Eastern Illinois University's Department of Theatre Arts is a vital component of the exciting and growing arts community on campus. Its diverse faculty is well-trained in all areas of theatre study.
The theatre arts major at Eastern offers a broad-based curriculum designed for the undergraduate student. The department offers courses centering on history and literature, performance and technical theatre studies.
Students majoring in theatre arts receive either a bachelor of arts degree in theatre arts or a bachelor of arts degree in theatre arts with teacher certification. There is also a theatre arts honors program and a well-structured theatre arts minor.
All programs are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.
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Upcoming Shows 2011-2012
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New nights, new time - we will now open our performances on Wednesday night and run through Sunday afternoon. The evening performance time has changed to 7:30pm, the Sunday matinee remains at 2pm.
Volpone
By Ben Johnson, script cutting by Chris Mitchell
October 26, 27, 28, 29 7:30pm
October 30 2pm
The Theatre
A black comedy by a contemporary of William Shakespeare, this merciless satire of greed and lust has delighted audiences since the 17th century. Volpone, a scheming, rapacious miser is bent on extracting fortunes from a trio of rich, greedy opportunists. Pretending to be on his deathbed, he says he will name each of the three as his sole heir. How far is each of them willing to go to gain a fortune?"
$12 General
$10 EIU Employees & Seniors (62+)
$5 Students
The Shape of Things
by Neil LaBute
November 30, December 1, 2, 3 7:30pm
December 4 2pm
Black Box Theatre
How far would you go for love? For art? What price would you be willing to pay? Such are the painful questions explored by Neil LaBute in The Shape of Things, a modern day retelling of the fall of man. After a chance meeting in a museum, Evelyn, a sexy, aggressive artist, and Adam, a shy, insecure student, become embroiled in an intense affair. Under Evelyn's tutelage, Adam goes to great lengths to "improve" himself but at what cost? Produced under arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing, Inc.
$12 General
$10 EIU Employees & Seniors (62+)
$5 Students
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
Book and lyrics by Joe DePietro
Music by Jimmy Roberts
February 29, March 1, 2, 3 7:30pm
March 4 2pm
Black Box Theatre
Produced in collaboration with the Department of Music, this celebration of the mating game takes on the truths and myths behind that contemporary conundrum known as 'the relationship.' Act I explores the journey from dating and waiting to love and marriage, while Act II reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set. This hilarious revue pays tribute to those who have loved and lost, to those who have fallen on their face at the portal of romance, to those who have dared to ask, 'Say, what are you doing Saturday night?' I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE is presented through special arrangement with R & H Theatricals: www.rnh.com
$12 General
$10 EIU Employees & Seniors (62+)
$5 Students
Originally Produced in New York by
James Hammerstein, Bernie Kukoff and Jonathan Pollard
Original Direction by Joel Bishoff
Originally produced by the American Stage Company, James N. Vagias, Executive Producer
An Evening of Student Directed One-Acts
March 30, 31 7:30pm
April 1 2pm
Black Box Theatre
Blind Date
by Horton Foote
Directed by Paul Martin
A touching and very funny study of what befalls a fluttery, well-meaning aunt when she tries to arrrange a date for her visiting (an uncooperative) niece.
The Fourth Wall
by A.R. Gurney
Directed by Josh Anderson
Peggy has redecorated the living room and her husband, Roger, can't stand it. Everything faces one wall, the "fourth wall," which she's left bare and which is really the audience. Strange things begin to happen which causes some to break out in a song.
See the next great directors and designers launch their careers! This popular annual tradition provides directors and designers an opportunity to hone their craft in a series of diverse plays.
$5 Open Seating
Wiley and the Hairy Man
A Children's Theatre Production by Suzan Zeder
April 20, 21, 22 7pm
April 21, 22 2pm
The Theatre
Set deep within the mysterious Tombigbee Swamp, Wiley and the Hairy Man centers around a young fatherless boy, his conjure-woman Mother, his faithful dog, and the Hairy Man who haunts Wiley's days and dreams. The magic of this play is not fairy dust - it is the magic of the earth and mud of the swamp. In an exciting duel of wits, Wiley learns to rely upon his own resources and conquers two villains: the Hairy Man and his own fear. Produced under arrangement with Anchorage Press Plays.
