Carnegie Mellon University
March 03, 2015

CMU’s School of Drama To Welcome Guest Directors Patrick Wilson and Sasha Iliev During 2015-2016 Season

By Erin Keane Scott / 412-268-2068 / ekscott@andrew.cmu.edu / and
Pam Wigley / 412-268-1047 / pwigley@andrew.cmu.edu

Sasah IllievPatrick WilsonCarnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, the oldest degree-granting conservatory training program in the U.S., has announced its 2015-2016 season, featuring guest directors Patrick Wilson (A’95) and Sasha Iliev. Wilson (right) will be directing “The Full Monty,” in which he starred on Broadway, and Iliev (far right) will direct a devised Commedia dell’Arte piece based on Flaminio Scala’s “The Plague in Venice.”

“We’re thrilled to announce our coming season, particularly because our own talented faculty will work hand-in-hand with these wonderful guest directors,” said Professor Peter Cooke, head of the School of Drama. “That combination offers our students an incredible benefit, one that will enrich their education and experience, and best prepare them for careers beyond Carnegie Mellon.”

The Subscriber Series will open with William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” directed by faculty member Anthony McKay, Oct. 8 - 17. The school will present William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies,” adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams and directed by Caden Manson, a faculty member in the John Wells Directing Program, Nov. 19 – Dec. 5.

Wilson, who has found success on stage, screen and television, will direct “The Full Monty,” with book by Terrence McNally and music and lyrics by David Yazbek, Feb. 18 – 27. Faculty members Thomas Douglas and Tomé Cousin will music direct and choreograph, respectively. The season will finish with Iliev’s adaptation of “The Plague in Venice,” April 7 - 23.

Students in The John Wells Directing Program, named for Hollywood producer John Wells (A’79), will direct the following productions:

  • An adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra” directed by Fellow Eleanor Bishop;
  • “Milk Like Sugar,” the Obie Award-winning play by Kristen Greenidge, directed by Fellow Terrence Mosley;
  • A play based on Lawrence Wechsler’s books “Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees: Over Thirty Years of Conversations With Robert Irwin” and “True to Life: Twenty-Five Years of Conversations With David Hockney,” called “Bob and Dave and Ren” adapted and directed by Fellow Ben Gansky; and
  • The Director Series, featuring “Cloud Tectonics” by José Rivera, “Jet of Blood” by Antonin Artaud and “Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhl.

The New Works Series continues to develop the innovative work of the Master of Fine Arts dramatic writing students, showcasing three new plays in October and three new plays in April by playwrights Eugenie Carabatsos, Karina Cochran, Amy Gijsbers van Wijk, Mora V. Harris, Levi Jelks and Joe Necessary.

Additionally, the Horizons Reading Series will continue next season in December and February. Horizons, which features new voices in a staged reading setting, provides community access to plays that may not fit into the school’s annual season; its aim is to broaden understandings of the range of theatrical writing, subject matter and stylistic form.

For package options or to place a subscription order, call the box office at 412-268-2407 between noon and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Special discounts are available to all Carnegie Mellon alumni. All Subscriber Series performances are at 8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays in CMU’s Purnell Center for the Arts. For more information about the School of Drama, visit www.drama.cmu.edu.

NOTE: Students in the Dramaturgy Program will host talkbacks with the audience, casts and crews following Tuesday evening performances, explaining the play’s background and commenting on the research and development of the storyline. The dramaturgs also are available to discuss the plays with classes, student groups and public organizations. Contact Wendy Arons, dramaturgy option coordinator, at warons@andrew.cmu.edu to schedule a session with a dramaturg.

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