Western Connecticut State University’s Department of Theater Arts announces its Spring Virtual Productions series. The series includes four unique productions that will air twice over two weekends covering From Thursday April 29 to Sunday May 9. One ticket on each performance date will allow the purchaser to access the show for 24 hours on that day. Tickets are available at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com.
“WCSU’s Faculty of Theater Arts is very proud of what we have been able to accomplish this year in terms of our virtual productions,” said Associate Chair of the Department of Theater Arts and Assistant Professor of Musical Theater Justin P Cowan. “Between last fall and this spring, our department will have fully produced and broadcast a total of nine productions. Considering that most of our professional industry has been on hold for over a year, we are excited not only to provide theater to our community and beyond, but also to provide such meaningful opportunities for our students. These productions have enabled our students to develop new skills; broaden their performance, design and technical experience; and perhaps most important: taught them the importance of creation and expression during difficult times.
Junior Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater, Logan Farley, of Belvidere, New Jersey, said, “The idea of making Zoom musicals and virtual plays seemed so daunting. However, let WCSU prove me wrong and make lemonade with lemons! The faculty pushed us to create, work together and perform at a time when these things seemed impossible. I’ve always been incredibly proud of the work we do here at WCSU, and I’m especially proud of the work we’ve done as a team this year under such extraordinary circumstances.
Streaming Thursday April 29 and Saturday May 8, “SWEAT” by Lynn Nottage, directed by Tim Howard. Filled with warm humor and a great heart, “SWEAT” tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets and laughs while working together in the factory. . But when layoffs and picket lines start to undermine their confidence, friends come face to face in a heart-wrenching struggle to stay afloat. This poignant piece examines the deindustrial revolution through the prism of a historical piece, but also delves into today’s issues: economics, immigration, race relations in America, and politics. Nottage’s “SWEAT” gives us characters filled with good and bad, and asks us to reflect on our own perspectives and those of others.
The next production featured in the Spring Virtual Production Series is A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, directed and adapted by Pam McDaniel. One of Shakespeare’s most popular and acclaimed comedies, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” tells the story of love and marriage, order and disorder, perception and reality. The play consists of four interconnected plots, connected by a celebration of the marriage of Duke Theseus of Athens and the Amazonian Queen, Hippolytus, which take place simultaneously in the woods and in the kingdom of Fairyland, under the light of the moon. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will air on Friday April 30 and Sunday May 9.
The streaming for Saturday May 1 and Thursday May 6 is “The Covid Decameron”, directed and organized by Sal Trapani. “The Decameron”, written in 1348 during the Black Death in Florence, Italy, is the inspiration for this modern and provocative series of reimagined stories by Giovanni Boccaccio. The students, under the guidance of Trapani and in collaboration with a team of designers and technicians, have designed original pieces that include an adult puppet show, a short musical, a series of dance pieces, comedic short films and drama, new songs, unique narration, a Zoom piece, artistic performances and surprise performances. This daring and entertaining event is not to be missed.
The final production of the Spring Virtual Production Series is “Hedda Freeman, a contemporary adaptation of Ibsen’s“ Hedda Gabler. ”This production is directed by Justin P. Cowan and adapted by Cowan and guest collaborator Kamilah Bush.“ Hedda Gabler ” by Ibsen is perhaps one of the most polarizing pieces of the 19th century.Published at Ibsen’s heyday of fame and performed throughout Europe, “Hedda Gabler” dares to study the psychological impulses of a woman, and how they are both influenced and informed by her surrounding socio-economic environment. In this contemporary adaptation, Hedda Freeman finds herself in a marriage and a society she cannot reconcile or escape. race, privilege, identity and fate become dramatic as Hedda struggles to define what freedom really means. “Hedda Freeman” airs Sunday May 2 and Friday May 7.
The Spring Virtual Production Series will air over two consecutive weekends starting Thursday April 29 and ending Sunday May 9. Tickets for each performance are $ 10. For $ 30, pass holders will have access to a performance of the four shows, for the price of three. Seasonal tickets and passes are available at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com. To learn more about the shows and to see behind-the-scenes footage and photos, visit the Department of the Performing Arts on Facebook and Instagram.
WCSU Spring Virtual Performance Series Actor Lists
“SWEAT” by Lynn Nottage
Berny Balbuena Newburgh, New York
Nate Bloom West Haven
Crystal campbell weston
Aidan Conroy Bridgeport
Chloé Kramer Poughkeepsie, New York
Darius Mullens South Plainfield, New Jersey
George Pinnock Queens, New York
Julia Rocchio Naugatuck
Ulric Alfred Taylor Brooklyn, New York
” A Midsummer Night’s dream “
Jessica Abbotts East Hampton
Hunter Chicoine Granby
Victoria D’Orazio Hopewell Junction, New York
Benjamin Elliott Madison
Kayla Fischer Middletown, New York
Ryan hemstock orange
Manoir Ryan Charles Henry Cortlandt, New York
Luis Jordan Pleasant Valley, New York
Robert Knippel Brookfield
Tyler manemeit clinton
Dean Martin Manchester
Sierra Mayhew Pawling, New York
Alyssa McDonald Nyack, New York
Haley Napier Hopewell Junction, New York
Jamar Nichols New Haven
Bailey Nickerson Old Lyme
Ashley Raymond Ridgefield
Laura Roberts Shingle Springs, California
Sam Rogers Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Will Stewich Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Jackson Tubis North Haven
Prospect Tina Vlamis
Chelsea Weaver Tolland
“The Covid Decameron”
Derek Alexander Swansea, Massachusetts
Raul Calderon Waterbury
Colleen Callahan Easton
Jamishay Cammann New Paltz, New York
Ethan Chan Queens, New York
Alaina Dwyer Orange
Logan Farley Belvidere, New Jersey
Dania Fedrick Naugatuck
Victoria Gentile East Haven
Grace Goosman Endwell, New York
Olivia kirby waterbury
Teagan La’Shay Seymour
Ariana Locasio Southington
Sydney maher milford
Tom O’Leary Wappingers Falls, New York
Beckett Pais Bethel
Charles Pelletier Watertown
Elizabeth Quinby Poughkeepsie, New York
Liv Rando Saratoga Springs, New York
Anna raymond pomfret
Teah Renzi Newtown
Alex Rushton Junction of White River, Vermont
Victoria Santiago Puerto Rico
Aurora Schloat Avon
Michelle Shapiro Wantagh, New York
Donovan Shaw Bristol
Joey Taylor Wappingers Falls, New York
Vitale Yenzer Farmingdale, New York
“Hedda Freeman”
Bella Bosco Delaware, Ohio
Zachary Brown Griswold
Rachel Faria Brooklyn, New York
Sean Gorman Bethel
Raïssatou Karim Stratford
Liam McGrath Fairfield
Alexis Reda Trumbull
For more information, contact the Academic Relations Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
