This fall, the Augustana Theater Department promises entertainment for a wide variety of theatergoers. On September 28th, director Shelley Cooper will treat fans of musical theater to Augustana’s production of “Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens.” A show dedicated to the memory of all those who have lost their lives to AIDS, “Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens” covers a wide variety of genres and media, as well as a great deal of emotion. “The students of Augustana are Social Justice Warriors… and it should really be about what’s best for the students,” Cooper said when asked why she chose this show for her students.
However, though emotional, audience members of “Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens” shouldn’t expect a depressing experience, but rather one of remembrance and community. About the writer of the musical, Bill Russell, Cooper had this to say: “He wrote it to be a celebration of life, and I think that’s really important to remember.” So, if you love music, and your heart beats for the struggle all human beings, consider giving Augustana college your patronage for “Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens.”
Starting October 12th, Augustana will be brewing up a show of a different sort. Based on an old classic, director Dr. Jennifer Popple’s production of “The Crucible” is set in a dystopian future. This intriguing twist on a fan favorite calls for a great deal of preparation, but Dr. Popple and her students are up to the challenge. “We’re doing a lot of different things, so we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Popple said about her plans for incorporating movement and advanced choreography into the show.
Keenan Ellis, a first year at Augustana, will be playing the part of John Willard. “I like the crucible, and I like a lot of the ideas the director has,” Ellis said when asked about his take on the preparation for the show thus far. “We’re doing it in a way you don’t usually see.” This unique setting for “The Crucible” stands to add a lot of interesting context to the celebrated play’s well-known plot. As actor Jonathan Quigley puts it, their version of the show is “Crucible 3000: Welcome to Hell.”
Over the next couple of months, Augustana College has got some unique and exciting shows lined up for its students. Whether it’s music and heart strings, or witch hunts and hellish dystopia, the Augustana Theater Department has something for both ends of the live entertainment spectrum.
Photo Above: Junior Jonathan Quigley, Junior Jonathan Meir, and Sophomore James Wheeler rehearse their lines for the Crucible. Photo by Alia McMurray.