2009 Theatre Season

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  Eurydice

  Fall 2009
  On the day Eurydice marries her true love Orpheus, a tragic misstep sends her plummeting to the surreal depths of the Underworld. Memories are forbidden in this world of the dead, but an unexpected reunion with her father vividly awakens Eurydice’s mind to the love she felt in life. When in his search for her, Orpheus uses his music to penetrate the gates of the Underworld, Eurydice must painfully decide whether to remain with her father or return with her earthly love. A modern tale of love and loss, Eurydice is playwright Ruhl’s imaginative interpretation of the classic Orpheus myth told from the heroine’s point of view, abounding with surprising plot twists and quirky humor.

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  Natural Selection

  Spring 2009
  It’s the very near future and humans are coping with Earth’s devastation. People risk radiation poisoning when they step outdoors. Children attend virtual school. Friends interact via internet. Some populations, such as Native Americans, have been nearly eradicated, so representatives are displayed in “Cultural Pavilions.” In seeking a genuine Indian, curator Henry Carson encounters a most charismatic and unsettling Navajo, who soon teaches everyone a few things about tolerance and borders. A dark comedy that examines our blind dependence on technology, our isolation from each other, and our detachment from our own spirituality, Natural Selection, which premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 2007, is being presented in conjunction with DePauw's ArtsFest 2008: Art & Borders.

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  Tartuffe

  Fall 2009
  It is 1668, and Monsieur Orgon, a wealthy Parisian, has fallen under the spell of Tartuffe, a swindler who masquerades as a holy man. Although the other members of Orgon’s household see Tartuffe for what he really is, Orgon dismisses their concerns and recklessly lavishes on his “holy” friend money, possessions--even his daughter in marriage. Meanwhile, Tartuffe lies, cheats, steals and does his best to seduce Orgon’s wife. By the time Orgon finally recognizes his folly, it could be too late to save his fortune and his family! Moliere’s comic masterpiece so brilliantly skewers religious hypocrites that the play, when first introduced to Paris audiences, was banned for five years. Described as a “delightful romp,” Tartuffe is acknowledged as one of the greatest comedies of Western literature.

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  The Who's TOMMY

  Spring 2009
  The Who's Tommy is a musical based on the rock opera Tommy, written and recorded by the 1960's band The Who. The story follows the rise of the title character, Tommy, from a traumatizing childhood event that leaves him psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind through an abusive adolescence to stardom as a world champion pinball player. This mythic tale of a young boy's journey from pain to triumph includes such classic rock singles as "See Me, Feel Me" and "Pinball Wizard" and promises to be one of the most electrifying evenings of rock and roll ever to play in the theatre.