Northwestern Theatre/Dance in March

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Shake the winter blues by taking advantage of the uplifting programs at the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University in March. 

Performances of “The Pajama Game,” a light-hearted musical with a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, continue through March 3 at the Ethel M. Barber Theater. The production is directed by Marriott Theatre artistic associate Peter Sullivan.

“Occupy Dance 2013” will be staged from March 1 to 10, at the Josephine Louis Theater. Directed by dance faculty member Annie Arnoult Beserra, the production will explore a timely topic through text and dance.

The second production in TIC’s 2012-13 MFA Collaborations Series, “The Night of the Iguana” will run from March 8 to 16, at the Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater.

Except where otherwise indicated, tickets for all productions may be purchased at www.tic.northwestern.edu or through the TIC Box Office at (847) 491-7282.

CONSTRUCTION ALERT

A three-year construction project underway on the southeast end of the Northwestern University campus has closed Arts Circle Drive to traffic. Free parking for evening and weekend events remains available, but the project impacts handicapped parking and patrons requiring special access to Evanston campus theaters, as the parking structure is not accessible to patrons unable to climb stairs. UPDATE: Through March 15, 2013, the northwest stairwell in the parking structure across from the Theatre and Interpretation Center will be closed. All visitors and audience members must exit the garage from the north-central stairwell and take the stairs leading up to the Louis and Barber theaters. For audiences attending performances in the Struble or Wallis theaters, one hour prior to curtain time, signs will be posted at the top of the stairwell to guide patrons to their performance venues. For the most current information on the construction project and drop-off locations for patrons requiring special access to our theaters, visit www.tic.northwestern.edu/construction.

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

“The Pajama Game,” 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28; 8 p.m. Friday, March 1; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 2; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3, Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. Based on the novel “7 ½ Cents” by Richard Bissell with a score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and directed by Marriott Theatre artistic associate Peter Sullivan, “The Pajama Game” centers on the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory where the worker demands for a 7 ½-cent raise are being ignored. In the midst of a potential strike, Babe, the leader of the union grievance committee, and Sid, the handsome new factory superintendent, fall in love. Can they set aside their differences make their relationship work, or will being on opposite sides lead to their break-up? Tickets are $30 for the general public; $27 for seniors 62 and older, Northwestern faculty and staff and educators; and $10 for full-time students at door; or $5 for Northwestern students with advance purchase only.

DANCE

“Occupy Dance 2013,” 8 p.m. Friday, March 1; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 2; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7; 8 p.m. Friday, March 8; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10, Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. In “Occupy Dance 2013,” choreographers take on the economics of the body. How does the individual and collective body resist and rebound in times of economic crisis? Who is impoverished? What fantasies and myths of the body do our fears of economic hardship produce? Under the artistic direction of Northwestern University dance faculty member Annie Arnoult Beserra, with choreography by Beserra, Lizzie Leopold, David Lakein, Susan A. Lee, Stephanie Paul and Billy Sigegenfeld, “Occupy Dance 2013” explores timely topics through a wide range of dance forms, including dance theatre, contact improvisation and hip-hop. Guest artists from Jump Rhythm Jazz Project will revive their popular “Getting There,” first performed 20 years ago. Tickets are $25 for the general public; $22 for seniors 62 and older, Northwestern faculty and staff and educators; and $10 for full-time students at door; or $5 for Northwestern students with advance purchase only.

MFA COLLABORATIONS SERIES 

“The Night of the Iguana,” 8 p.m. Friday, March 8; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 9; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10; 8 p.m. Thursday, March 14; 8 p.m. Friday, March 15; and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 16, Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater, 1949 Campus Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. On a dilapidated hotel veranda outside Acapulco in 1940, the disgraced Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon struggles to avoid a nervous breakdown after a scandalous affair threatens his job and livelihood. Into his fever dream walks the artist Hannah Jelkes, looking for a quiet place to finally rest as her dying poet grandfather finishes his opus. With the hotel proprietor looking to tie Shannon down, angry tourists threatening drastic action, and a family of Nazis invading their peace, can these two strangers help each other get through this night?  Directed by second-year MFA directing student Damon Krometis, Tennessee Williams’ last great masterpiece raises questions about the price of conviction and the power of compassion. Tickets are $10 for the general public; $5 for Northwestern students with advance purchase only or $10 at the door; and free to TIC’s 7-play subscribers with advance reservations.