University Theatre, the academic production program of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, closes its season with “In the Next Room,” showing through April 26.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. April 17-19 and April 23-26, and 2 p.m. April 27 in the Temple Building’s Howell Theatre. Tickets are $16 general admission, $14 faculty/staff/senior citizens, and $10 for students (with valid identification).
“In the Next Room,” also know as “the vibrator play,” was written by Sara Ruhl and follows Dr. Givings (played by Ryan T. Rabstejnek) testing a new apparatus to treat female hysteria. The production is set in the Victorian era, at the dawn of the age of electricity, when misperceptions prevailed about female issues such as motherhood, breastfeeding and marriage roles.
Givings new therapy for women affects his entire household as his wife (Lauren M. Huston), who tends to her newborn child in the room adjacent to the doctor’s laboratory, begins to examine the nature of her own marriage and what it truly means to love someone.
The production is a provocative and touching comedy that goes to the heart of intimacy and equality.
“In the Next Room” contains adult themes and language, sexual situations and nudity, and may not be suitable for younger audience members.
Jeremy Skidmore is guest director for the production. Assistant director is undergraduate Clare Carl.
Additional cast members are undergraduates Meghan Modrovsky, David Michael Fox, Brenna Hill, Will J. Voelker and Leonard Irving. Crashonda Edwards is a guest artist and member of the Actors’ Equity Association.
The production was created by Joshua “Raj” Rajaee, graduate student (scenic); Janice Stauffer, associate professor (costumes); Ed Stauffer, associate professor (technical direction); Joe Shea, undergraduate (lighting); Lucas Dunwoody, undergraduate (sound); and Savannah Kurtz, undergraduate (stage manager).
The production is helping Rajee complete requirements toward a Master of Fine Arts degree.
Tickets are available at the Lied Center for Performing Arts box office, by calling 402-472-4747, online at http://www.unltheatretickets.com, or at the door, one hour before curtain.
For more information, go to http://carsonschool.unl.edu.
