Northwestern Theatre and Dance in March

EVANSTON, Ill. --- The final performances of a mainstage musical set in Berlin, dance concerts featuring original choreography by faculty and a National Theatre Live broadcast of a hit London play are among the March events presented by the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University.

All of the following events 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.

MARCH 2014 TIC MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

“Cabaret,” 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, Northwestern University, 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 Kinder 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 Club, 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. The Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University and One Book One Northwestern is co-sponsoring 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.

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, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Northwestern University, 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.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE

National Theater Live broadcast of “Coriolanus” by William Shakespeare, 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Northwestern University’s Evanston campus. National Theatre Live will broadcast the Donmar Warehouse’s production of “Coriolanus,” Shakespeare’s searing tragedy of political manipulation and revenge, with Tom Hiddleston (“The Avengers,” ”War Horse” (film), BBC's “The Hollow Crown”) in the title role and Mark Gatiss (“Season’s Greetings” at the National Theatre, BBC's “Sherlock”) as Menenius, directed by the Donmar's artistic director Josie Rourke. When an old adversary threatens Rome, the city calls once more on her hero and defender: Coriolanus. But he has enemies at home, too. Famine threatens the city, the citizens’ hunger swells to an appetite for change, and on returning from the field Coriolanus must confront the march of realpolitik and the voice of an angry people. General admission is $20 for the general public; $16 for Northwestern faculty and staff (phone and in-person only); $10 for full-time students with valid IDs at Will Call. Group rates are $18 for the general public groups of eight or more; $8 for full-time student groups of eight or more. For more information, call the TIC Box Office at (847) 491-7282.

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 play.

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

“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.

PERFORMANCE STUDIES

Queer Nightlife symposium, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 6, John Evans Alumni Center, 1800 Sheridan Road, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. This interdisciplinary symposium brings together researchers from across the humanities and social sciences to share and discuss theoretical and methodological approaches to queer nightlife. Scholars in anthropology, literary and cultural studies, performance studies, race and ethnicity studies, gender and sexuality studies, dance communication studies, musicology, sociology and American studies will gather to explore the ways queer nightlife is being engaged as an object of study across the disciplines and how attention to queer nightlife may invite theoretical and methodological adjustments to research into everyday life. The event is co-sponsored by the department of performance studies, Critical Studies in Theater and Performance graduate cluster, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Program in American Studies, the Interdisciplinary Program in Theater and Drama, the Black Arts Initiative; and the Sexualities Project at Northwestern. Open to the public, admission is free. For more information or to register, email ps@northwestern.edu.

“Glee and Other Works by Alan Shefsky,” 8 p.m. Friday, March 7, and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, Alvina Krause Studio, School of Communication, 2240 Campus Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. Directed by Northwestern University graduate  student Kantara Souffrant, “Glee and Other Works” is a tribute performance to Alan Shefsky, poet and former performance studies departmental assistant. Souffrant was introduced to Shefsky’s poetry at the start of her first quarter at Northwestern in 2010. “Alan’s poetry felt accessible to me because of its subtlety, gentleness and the way that it provoked my visualization of the text,” said Souffrant. “Over time, I have come to believe that Alan’s poetry captures much of the sensitivity, vulnerability, and, at times, offbeat and cynical sense of humor that make him such a charming and engaging person to know.” Admission is free and open to Northwestern students, faculty, staff and the general public. If you are interested in attending this event, email ps@northwestern.edu.

Performance Studies MA (Master of Arts) Recitals, 7 p.m. Friday, March 14, Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater, Theatre and Interpretation Center, 1949 Campus Drive, Northwestern University, Evanston campus. The event will feature performances by Northwestern doctoral students Benton (Arif) Smith and Misty DeBerry. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Department of Performance Studies. 

CONSTRUCTION ALERT