Kansas State University

K-State theatre, dance and opera programs announce 2023-24 season

Submitted by the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

The K-State theatre, dance and opera programs announce the 2023-2024 season. Productions include the new dark comedy "Exit, Pursued By a Bear"; the classic American musical "The Fantasticks"; and Shakespeare's legendary "Comedy of Errors." Other productions include Winter and Spring Dance performances, a new musical, an opera and Barrier-Free Theatre.

The following is the K-State theatre, dance and opera production season for 2023‐24:

• "Exit, Pursued by a Bear" by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Joelle Ré Arp-Dunham. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28-30 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 1. Nan has decided to teach her abusive husband, Kyle, a lesson. With the help of her friend Simon, acting as her emotional — and actual — cheerleader,  and a stripper named Sweetheart, she tapes Kyle to a chair and forces him to watch as they reenact scenes from their painful past. In the pièce de résistance, they plan to cover the room in meat and honey so Kyle will be mauled by a bear. Through this night of emotional trials and ridiculous theatrics, Nan and Kyle are both freed from their past in this smart, dark revenge comedy. Content disclosure: Discussions of domestic and alcohol abuse, blood, profanity and homophobic slurs.

• "Thank God for That," a musical reading written by Brooke Dennis and music by Semler will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6-7 in the Purple Masque Theatre in West Memorial Stadium. This ethno-dramatic musical explores the lives of LGBTQ+ Christians and how they reconcile their gender identities and sexualities with their faith.

• "The Fantasticks" — Book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt. Directed by Jerry Jay Cranford. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19-21 and 26-28, and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29, all at Chapman Theatre in Nichols Hall. "The Fantasticks" is the longest-running musical in history, initially running off-Broadway for 42 years and reopening for another 11 years. It is a funny and romantic musical about a boy, a girl and their two fathers who try to keep them apart. The narrator, El Gallo, asks audience members to use their imagination and journey into a world of moonlight and magic. The boy and the girl fall in love, grow apart and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo's words, "without a hurt, the heart is hollow."

• "Shifting Landscapes" — Winter Dance Concert '23. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9-11 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Chapman Theatre in Nichols Hall. Join the K-State dance program for a show that will keep your spirit warm. Featuring original choreography by K-State faculty and guest artists in jazz, modern and tap styles.

• "Amelia Goes to the Ball" by Gian Carlo Menotti. English translation by George Mead. Directed by Jerry Jay Cranford. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. March 1 and 2 and 2:30 p.m. March 3 at McCain Auditorium. Amelia wants to go to the ball, and seemingly nothing will stop her. Even when her husband discovers that she has a lover and demands his name, she only agrees to give it to him if he will then go to the ball. After her husband confronts her lover, she demands that they go to the ball. When he refuses, she knocks him out by hitting him over the head with a vase. She then calls the police and blames the incident on a robber who is actually her lover. In the end, she finally attends the ball with her escort, the chief of police. Content disclosure: Contains themes of infidelity and mild violence.

• "Renewal" — Spring Dance Concert '24. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. March 22 and 23 at McCain Auditorium. Celebrate the arrival of spring with the K-State dance program. Featuring original choreography by K-State faculty, students and guest artists.

• "The Comedy of Errors" by William Shakespeare and directed by David Mackay. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 18-20 and 25-27 and 2:30 p.m. April 21 and 28 at Chapman Theatre in Nichols Hall. After both being separated from their twins in a shipwreck, Antipholus and his slave, Dromio, go to Ephesus to find them. The other set of twins lives in Ephesus, and the new arrivals cause a series of incidents of mistaken identity. In the end, the twins find each other and their parents and resolve all of the problems caused earlier. Content disclosure: This performance contains adult language and situations including sexual content, medical procedures, infant death, bigotry and nonconsensual physical contact.

• "The Wolves" by Sarah DeLappe and directed by Lindsey Edwards. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15-17 and at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at Chapman Theatre in Nichols Hall. Left quad. Right quad. Lunge. A girls indoor soccer team warms up. From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, the team navigates big questions and wages tiny battles with all the vim and vigor of a pack of adolescent warriors. A portrait of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for nine American girls who just want to score some goals. Content disclosure: Contains references to suicide and alcoholism.

• Barrier-Free Theatre by the K-State drama therapy program. Directed by Sally Bailey. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 28 and 29 and 2:30 p.m. April 30 at the Purple Masque Theatre in West Memorial Stadium. This theatre troupe of actors with and without disabilities has presented original one-act plays for more than two decades in Manhattan. Under the supervision and direction of Bailey, Barrier‐Free plays have been set in outer space, in the heart of a volcano, in castles, forests, laboratories and even at the bottom of the sea.