
Directed by M.F.A. candidate Huan Bui
Nov. 11-20 (University Theatre)

Two high-strung couples meet one evening for a civil conversation concerning a playground altercation between their young sons. As the rum freely flows, what starts out politely and politically correct becomes pugilistic and anything but correct. A comically explosive look at the complexity of human behavior and what happens when the gloves come off.

Rebirth: An Evening of Dance

Dec. 2-4 (University Theatre)

The Movement, Dance for the Masses and the Department of Theatre will produce the first dance concert at the U of A in over 30 years. The Movement’s main goal is to provide dance opportunities and introduce dance to the student body regardless of background, experience level or status. All styles of dance are taught and represented, including, but not limited to, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, ballet, ballroom, modern, swing, musical theatre and more! Feel free to come and introduce us to any dance forms you would love other students to know about and try, or come take a class with us! Instructors for our classes include a range of both professional dance instructors for a variety of available categories as well as student instructors who simply hope to teach their own peers a dance of their own.

Hedda Gabler 

By Henrik Ibsen

Adapted by Christopher Shinn
Directed by M.F.A. candidate Lacy Post
Feb. 17-26, 2023 (University Theatre)

“You find it so hard to accept that a young girl might…want – just a little peek in at a world which – which she is not permitted to know anything about at all. Nothing!”  —Hedda Gabler

Hedda Gabler, one of drama’s most iconic and enigmatic characters, is intelligent, self-possessed and restless in her new marriage as she discovers her options narrowing and her daily routines suffocating. Can the strong-willed Hedda break free and take control of her own journey, or do the limitations and expectations society places on young women leave her forever the passenger? Ibsen’s dark, funny modern classic continues to shock 100 years after it was first performed.

Untitled Nursing Play

By M.F.A. playwright Sarah Loucks
Directed by professor Amy Herzberg
March 3-12, 2023 (Global Campus Black Box Theatre)

From hematomas to mimosas, this new play explores the lives of five sophomore pre-nursing students taking a human anatomy class. On consecutive Sunday afternoons, they gather in the library to chug Red Bull and study the anatomy of the body, all while navigating the anatomy of a changing world.

Songs From A New World

Directed by professor Morgan Hicks
April 14-23, 2023 (University Theatre)

It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today, the Songs for a New World. The first musical from Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make.

The 2022-2023 Student Spotlight Series

In addition to these subscription offerings additional work will be showcased in our Student Spotlight Series, which features student-driven projects and work coming out of our classroom labs. These typically include an exciting mix of 10-minute plays, late night cabarets, studio shows and one-person shows—come find out what our students are cooking up! Sign up for our mailing list to get updated on all our offerings.

Tickets will be available soon at uarkartstickets.com. For more information, visit the Department of Theatre or email theatre@uark.edu.