West Chester University’s Department of Theatre & Dance Announces 2024-2025 Season
West Chester University’s Department of Theatre and Dance announced its 2024-2025 season of spectacular dance concerts, gripping new works, a classic Greek tragedy, and two musicals, - one that is a Pulitzer Prize winner.
Juliet Wunsch, chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance says, “The Department of Theatre and Dance has a strong history of bringing socially relevant, evocative, and celebratory productions to our community. We look forward to laughing, crying, and questioning with you as we explore issues that resonate, history that demands reflection, and fun and creative styles developed by theatre and dance artists of today.
"Please join us this season as we explore contemporary visions through dance, give voice to a musical about identity and self-acceptance that rose to popularity via teen fandom with 150 million-plus streams online, a Greek play that treads the line between personal justice and civil justice, a contemporary play infused with economic struggles and transformational moments as seen through the eyes of a child, and a musical which champions love, finding one’s voice, and living for today."
Tickets are set to go on sale on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. General admission tickets are $15. Students, faculty, staff, veterans, and senior citizens enjoy $12 tickets. Tickets can be purchased at https://wcupatix.com/theatreanddance. The Student Written One Acts tickets are $5 at the door. All performances take place in one of three state-of-the-art, intimate theatres on West Chester University’s campus:
- The Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High Street, West Chester
- MainStage Theatre, E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, 2 E. Rosedale Avenue, West Chester
- P. Adler Studio Theatre, E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, 2 E. Rosedale Avenue, West Chester
2024-2025 THEATRE & DANCE SEASON
Set to a hot pop-rock score, Be More Chill is a hilarious sci-fi tale of high school and one boy’s quest to fit in. Join Jeremy, an average teenager, as he discovers the power of a mysterious supercomputer pill that promises to transform him from social outcast to the coolest kid in school. But as Jeremy's popularity skyrockets, he realizes there are consequences to being 'chill' that he never anticipated – the A.I. inside wants to take over the world! Be More Chill is a hilarious and heartfelt journey about embracing who you are, and the importance of true friendship. Don't miss your chance to experience this sensational musical that's been thrilling audiences with its quirky humor and relatable themes.
Fall Dance Concert November 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m.; November 9 at 2 p.m. Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Music Building and Performing Arts CenterUniversity Dance Company’s annual Fall Dance Concert focuses on work by current WCU dance faculty and professional guest artists with selected student work.
The Eumenides By Aeschylus November 21 - 23 at 7:30 p.m.; November 24 at 2 p.m. ASL Interpreted Performance by Hands Up on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. MainStage Theatre, E.O. Bull Center for the ArtsExperience the timeless power of Greek tragedy with Aeschylus’ The Eumenides. Orestes is haunted and cursed by the Furies, the goddesses of vengeance, after killing his mother to avenge his father. When he pleads with the goddess Athena for mercy, she gives Orestes a trial in Athens. With the god Apollo as prosecutor, and the first group of 12 citizens as a jury, discover why The Eumenides continues to resonate across centuries, offering a profound exploration of morality, fate, and the human condition.
RED BIKE By Caridad Svich February 27, 28, and March 1 at 7:30 p.m. March 1 and 2 at 2 p.m. ASL Interpreted Performance by Hands Up on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. J.P. Adler Studio Theatre, E.O. Bull Center for the ArtsRemember when you were eleven years old and had a bike, one that made you dream about a world bigger than the one in which you lived? This is that memory. Except it is now. What happens when we don’t know where we’re going? What happens when all we can think of is the bike? Embark on an unforgettable journey with The Red Bike by Caridad Svich, an examination of childhood dreams and the complexities of adulthood.
The Student Written One Acts of 2024 By the Students of THA313 Playwriting March 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.; March 22 and 23 at 2 p.m. J.P. Adler Studio Theatre, E.O. Bull Center for the ArtsThe Student Written One Acts is an evening of short plays penned by the Theatre 313 Playwrighting Class that reflect the issues and themes that resonate with West Chester University students. Students serve as directors, designers, technicians, stage managers and, of course, actors to present this night of original student work.
Rent Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson. Presented through special arrangement by Music Theatre International (MTI.) April 3, 4, and 5 at 7:30 p.m. April 6 at 2 p.m. ASL Interpreted Performance by Hands Up on Friday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. MainStage Theatre, E.O. Bull Center for the ArtsA modern classic that continues to captivate audiences with its raw energy and poignant storytelling, Rent is a Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning show. Set in New York City's East Village, the show follows a group of struggling artists and friends as they navigate life, love, and creativity in the face of adversity. With its unforgettable rock score including iconic songs like "Seasons of Love" and "La Vie Bohème," Rent speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and celebrates the power of community that will leave you inspired and uplifted.
Spring Dance Concert April 24, 25, and 26 at 7:30 p.m.; April 26 at 2 p.m. Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Music Building & Performing Arts CenterUniversity Dance Company’s annual Spring Dance Concert celebrates the creative choreography of WCU students in a variety of dance styles.