Thursday, February 03, 2011

The University of North Carolina Wilmington presents Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, February 24-27 and March 3-6 in the Mainstage Theatre of the Cultural Arts Building. A production by the UNCW Department of Theatre, this prize-winning comedic cultural tour de force has received rave reviews since its debut at the National Theatre in 1993.

Arcadia moves back and forth between 1809 and the present at the elegant estate owned by the Coverly family. The 1809 scenes reveal a household in transition. As the Arcadian landscape is being transformed into picturesque Gothic gardens, complete with a hermitage, 13-year-old Lady Thomasina and her tutor delve into intellectual and romantic issues. Present day scenes depict the Coverly descendants and two competing scholars who are researching a possible scandal at the estate in 1809 involving Lord Byron. This brilliant play moves smoothly between the centuries and explores the nature of truth and time, the difference between classical and romantic temperaments, and the disruptive influence of sex on our lives.

Arcadia is directed by Renee Vincent and produced by Frank Trimble, with sound design by Michael Epting, a senior theatre major who will graduate in May. Vincent and Trimble are members of the theatre department faculty.

"Arcadia is a perfect gem to polish and present in a university setting," Vincent said. "It has been hailed as one of the best comedic plays of the twentieth century. Stoppard cleverly utilizes brilliant young characters, spanning two centuries, who poke fun at all our academic attempts to explain what we learn at the university, from the arts to the sciences, in a hysterical tour-de-force of wits."

Design and costume production personnel roles are filled by theatre department faculty, with Gregg Alyn Buck in charge of set, lighting and projection design, and Mark Sorensen overseeing costume design. Sorensen noted that the contrast of the costumes between the beautiful elegance of the 19th century period era dresses versus the simplicity of the modern day was challenging yet exciting to create. Sorensen's costume technology class has been heavily involved in the creation of the costumes for Arcadia.

"It has been a great experience for the students to build and create the costumes for this performance and be able to see the finished product of what they designed being worn on stage," Sorenson said.

The student cast for Arcadia includes Maria Katsadouros as Thomasina Coverly, Jacob Keohane as Septimus Hodge, Rylan Morsbach as Ezra Chater, Nick Kempton as Jellaby, Zach Pappas as Richard Noakes, Lindsay Wright as Lady Croom, Eddie Ledford as Captain Brice, Sarah Burke as Hannah Jarvis, Carrie Malabre as Chloe Coverly, Owen Hickle-Edwards as Valentine Coverly, Charles Johnston as Bernard Nightingale and Ben Burrow as Gus Coverly.

"I believe this unique script is challenging and intriguing for performers, directors, designers, technicians and audience members for several reasons, "said Trimble. "It spans two time periods, incorporates lush "period" language along with contemporary vernacular, and reveals the mystery and beauty in math and science."

Arcadia will run February 24-28 and March 3-6, with shows at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday. Tickets are $12 general public, $10 UNCW employee/alumni or senior citizens and $5 students with valid ID. Tickets are available in advance through the Kenan Auditorium Box Office at 910.962.3500, online at www.etix.com (surcharge applies) and at the Cultural Arts Building Box Office 60 minutes prior to the performance on day of show. All seating is general admission. For group rates or special accommodations, call 910.962.2061 or e-mail theatre@uncw.edu.

The final 2010-11 Department of Theatre production is:
Troy Women by Karen Hartman (based on The Trojan Women by Euripides)
Directed by Paul Castagno
April 7-10, 14-17
Mainstage Theatre

Media contact: Emily Jones, media relations assistant, 910.962.3171 or elj2155@uncw.edu

Media are welcome to attend production rehearsals and take video or still photos, or do a live preview. Rehearsal schedule available by request.