Southeastern Theatre is enjoying its second year of the new BA in Theatre degree, while it awaits the renovation of The Vonnie Borden Theatre and the construction of the new laboratory theatre in the Fall of 2025. The Theatre degree program is growing with enthusiastic talent from around the region. This year’s Mainstage Season brings a diverse offering of plays, each production at a different venue near and on Southeastern’s campus. Dr. Anne-Liese Fox, Theatre faculty at Southeastern Theatre, states, “Although it is a challenge to produce our four shows in different venues, it is also an opportunity for us to connect with our campus and Parish-wide community.”
Waiting for Lefty: The first show of the season is the American classic, Waiting for Lefty, by Clifford Odets and directed by guest artist, Leicester Landon. Produced by The Impactful Group Theatre in 1935, the play revolves around a meeting of cab drivers planning a labor strike. A timely choice for the issues of our time. The play runs from September 27-30 at 7:30pm, at the KIVA, on the second floor of the Teacher Education Center on Southeastern’s campus.
Melancholy Play: The season’s second production is the contemporary farce, Melancholy Play by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Dr. Anne-Liese Fox. Ruhl’s absurd comedy tells the community tale of a woman so drenched in sensual melancholy that everyone falls in love with her. Then, one day, she becomes happy, wreaking havoc on her paramours. Running from November 15-18, at 7:30 PM, at The Columbia Studio Theatre in downtown Hammond.
Grease: The season’s third production is a coproduction with The Columbia Theatre and Southeastern’s Department of Music and Performing Arts: the beloved musical Grease by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey and co-directed by Jim Winter and Chad Winters. March 15 & 16, 22 & 23. Tickets for Grease are sold at the box office for the Columbia Theatre, at www.columbiatheatre.org, or call 985-549-SHOW.
How to Say Goodbye: The season’s fourth production the 10th Annual Southeastern Inkslinger Playwriting Contest Winner and grapples with the theme of suicide: How to Say Goodbye by Wolfgang Jones and directed by guest director, Jeffery Polito, from April 24-27, at 7:30 PM at Reimer’s Memorial Auditorium in downtown Hammond.
All Mainstage performances start at 7:30pm, and tickets are free for Southeastern students. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors, Southeastern faculty, military, and non-SLU students. Tickets are priced differently for Grease and sold at the Columbia box office. For more ticket information, call Southeastern Theatre’s box office at 985-549-2115 or purchase tickets online at https:// www.southeastern.edu/ boxoffice or at the door.