Theatre Productions
The Department of Art, Design, and Theatre at Cedarville University presents three full productions each academic year. To search for a specific production, please use the search box in the sidebar, making sure to choose the "in this collection" option. Click here to view memorabilia from theatrical productions from the earlier years of the university.
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Much Ado About Nothing
January 28-30, February 4-6, 2010
Considered one of Shakespeare's best comedies, Much Ado About Nothing mixes every element of great storytelling into one delightful romp. All the opposing forces are there - suspicion and loyalty, deception and honor, jealousy and true love. And no opposing forces are more delightful to watch than Benedick and Beatrice. Their merry war of wits creates a hilarious backdrop for their transformation from sassy singles to sentimental spouses, while Claudio and Hero are reunited after the truth of Don John's venomous and divisive plot against them is revealed. Experience the triumph of love in this lively production filled with music, celebration, and a cast of some of Shakespeare's most clever characters!
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The Miracle Worker
October 1-3 and 8-10, 2009
Based on the true story of Helen Keller - blind, deaf, and mute since infancy - and her teacher Annie Sullivan - the "half-blind Yankee schoolgirl" - this unforgettable play has inspired and moved audiences since its first performance. "When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life or in the life of another." — Helen Keller
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Tuesdays with Morrie
March 26-28, April 2-4, 2009
Tuesdays with Morrie is the autobiographical story of the friendship of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie's appearance in a televised interview and learns that his former professor is battling Lou Gehrig's disease. When Mitch reconnects with Morrie, what begins as a simple visit develops into a weekly pilgrimage and one last class in the meaning of life. Together with Mitch Albom, acclaimed American playwright Jeffrey Hatcher has faithfully adapted the story for performance, capturing all the resonance of the original dialogue and bringing to the stage two of the most genuine and honest characters the theatre has seen in a long time. Described by the New York Daily News as "a touching, life-affirming, deeply emotional drama with a generous dose of humor ..." and by The New York Times as "making the language of the book crisper, cleverer, and more palatable ...," the play will end the Cedarville University season with a warm and thought-provoking commentary on the gift of everyday life.
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My Fair Lady
February 5-7 and 12-14, 2009
There were 10 good reasons why My Fair Lady should have never made it on Broadway, according to CBC Radio Music Host Robert Harris. One reason was that the leading lady (Julie Andrews) was virtually unknown at the time, and another was that Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) couldn't sing! Instead, Lerner and Loewe's masterpiece became their biggest and longest-running hit. Based on the play, Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, the script weaves together entertainment and transformation. Eliza's metamorphosis from guttersnipe to dazzling, high-class beauty is stunning, but the real transformation is the one inside. Through Henry Higgins' prodding and provoking, Eliza becomes a strong, self-reliant woman. And as Higgins recognizes Eliza's value as a person - regardless of social distinctions - he begins to change, too. Whether or not he falls in love is left to our imagination, but one thing is sure - we, along with Higgins, celebrate in Eliza the true worth of the human spirit.
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An Ideal Husband
October 2-4 and 9-11, 2008
Oscar Wilde's romantic comedy is filled with political ambition, blackmail, mistakes of our youth, and romantic intrigue. Sir Robert Chiltern, the brilliant politician, perfect gentleman, and ideal husband, is about to be asked to join the Prime Minister's cabinet. He is then blackmailed with a dark secret from his past by the scheming and vindictive Mrs. Cheveley, which brings his career and marriage to the verge of collapse. The plot swirls around Robert, his wife, his sister, and his best friend, Sir Arthur Goring, as they scheme to resolve the threat from Mrs. Cheveley. This scintillating and dazzling comedy moves at a lively pace as it explores human frailty, social hypocrisy, and forgiveness. An Ideal Husband was an instant success at its debut, and it still continues to delight audiences 100 years later.
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Crossing Delancey
April 3-5 and 10-12, 2008
When Isabelle Grossman's grandmother hires a matchmaker to find Isabelle a husband, Isabelle comes face-to-face with a part of her Jewish heritage that she would rather leave behind. As a "modern" New Yorker, she believes that progress and the "old world" cannot exist together... that is, until a "pickle man" teaches her otherwise. This play has all the elements of a great romantic comedy: a pretty girl, a suitor or two, a colorful cast of characters, and a very happy ending. Written by Susan Sandler and first performed in April 1985, Crossing Delancey challenges viewers not to leave their heritage behind while reaching toward the future.
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Alice in Wonderland
January 31 - February 2 and 7-9, 2008
This 1921 adaptation of the classic fantasy tale by Lewis Carroll tells the story of Alice, a little girl who finds adventure when she enters the world located on "the other side of the mirror." In this magical world, Alice encounters numerous amazing characters such as the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, the Gryphon and Mock Turtle, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. After experiencing many exciting, and sometimes harrowing, interactions with these "nonsensical" creatures, Alice returns safely home to muse on the meaning of life as a huge chess game in which individuals seek self-identity and try to make sense of the world. The gentle message of the story is that while the prospect of approaching adulthood can be scary, it is ultimately a rewarding and exciting adventure.
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The Imaginary Invalid
October 4-6 and 11-13, 2008
The famous hypochondriac in this classic farce not only complains of a million imaginary ills, but also of his astronomical medical bills. If he marries his daughter to a doctor, he reasons, he will have free medical care. He chooses a double-Latin-talking numskull without consulting the daughter, who is already smitten by another. The inventive maid exposes the doctor and his father as charlatans and demonstrates to the master that his second wife loves his money, not him. Thus are truth and love triumphant and all troubles, real and imaginary, relieved by laughter.
