The Moravian College Theatre Company

2012-13 Season

All performances are in the Arena Theatre, located on the lower level of the Haupert Union Building on Monocacy Street between Locust and Laurel Streets, one block west of Main Street. (Unless otherwise noted.)

Email cshorr@moravian.edu if you'd like to receive information about auditions, or would like to get involved back stage.  Not ready for that?  We encourage you to stay after one of our Friday night performances for a discussion about the production.  It's a great way to learn more about theatre.

Friday, September 7 at 8PM

Guest Performance: 
“CRAVINGS:  SONGS OF HUNGER AND SATISFACTION”
Performed by Belle Linda Halpern
An IN-FOCUS Program

“CRAVINGS” is a funny and thought-provoking look at our search for what feeds us.  Songs that range from Tin Pan Alley classics to pop anthems, contemporary ballads and Yiddish showstoppers are spiced with comic personal narrative reflecting Halpern’s Jewish-American culinary journey.  As she prepares the traditional Passover dish charoset, and finally serves it to the audience, Halpern’s humorous take on our constant cravings evolves to a life-affirming call to taste the sweetness in the everyday.

Saturday, September 8 at 12:30PM

Guest Workshop: 
“VOICE FOR THE STAGE” with actress Belle Linda Halpern

Increase your skills and confidence through this workshop on “Voice for the stage.”  Join us as a participant or observer!  (Participants must request a spot by emailing cshorr@moravian.edu)  Ms. Halpern has performed as a cabaret singerand actor at clubs and theatres in New York, Boston, San Francisco, Paris, Munich, Jerusalem, and Bombay.  A graduate of Harvard/Radcliffe, she performs in French and Italian as well as Yiddish and Hebrew.  She has taught singing and performance since 1986 at Harvard University 

Friday, September 21 at 8PM

Friday Night Play Reading Series: 
“MRS WARREN’S PROFESSION”
By George Bernard Shaw

Middle-aged Mrs. Warren runs a string of successful brothels. Her daughter, Vivie—a modern young woman—is shocked to discover the source of her mother's wealth. The clash of these two strong-willed but culturally constrained Victorian women is the spark that ignites the ironic wit of one of George Bernard Shaw's classic plays, a withering critique of male domination, sexual hypocrisy, and societal convention.

Saturday, October 6 at 1-4PM

Guest Workshop: 
“UNPACKING CLASSICAL TEXT” with Joe Discher

Unlock the mysteries of classical language! Join us as a participant or observer! (Participants must request a spot by emailingcshorr@moravian.edu) Mr. Discher--long time Associate Artistic Director of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey-- will be working with passages from the upcoming "FAUST IN FRANCE" and exploring how to "unpack" the meaning that is packed into the language by the playwright.

Thursday, November 1 – Sunday, November 4
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 2PM

Fall Production—ClassicalAdaptation
“FAUST IN FRANCE”
A New Play by Christopher Shorr
Based on Christopher Marlowe’s classical tragedy “Doctor Faustus”

In the trenches of World War One, with bombs bursting overhead, a German scientist—John Faust—tries desperately to crack the riddle of creating poison gas.  When all else fails, he turns to the evil Mephistophilis for help.  Selling his soul for the secret, Faust is condemned to live with the murderous consequences of his actions.

Friday, November 9 at 8PM

Friday Night Play Reading Series: 
“LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR”
By Neil Simon  

From the writer of “The Odd Couple,” “Biloxi Blues,” and “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” tis play was inspired by the playwright's youthful experience as a staff writer on Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, with all the attendant comic drama as the harried writing staff frantically scrambles to top each other with gags while competing for the attention of star madman "Max Prince."

Thursday, February 21 – Sunday, February 24
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 2PM

Spring Production—Contemporary Satire
“THE MEMORANDUM”
By Vaclav Havel

Inspired by the absurdities of life in Eastern Europe under Communism, the play follows looks at an organization encumbered by a bureaucracy that is out of control. The introduction of an artificial language, “Ptydepe,” is supposed to streamline office communications, but only makes it worse. Creation of ridiculous jobs, reversals in chain of command, one-up-man-ship, impossible bureaucratic protocols, constant surveillance by office spies, and the supreme importance of conformity to keep one’s job make this a play people relate to all over the world.

The playwright, Vaclav Havel, became president of Czechoslovakia in 1989 and guided the country through its division into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, when he became president of the Czech Republic.

NOTE: This play was selected due to the several connections that exist between Moravian and Havel. Moravian College has its roots in Czechoslavakia, where the Moravian Church was founded, and where John Amos Comenius—on whose educational philosophy the College is built—was born.  In 1991, President Havel came to Moravian College to rededicate the statue of Comenius on Main Street.  Additionally, Christopher Shorr, Director of Theatre at Moravian, who has a long-standing interest in Eastern European theatre, lived and worked in the Czech capitol of Prague during Havel’s presidency.  When Havel died at the end of 2011, the decision was made to include one of his plays at Moravian in the following season.

Thursday, MARCH 21 – Sunday March 24
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 12PM

2012-13 STUDENT CABARET

A production by students and for students, the annual Student Cabaret brings together singers, actors, dancers, comedians and more for a night of fun performing arts.  Join us for a celebration of our students.  Look out, world—Moravian's got talent!

Friday, APRIL 12 at 8PM

Friday Night Play Reading Series: 
“THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST”
By Oscar Wilde

In 1890s London, two young gentlemen use the same pseudonym –"Ernest"—to hide their secret rendezvous. But when they both fall in love with women while using that name, things get complicated for them—and hilarious for the audience! “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a both a whimsical romantic comedy as well as a sharp-witted satire of Victorian society.

Moravian College encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the event sponsor (cshorr@moravian.edu), or call 610-861-1489.