A new school year brings new beginnings and opportunities for all students. For Augustana theatre students, this is a new opportunity to get involved in and support the upcoming theatre season. Two plays, The Philanderer and Comedy of Errors, will take the stage this semester, providing opportunities for all students to support Augustana’s campus theatre community.
The Philanderer, written by George Bernard Shaw and directed by senior Theatre and English major Allison McPeak, will be performed over Halloween weekend in the Honkamp Myhre Black Box Theatre. This student-run production will be the first of two student-directed productions during the 2024-25 theatre season. The Philanderer comedically explores themes of marriage, infidelity, and gender expectations. Set initially in the 1800s, McPeak brought the play to the 1920s Prohibition.
“We’re going to talk about how the systems in place with the patriarchy, government and laws have worked to keep women submissive to men,” McPeak said. “After watching, I hope audiences learn to see the different systemic institutions that we have and understand a little better [how] those systems have worked to oppress certain demographics.”
Theatre professor Jeff Coussens will direct The Comedy of Errors, written by William Shakespeare, for the second show of the 2024-25 season. The Comedy of Errors is believed to be Shakespeare’s first play and is coincidentally one of his only comedies and his shortest play. The play centers around a theme of mistaken identity, coincidence and humorous misunderstandings. Coussens plans to take a whimsical approach to the play, drawing inspiration from The Wizard of Oz, Alice Through the Looking Glass and The Twilight Zone. Coussens looks forward to working with all of the talent at Augustana.
“I think we’ve got a great group of returning students, but I also had almost 30 new students show up at the [theatre] open house,” Coussens said.
Currently, McPeak is looking for an assistant stage manager, an assistant costume designer and a dramaturg for The Philanderer. Coussens is looking for several backstage hands and lighting operators. Students can also work on set construction for both productions in the scene shop. Closer to both productions, the department will need house managers and ushers. Students looking to get involved may speak to the theatre office or contact the directors.
Junior Abby Malina has been involved in three productions and values the diverse community of the theatre department. Malina encourages all students to either get involved in or support the theatre department.
“It’s important to support everybody’s diversity and everybody’s different interests and values and passions,” Malina said. “It’s really important to support music and theater because it’s a different way for people to express themselves and celebrate each other’s talents.”
Three more productions will be staged in the spring semester, so there will be ample opportunities for students to get involved onstage and offstage throughout the 2024-25 school year.
“If you want to get involved, there’s always going to be a place for you and a role no matter how far into the semester we are,” McPeak said. “We’re always looking for extra hands.”
