Theatre

The Theatre Department presents theatre that matters and continues to resound beyond the performance night. We are committed to presenting theatre that stimulates the minds of our audience members while balancing the highest quality production values with material that is courageous in its content, form and execution.

Our productions are often accompanied by symposiums and talk-back discussions, which reflectively delve into the nuances of the scripted work. Productions are supported by our acting, directing, design, world theatre history and contemporary drama classes.

Key: DFPH = Duke Family Performance Hall; BT = Barber Theatre

2018-19 Performances

	The Book of Will October 24 - 28, 2018 • DFPH • Tickets By Lauren Gunderson • Directed by Ann Marie Costa • Scenic design by Anita J. Tripathi What if Shakespeare's words had been lost forever? After his death and a couple of badly botched productions, his fellow actors and friends realize that his lines are disappearing from memory. Join their journey as they battle an unscrupulous publisher and their own mortality to create a complete copy of Shakespeare's plays, the First Folio. A true story of love, loss and laughter that will shed new light on a figure you may think you know.
	Chasing Gods November 9 - 11, 2018 • BT • Tickets Staged Reading by guest artist playwright, Paris Crayton, III Tragic events often force us to take a closer look at ourselves, our values and our relationships. Inspired by the events of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando in 2016, this new play takes a closer look at the effects of tragedy on one family. Davidson students will collaborate with playwright Paris Crayton, III to bring this new work to life in this workshop production.
	Detective, Partner, Hero, Villain February 20 - 24, 2019 • BT • Tickets By Brett Neveau • Directed by Tatiana Pless '19 The black-and-white morality of superheroes is challenged in this ode to the modern action/comic book genre. Introducing the world to crime-fighter The Fantastic Phenomenon and his arch nemesis Supernova, a detective searches for the killer of superhero super-fans. The detective's world quickly begins to unravel as he begins to question his own belief in law and justice and starts to peel back the good-versus-evil veneer.
	The Mystery of Edwin Drood March 29 - April 7, 2019 • DFPH • Tickets By Rupert Holmes • Directed by Mark Sutch • Musical Direction by Jaque Culpepper • Scenic design by Anita J. Tripathi Based on Charles Dickens's unfinished novel of the same name, The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a hilarious, interactive whodunit mystery musical. In the small town of Chesterham, England, the charming Edwin Drood has been mysteriously murdered - by whom? His romantic rival, John Jasper? An infamous purveyor of opium, Princess Puffer? The mysterious Landless twins? Dickens passed away before he revealed the culprit, but Rupert Holmes' award-winning musical allows the audience to choose which character is the murderer by putting it to a vote.