47th season features productions of “A Little Night Music,” “Violet” and “Hairspray”
Porthouse Theatre, Kent State University’s outdoor, summer theatre located on the grounds of Blossom Music Center, will celebrate its 47th season with productions of “A Little Night Music,” “Violet” and “Hairspray.”
Directed by Sean Morrissey, “A Little Night Music” opens June 12 and runs through June 27. A preview performance will take place on June 11. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, “A Little Night Music” explores the romantic web that entangles actress Desiree Armfeldt as she moves through 1900 Swedish society. Performances are June 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. and June 14 and 21 at 2 p.m.
Porthouse Theatre’s producing artistic director and Kent State Professor Terri Kent* will return to the Porthouse stage as Desiree, accompanied by Kent State Associate Professor Fabio Polanco* as Fredrik and Kent State student Jim Weaver as Count Carl-Magnus. Scenic design is by Ben Needham, costume design by Associate Professor S.Q. Campbell, lighting design by T.C. Kouyeas Jr. (M.F.A. ’06), technical direction by Associate Professor Steve Pauna and sound design by Brian Chismar (B.A. ’13). The production stage manager is Kristen Boehnlein*.
Directed by Steven C. Anderson, “Violet” opens July 10 and runs through July 25. A preview performance will take place on July 9. A musical of transformation, “Violet” chronicles a young disfigured woman’s journey of self-discovery as she seeks the healing touch of an evangelical preacher in the 1960s Deep South. Music is by Jeanine Tesori, and lyrics and book are by Brian Crawley. Performances are July 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. and July 12 and 19 at 2 p.m.
Kent State Assistant Professor Amy Fritsche performs as Violet. Scenic design is by Terry Martin; costume design by Susan Williams (M.F.A. ’15); lighting design by Cynthia R. Stillings, acting associate dean and professor at Kent State’s College of the Arts; technical direction by Kent State graduate student Ryan T. Patterson and sound design by Nathan Rosmarin (B.F.A. ’15). The production stage manager is Joshua Brown (BFA ’14).
Directed by Kent, “Hairspray” opens July 31 and runs through Aug. 16. A preview performance will take place on July 30. This family-friendly musical will have audiences dancing in their seats. “Hairspray” follows plus-size teen Tracy Turnblad as she fights for her dream to dance on the “Corny Collins Show” and ends up revolutionizing 1960s Baltimore. The book is by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music is by Marc Shaiman and lyrics are by Scott Wittman. Performances are July 30 and 31 and Aug. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 2, 9, 15 and 16 at 2 p.m.
Kent State Professor Emeritus Chuck Richie* performs as Edna Turnblad, accompanied by Rohn Thomas* as Wilbur Turnblad and Colleen Longshaw* (M.F.A. ’15) as Motormouth Maybelle. Scenic design is by Nolan O’Dell (B.F.A. ’98), costume design by Sarah Russell (M.F.A. ’09), lighting design by Kouyeas Jr., technical direction by Patterson and sound design by Brian Chismar (B.F.A. ’13). John R. Crawford, professor and dean of the College of the Arts, is the choreographer, and production stage manager is Kristen Boehnlein*.
Subscriptions are on sale now by phone at 330-672-3884. Single and group tickets go on sale May 26. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Porthouse Box Office, located in the Roe Green Center lobby of Kent State’s Center for the Performing Arts, 1325 Theatre Drive on the Kent Campus, online at www.kent.edu/porthouse or by phone at 330-672-3884.
Subscriptions for the gold center section range in price from $79 to $93. Subscriptions for the reserved left and right center sections range in price from $72-$84 for adults, $69-$84 for seniors, $57-$66 for college students and $51-$60 for children 18 and under.
Single tickets, which go on sale May 26, range in price from $32-$40 for adults, $30-$35 for seniors, $26-$33 for college students and $24-$30 for children 18 and under. Special rates for groups of 20 or more also are available.
For more information about Kent State’s Porthouse Theatre, visit www.kent.edu/porthouse.
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*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
Photo Captions:
Photo from A Little Night Music:
Porthouse Theatre's production of A Little Night Music opens June 12 and runs through June 27.
Photo from Violet:
Porthouse Theatre's production of Violet opens July 10 and runs through July 25.
Photo from Hairspray:
Porthouse Theatre's production of Hairspray opens July 31 and runs through Aug. 16.
Media Contacts:
Joni Koneval, jkoneval@kent.edu, 330-672-0116
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595