Northwestern Theatre and Dance in February

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Two mainstage productions set in Germany, MFA collaborations and staged readings and dance performances are among the February events presented by the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University.

All of the following are open to the public and will take place in venues on Northwestern’s Evanston campus, as noted. Where applicable, ticket discounts are available for groups of eight or more.

FEBRUARY 2014 TIC MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

“Aimee and Jaguar,” by Lillian Groag, based on the book of the same name by Erica Fisher and directed by Joseph Hanreddy, 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6; 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston campus. As war-torn Berlin crumbles under Allied bombing, a romance kindles between Lilly Wust, a mother of four with a husband away fighting for the Nazi cause, and Felice Schragenheim, a Jewish girl living on fake IDs and uncertain of her next meal. “Aimee and Jaguar” investigates the complex nature of love in the emotionally charged final days of the Third Reich. Written by Northwestern University alumna Lillian Groag, it is sponsored by a generous grant from The Alumnae of Northwestern University. Post-show discussions with the cast and creative team will follow the Jan. 31 opening night performance and the Feb. 2 matinee and Feb. 6 evening performances. Single tickets are $25 for the general public; $22 for senior citizens 62 and older, Northwestern University faculty and staff members, and educators and administrators; $10 for full-time students and $5 tickets exclusively for full-time Northwestern students on advance purchase. Discounts are available for groups of eight or more.

“Cabaret,” 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20; 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21; 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27; 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 1; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2, Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston campus. “Cabaret” is based on a book by Joe Masteroff, a play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood. It features music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. “Cabaret” tells the story of the political unrest of 1931 Berlin where young American writer Cliff Bradshaw seeks inspiration for his next great novel. Instead, he finds himself enmeshed in the decadent and dangerous Kit Kat Klub, a world filled with velvet sofas, tattered lamps and the beguiling cabaret singer Sally Bowles. Desire and dreams may only drift undisturbed for so long in this dark Tony Award-winning musical directed by Jeff Award-winning TimeLine Theatre Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling, as Cliff must ultimately decide if his life is to be nothing more than a cabaret. Feb. 14, “Behind the Scenes” with director Nick Bowling and the cast; Feb. 16, “European Cabaret and Popular Entertainment in the Interwar Years,” with Susan Manning, professor of English, Weinberg College of Arts and Science, and the cast; and Feb. 20, “Minority Expression in the Late Weimar Republic,” guest speaker to be announced. TIC and One Book One Northwestern, will co-sponsor a food drive during the show’s run that will benefit a local food pantry. Tickets are $30 for the general public; $27 for seniors 62 and older; $10 for full-time students and $5 for Northwestern students (advance purchase only) or $10 at the door.

FEBRUARY 2014 DANCE

Striding Lion Performance Group’s multi-media dance theater performance reprisal of “Dada Gert,” 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, and 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, Northwestern University’s Marjorie Ward Marshall Dance Center, Ballroom Theater, 10 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston campus. Presented by the Northwestern University dance program, this hourlong multi-media dance theater performance was inspired by the life and work of Valeska Gert, a renegade dance, theater, film and cabaret artist whose punk-like “dance satires” challenged and thrilled audiences in Weimer-era Berlin. Conceived and choreographed by Annie Arnoult Beserra, it features dancers Beserra, Britt Banaszynski, Dana Dardai, Michaela Federspiel, Calyn Guberman, Jeff Hancock and Ericka Vaughn Lashley. Tickets are $20 for the general public and $10 for students with IDs and seniors 62 and older. For tickets, visit Brown Paper Tickets or phone (773) 769-7540.

Danceworks 2014: “Hot Buttons,” 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 1; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2; 7:30 p.m. Thursday March 6: 8 p.m. Friday, March 7; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 8; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 9, Josephine Louis Theater, Northwestern University’s Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston campus. Danceworks considers movement and meaning with multiple riffs on themes inspired by TIC’s production of “Pride and Prejudice” earlier this season. Through the rich tapestry of contemporary and modern dance forms, Danceworks 2014 tackles society’s “hot buttons,” from manners, mannerisms, and body types to attitudes about gender and sexuality. Under the artistic direction of Susan A. Lee, this year’s production features choreography by Emma Draves, Sarah Edgar, Jeff Hancock, Lizzie Leopold, Amanda Lower, Joel Valentin-Martinez and Laura Wade. Pre-show discussions will take place prior to the Feb. 28, March 2 and March 6 performances. Tickets are  $25 for the general public; $22 for seniors 62 and older and Northwestern faculty and staff and educators; $5 for Northwestern students (advance purchase only) or $10 at the door.

TIC’S MFA COLLABORATION SERIES

The Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) MFA Collaboration Series celebrates the shared vision of Northwestern’s second-year MFA design and directing students and provides TIC audiences an opportunity to see the work of these up-and-coming artists. Approximately three MFA Collaboration Series productions are staged each school year, with single tickets available to the general public and complimentary tickets available to TIC mainstage subscribers. The 2014 MFA Collaboration Series will include the following plays.

To learn more, contact the TIC Box Office at (847) 491-7282.

“Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Lauren Shouse, 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater, Theatre and Interpretation Center, 1949 Campus Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. “Eurydice” re-imagines the myth of Orpheus through the eyes of its heroine. On the day Eurydice marries the romantic musician Orpheus, a Nasty and Interesting Man lures her away, claiming to have a letter from her deceased father. In the surreal underworld inhabited by a chorus of stones, Eurydice reunites with her father and must re-learn everything that was once a memory, including what it feels like to love. Ultimately, she must choose between

a world with her father or a world with Orpheus. Ruhl’s humorous, heartbreaking and inventive story takes the audience on an emotional journey. General admission tickets are $10 or free for TIC season subscribers.

 “The Little Foxes” by Lillian Hellman and directed by Jerrell L. Henderson, 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2, Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater, Theatre and Interpretation Center, 1949 Campus Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. Southern siblings Regina, Ben and Oscar are in the process of closing the deal of a lifetime with northern businessman William Marshall. This deal will skyrocket them from being a small family business to wealth beyond their wildest dreams. There is only one snag: Regina’s husband refuses to put up his and Regina’s share of the investment money. How far will Regina and the others go in getting it? Money, control,

power, history and heritage collide in this electrifying American drama set at the dawn of the 20th century. General admission tickets are $10 or free for TIC season subscribers.

MFA STAGED READINGS

MFA staged reading, “Marie Antoinette,” 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater, 1949 Campus Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. In a modern re-telling of the Queen of France written by award-winning playwright David Adjimi and directed by Northwestern MFA student Jessica Fisch, Marie delights and inspires her French subjects with her beauty and extravagant haute couture. But times change and even the most fashionable queens go out of style. Seating is limited and admission is free. Reservations are encouraged. Go to Constant Contact to pre-register.

MFA staged reading, “Stain,” 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater, 1949 Campus Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. Award-winning New York writer, director and producer Tony Glazer’s play ”Stain” follows 15-year-old Thomas through his quickly crumbling life and the secrets his family tries to keep at bay. In this dark comic piece about family complexities, Thomas is confronted with a choice that will either save or mark him forever. It will be directed by Northwestern MFA student Aaron Snook. Seating is limited and admission is free. Reservations are encouraged. Go to Constant Contact to pre-register. 

CONSTRUCTION ALERT

A three-year construction project under way on the southeast end of the Northwestern University Evanston campus has closed the Arts Circle Drive to traffic. Free parking for evening and weekend events remains available, but the project will impact handicapped parking and patrons requiring special access to Evanston campus theaters. Visit www.tic.northwestern.edu/construction for more information.