The Post

The season kicks off with The Wolves (Oct. 11-15), by Sarah DeLappe and directed by Artist in Residence, Adriano Gatto. Left quad. Right quad. Lunge. Winter indoor soccer. From the safety of their suburban stretch circle, an undefeated team navigates big questions and wages small battles with all the vim and vigor of a pack of adolescent warriors. A portrait of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for nine 16-year-old American girls preparing for their adult lives. Finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Contains mature themes and language. The Wolves will be on stage in the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall, at 7:00 pm on Thurs. Oct. 11 and Mon. Oct. 15 and at 7:30 pm on Fri. Oct. 12 and Sat. Oct. 13, with 2:00 pm matinees on Sat. Oct.13 and Sun. Oct. 14 (post show discussion).

 From November 1 – 11, join us for an evening of gruesome laughter and infectious R&B songs, as NU presents a deviously delicious Off-Broadway and Broadway hit, Little Shop Of Horrors, book & lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. Director Steve Braddock, Choreographer Terri Filips Vaughan, and Music Director Bridget Moriarty will lead us in this apocalyptic satire complete with an alien plant bent on world domination! This riotous spoof of the 1960 sci-­fi film by Roger Corman is just what the dentist ordered. Little Shop will be on stage in the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall at 7:00 pm on Thurs Nov. 1 & 8, and at 7:30 pm on Fri. Nov. 2 & 9 and Sat. Nov. 3 & 10, with 2:00 pm matinees on Sat. Nov. 3 & 11 and Sun. Nov. 4 & 11.

An undiscovered comedy for 100 years, director Amanda Sharpe brings it back to life with Mark Twain’s Is He Dead?, adapted by David Ives from November 29-December 9. Jean-Francois Millet is a brilliant but unappreciated artist living outside Paris in 1846. Persuaded by his well-meaning friends that the secret to success lies in convincing the world he’s deceased, Millet hatches a scheme that could make him rich, famous, and able to marry the girl of his dreams – if only he did not have to be a stiff to do it!

Is He Dead?  will be on stage in the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall, at 7:00 pm on Thurs. Nov 29. and Thurs. Dec 6. The play will be presented at 7:30 pm on Fri. Nov 30, Sat. Dec. 1 and Fri. Dec. 7.  In addition, 2:00 pm matinees will be held on Sat. Dec 1, Sun. Dec 2 (with post-show discussion) and Sun. Dec. 9.

Comedies, dramas, and everything in-between from January 19- 21 when NU presents their annual Short Play Festival – a smorgasbord of ten-minute, student directed plays.  If one is not to your taste, you only have to wait 10 minutes until the next one.

Some of the plays contain adult situations and language. The Short Play Festival will be on stage in the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall, at 7:30 p.m. on Fri. Jan.  25 (Cycle A) and 2:00 p.m. on Sat. Jan. 26 (Cycle A); on Sat. Jan. 26 at 7:30 pm (Cycle B) and 2:00 pm on Sun. Jan. 27 (Cycle B).

What may have happened when two internationally known physicists, Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, met in 1941 to discuss the creation and ultimate use of nuclear energy …? Was it for good or for mass destruction?

In this award winning play by Michael Frayn, the playwright offers us intellectual discourse and debate about human intentions and moral obligations. Directed by Katie Mallinson, Copenhagen will be performed in an intimate production to inaugurate the new Acting Studio from February 21-24. Copenhagen will be on the NU Campus in the Acting Studio, Clet Hall at 7:00 pm on Thurs. Feb. 21, and at 7:30pm on Friday, Feb. 22 and Sat. Feb 23. A 2:00 pm matinee will be held on Sat. Feb. 23 and Sun. Feb. 24 (with post-show discussion).

From March 1-3 NU Player’s present an all student produced production of Some Girl(s) by Neil LaBute. In this edgy comedy, a newly engaged young man has a crisis of conscience and goes on a cross-country tour to visit his ex-girlfriends: a former high school sweetheart; a college professor; an out-of-town fling; and a woman who might have been Ms. Right…

Some Girl(s) is a portrait of a writer who steps back to look at mistakes from the past—and figure out what to do with the scars that still remain. Contains mature themes and language. Some Girl(s) will be on stage in the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall, at 7:30pm on Friday, March 1 and Sat. March 2. Matinees will be held at 2:00 pm on Sat. March 2 (with post show discussion) and Sun. March 3.

Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, from March 28 – April 1 is being adapted and directed by Associate Director, Doug Zschiegner, in this contemporary take on Shaw’s 1912 play, which inspired the romantic musical My Fair Lady. A fiercely witty reworking of the classical myth of a sculptor who falls in love with his creation, this version illustrates the hypocrisies of upper class morality and the near impossibility of overcoming prejudice in a controlled social hierarchy. What will happen when linguist Henry Higgins attempts to transform refugee Eliza Doolittle into a professional woman, comfortable in upper class society?  And what’s the danger in overlooking that she just may have a mind of her own? Pygmalion will be on stage in the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall, at 7:00 pm on Thurs. Mar. 28 and Mon. April 1, and at 7:30pm on Friday, Mar. 29 and Sat. Mar. 30. A 2:00 pm matinee will be held on Sat. Mar. 30 and Sun. Mar. 31 (with post show discussion). 

A feel good musical with a magnificent message, “be true to yourself,” Legally Blonde the Musical, from April 25-May 5, will tickle you pink! Elle Woods, a fashion-minded California co-ed cutie, usually gets what she wants. When her boyfriend breaks up with her to find someone more serious at law school, Elle follows him to Massachusetts and enrolls in Harvard Law, determined to win him back. Along the way, she proves that kindness and compassion never go out of style. The multiple award-winning, Tony nominated, seriously sassy musical based on the much-loved movie, Legally Blonde follows Elle’s transformation as she tackles stereotypes, sexism and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Legally Blonde will be on stage in the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall, at 7:00 pm on Thurs. April 25 and Thurs. May 2. The musical will be presented at 7:30 pm on Fri. April 26, Sat. April 27 and Fri. May 3.  In addition, 2:00 pm matinees will be held on Sat. April 27, Sun. April 28 (with post-show discussion) and Sun. May 5.

 On Saturday, May 4, the Friends of Niagara University Theatre will host the 34th Annual Friends of Niagara University Theatre Gala including a 4 p.m. production of Legally Blonde the Musical at the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall, and a cocktail reception, dinner and silent and live auction immediately following. Tickets for the gala are $150 per person or $175 per person (Gala patrons). For more information about the Gala, please contact Niagara University Theatre at (716) 286-8483.

During the summer of 2019, NU Theatre will once again present free children’s theatre for the community. Our N.U.R.T. (Niagara University Repertory Theatre) troupe will present a rotating repertoire of children’s stories during July and August. Suitable for children ages three through 10, the N.U.R.T. troupe will perform in the air-conditioned Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center for Theatre, Clet Hall, and in the Western New York community. In addition, NU Theatre will continue its tradition of presenting a free theatre-for-youth production. Locations, dates and times for performances will be announced in the spring.

For tickets and information, please call 716.286.8685 or visit theatre.niagara.edu