Throughout the weekend of December 7-9, three collections of student performances showcase the work of Gustavus Adolphus College theatre and dance students in an intimate, festival format. Tickets can be purchased at gustavustickets.com or by calling 507-933-7590.
Theatre Gallery: Myths and Origins
December 7 at 11 p.m. | December 8 at 6 p.m. | December 9 at 2 p.m.
Black Box Theatre
This year’s Theatre Gallery features four works by student directors focusing on myths. Each show has a unique take on the theme, and all pieces are original student works devised between the directors and their casts.
This year’s pieces showcase a wide variety of pieces, both comedic and serious. Detective Oedipus, directed by Tyler Strandberg ’19, is a comedic take on the story of Oedipus Rex, featuring sex, physical theatre, and a Shakespearean kitty. Morgan Fuller ’20 directs a physical theatre piece about soulmates, called Tethered. The show represents the connections between people with hundreds of yards of ribbon. Directed by Jayden Luikens ’20, Deus Otiosus (which translates to “The Absent God”) combines Norse, Egyptian, and Greek mythologies into one to tell the story of the All-Mother through the eyes of her chronicler. Scales to Skin: A Body Reclaimed, the show directed by Hannah Mahr ’20, is a dramatic, abstract, and modern retelling of Medusa’s origin myth, narrated from her perspective.
Audiences should note that Mahr’s show discusses the topic of sexual assault, and that they are welcome to leave for that particular piece.
Buried Child
December 7 at 6:30 p.m. | December 8 at 8 p.m. | December 9 at 4 p.m.
Black Box Theatre
Theatre Honors major Gabriel Berg ’19 directs Buried Child, the only full-length student-directed production this year. Written by Sam Shepard, this piece tells the story of a young man returning home with his girlfriend after years away, only to discover things are not the way he remembers them. Buried Child explores a family’s dark secrets in a tense and funny dive into the reality of the American dream.
This show is Berg’s Honors project, the culmination of his work at Gustavus with the theatre department. He has worked as both assistant director and associate director on many main stage productions, as well as directing works of his own.
Shared Space: Molding Integrity
December 7 at 8:30 p.m. | December 8 at Noon and 4 p.m. | December 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Kresge Dance Studio
Shared Space: Molding Integrity showcases Gustavus Dance Company dancers as they take the lead in producing, directing, choreographing, and performing. Co-directed by Kayla Cardenas ’19 and Madelyn Schwartz ’19, this concert brings together the richness and breadth of the Gustavus dance program.
With thirteen different pieces, these dances showcase dancers from a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels. The concert also exhibits five senior dance honors pieces choreographed by dance honors majors Madelyn Schwartz, Kayla Cardenas, Kasey Dumonceaux, Mia Massaro, and Maddie Bakken.
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