Theatre season kicks off with Shakespeare parody, followed by ‘Cinderella,’ ‘The Wiz,’ ‘Titanic,’ and more

A balanced offering of comedies, captivating musicals, and poignant plays await theatre lovers on Liberty University’s stage this season. The Department of Theatre Arts will present seven productions, including three musicals — “Cinderella,” “Titanic,” and “The Wiz”— to be performed at Liberty for the first time.

Audiences can return to the Tower Theater this weekend for the opening performances of “Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” by the Alluvion Stage Company, Liberty’s Broadway-quality professional theatre company. The parody simultaneously honors and trivializes The Bard’s well-known comedies and tragedies. With only three actors playing every role, the play is filled with comical errors that will entertain viewers of all familiarities with Shakespeare. Liberty alumni Ben Perry (’20) and Anthony La Bianca (’22) have returned to perform in the show, joined by Ryan Clemens, who holds an MFA from Regent University.

“It doesn’t take Shakespeare too seriously, but it’s relying on the fact that the audience does, so it makes the audience feel like they’re superior when it comes to Shakespeare because we know they’re getting it wrong,” said Linda Nell Cooper, department chair. “It celebrates how universal Shakespeare and theatre are, and even people who haven’t studied Shakespeare since eighth grade will get the jokes.”

The story of false witch hunts and mob mentality in “The Crucible” will follow (Sept. 29 – Oct. 8) with themes of misguided accusations and swift judgment that Cooper said are just as impactful in modern society as they were in the 17^th century.

“We have more of a critical eye when it comes to these roles and understand more of the levels when it comes to the characters,” she said. “If you think ‘The Crucible’ is about witches, then you don’t understand the play. It’s a play about people who misjudge and put labels on people without any facts, and we even see that today.”

For the first time on a Liberty stage, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” will take audiences through the fantastical fairy tale (Oct. 20 – Nov. 5).

“The handmade costumes are going to be amazing, the magic we’ll have with the fairy godmother is going to be special, and it has some of the most beautiful Rodgers & Hammerstein music,” Cooper said. “I can’t believe it, but we’ve never performed it before, so I’m really excited to finally share it this season.”

The play “Leaving Iowa” (Dec. 1-10) may have students and audiences feeling homesick and nostalgic before Christmastime with its story of a middle-aged man recounting his childhood memories of family vacations after traveling to his hometown.

“I feel like the audience can relate to it because it’s about a family going on a road trip, and we’ve all been there; we’ve all been the kids stuck in the back seat,” Cooper said. “It’s very poignant, and you really fall in love with that family and the other characters they meet on the trip.”

While many may know the Hollywood version of the RMS Titanic’s infamous voyage, the Tony-winning musical “Titanic” (Feb. 16 – March 3) will feature a score and set design that Cooper said will immerse audiences in a story of societal order dissipating in the face of the sudden disaster.

“The music is just gorgeous and sweeps you away to this other time period, and it’s almost to the point that you forget that they’re about to hit an iceberg,” she said. “The story isn’t about the iceberg; it’s about all of these people onboard and their different classes, how they’re all separated at the beginning and then the tragedy brings them together.”

Oscar Wilde’s comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest” (March 22-30) will then lighten the mood.

“It’s another classic that many people have heard of and might have seen performed in high schools and community theaters, but we feel that with our student actors we can really add a level of professionalism to the script,” Cooper said.

As an infectious musical that won multiple Tonys with its themes of celebrating community and diversity, “The Wiz” hits the stage April 19. The show, a twist on L. Frank Baum’s ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ told in the context of contemporary African-American culture, features electrifying music and an opportunity to stage a type of show that Cooper said the department ought to do more of. The Alluvion Stage Company has brought in a guest music artist, guest scenic designer, and multiple professional actors for the students to glean from as they rehearse and perform.

“It’s a celebration, it’s so joyful, and it’s such a great way to end a school year,” Cooper said. “It’s full of hope and possibility, and it has a (cultural) narrative that we don’t do enough of here and want to do more of in our seasons.”

Visit the Department of Theatre Arts website for dates and ticket information.

Loyal Liberty theatergoers have a new opportunity this fall to show their support of the theatre department. The new Tower Club program offers four tiers of membership with a chance to attend special events throughout the season to meet student actors, donate to scholarships for current and future students, and more patron perks. For more on the levels of membership and to join, call (434) 582-2078 or email lncooper@liberty.edu.