The Wittenberg University Department of Theatre and Dance presents its final mainstage production of the 2012-13 academic year, The School for Husbands by Moliere, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 11-13, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14, in Chakeres Memorial Theatre, 905 Woodlawn Ave.
Directed by Professor Emeritus of Theatre and Dance Steven Reynolds, The School for Husbands premiered in 1661 in Paris and was the first of Moliere’s full-length plays. The plot centers around the suitors of two sisters, Léonor and Isabella. Controlling and overbearing Sganarelle fails miserably, so much so that he is used by Isabella in her pursuit of another, Valère. Ariste, however, treats Léonor more as an equal and finds success in his courtship.
Performers include Carl Burgason, class of 2016 from Hilliard, Ohio, as Sganarelle; Ian Chadd, class of 2013 from Xenia, Ohio, as Ariste; Krissy Hartman, class of 2013 from Strongsville, Ohio, as Isabella; Melanie Ellis, class of 2015 from Fremont, Ohio, as Léonor; Sarah Van Deusen, class of 2016 from Chattanooga, Tenn., as Lisette; Eric Werner, class of 2013 from Cincinnati, Ohio, as Valère; Aaron Glen, class of 2014 from Chicago, Ill., as Ergaste; Corey Ragan, class of 2015 from Columbus, Ohio, as a magistrate; and Bobby Kirwin, class of 2015 from Strongsville, Ohio, as a notary. The ensemble includes Chelsea Jenkins, class of 2013 from Springfield, Ohio; Katie Paolacci, class of 2016 from Granville, Ohio; Jocelyn O'Dell, class of 2016 from Severna Park, Md.; Robby Thrall, class of 2014 from Strongsville, Ohio; and Martin Lukk, class of 2014 from Talinn, Estonia.
Reynolds joined the Wittenberg faculty in 1981 and retired in 2012. His honors include the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the Omicron Delta Kappa Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Matthies Research Award. Reynolds also received a Kennedy Center Gold Medallion Award from Region III for “extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and to the development of KCACTF.” He holds a B.A. from Tufts University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.
Tickets cost $5 each – Wittenberg students receive one free ticket by presenting their ID card. Tickets go on sale at the Benham-Pence Student Center service desk, 937-327-7443, 10 days before the performances begin and one hour prior to each performance.
