Welcome to the DePauw Theatre archives, where we invite you to explore the rich history of our past seasons. From thought-provoking dramas to vibrant musical productions, you can browse through years of student performances and creative milestones below.
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Out Town
Spring 2008
In this age of cell phones, Internet and reality shows, Thornton Wilder's 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning American classic reminds us to slow down, open our hearts and minds, and embrace the significance of our day-to-day experiences. Our Town is one of the most produced dramatic works of the 20th century, possibly because it so succinctly captures - with warmth and humor - the eternal truths of human existence. -
Twelfth Night
Fall 2008
“If music be the food of love, play on….” So begins one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies. Part love story, part high jinks, part philosopher’s musings, and part intrigue, Twelfth Night examines gender, practical joking, and the nature of true love, making us wonder if clothes really do make the man. Collaboratively created with live music, imaginative costumes, and fast-paced hilarity, this show is a joyful romp with a romantic and moving climax. -
Inherit the Wind
Spring 2007
Based on the famous "monkey trial" courtroom battle between lawyers Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan during the sultry summer of 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee, this American classic weaves the gripping story of the prosecution of high school teacher John T. Scopes for his teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution against state law. Inherit the Wind has riveted stage and film audiences for over 50 years with its compelling depiction of the ongoing debate of creationism vs. evolution. -
Medieval Tales
Fall 2007
The production is a collection of short works from the late Medieval/early Renaissance when theatre as we know it was beginning to reemerge in the Western world. With the late 15th century morality play Everyman as its centerpiece, this assortment of tales explores the medieval worldview on religion and domestic life, and captures the humor, daily concerns and lifetime dreams of a continent and culture on the cusp of a multifaceted explosion. -
Steve Here
Fall 2007
Based on encounters during months of backpacking and kayaking in wilderness areas across the country, this new work tells the stories of people immersed in the wild. Common to all is the search for meaning in the struggle between life and death in the wilderness, and the challenge to find peace of mind in an environment that is both beautiful and violent. Produced in conjunction with ArtsFest 2007, the play includes excerpts from Of Wolves, Moose and Daughters, written as part of a residency at Isle Royale National Park. -
In the Silence You Don't Know
Spring 2006
Six short plays. 4 with no words. 1 with no actors. 1 with just heads sticking out of urns. Sample the existential world of the Nobel Prize-winning author of Waiting for Godot, Irish playwright Samuel Beckett. When it’s quiet, with the silence screaming in your ears, you see the bleakness, the pointless vacuum of nothingness before you, and you go on anyway… -
Quilters
Fall 2006
Quilters is a musical journey through the joys, struggles, amusements, and sorrows faced by the women who helped settle the American frontier. This intricately woven collage combines the art and craft of quilting with dance, music, and drama to tell richly-textured stories attesting to the great courage and spirit of our female ancestry. As America is largely a nation of settlers and immigrants, Quilters has the power to touch a chord in all of us. -
The Orphan of Chao
Fall 2006
The laws of heaven ultimately win in this ancient Chinese story of power and revenge. When the evil General Tu-An Ku has the entire Chao clan slaughtered, several give up their own lives to assist with the rescue of the lone survivor, the title character, in the hopes that he will grow up to avenge Tu-An Ku's ruthless political persecution and clan cleansing. Produced in conjunction with ArtsFest 2006: Art and The Silk Road, the production is highlighted by performances in the traditional Peking Opera style.