ESU Theater Department

Tickets are on sale now for our exciting ESU THEATRE 2024-2025 Season! Our season opens this October with the classic thriller, “Wait Until Dark”. Then join us in February for the darkly comedic musical, “Ride the Cyclone”. And in April, we will conclude the season with Arthur Miller’s powerful work, “The Crucible”. Also- don’t forget all of the amazing work from our student clubs, fantastic dance ensembles, and one of a kind performances from our various music ensembles . Check out all our amazing events this season! Tickets on sale now! (Link in comments).

Congratulations to faculty member Bethanie Wampol Watson and recent alum, Jennifer Bonilla for opening a new play at Premiere Stages in Union, New Jersey last week. This new piece, written by Scott Organ, focuses on the stories of a group of ICU nurses as they navigate the opioid crisis and grapple with remaining trauma from Covid-19.
Professor Watson served as the scenic designer and Jennifer Bonilla worked as the props master.

What’s the only thing better than the first rehearsal for a show? THE FIRST REHEARSAL FOR TWO DIFFERENT SHOWS IN ONE NIGHT!
That’s right held both the first rehearsal for their fall production of “Wait Until Dark” at the same time that Stage II held their first rehearsal of “The Wolves”.
“The Wolves” tells the story of a women’s high school indoor soccer team and their rehearsal consisted of a soccer boot camp. “Wait Until Dark” is the classic 1960s thriller and the cast started with a table read. Tickets are on sale now on the ESU Theatre page.

Congratulations to Stage II and all those that participated in our amazing 24 hour play festival Saturday. Writers, directors, actors, technicians… you all killed it! Also a special shout-out to our Theatre faculty for guiding us through and to Prof. Varkados for getting us started on the right foot with a playwriting workshop Friday night.

Tonight Only! Step Right Up!
Come join us at 7:30pm in G7 (Dale Snow Blackbox Theatre) at the Fine and Performing Arts Center.
It’s the return of the 24 hour Play Festival and this year we are headed to the Carnival!

AUDITIONS NEXT WEEK! Audition for two shows at once!
Wednesday we will begin auditioning both the fall mainstage show-Wait Until Dark, and Stage II’s fall production- The Wolves.
Both shows will be super exciting! Email [email protected] for more details or to reserve your spot.

Students: remember to sign up to reserve your spot as a participant in Stage II's 24 Play Festival next weekend. Sign up by Friday!
https://forms.gle/nzvzjgnBeEBTfv1C6

JOIN US TOMORROW!
2pm meeting for all majors, minors, or theatre interested folks.
We will meet in the Smith McFarland Theatre.
Also, next week our “Play in a Day” festival returns. Sign up now to hold your spot as a writer, director, actor, or technician.

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!
It’s hard to believe the summer is almost over but ESU Theatre is excited to be back and jumping right in. Join us for an all student meeting to discuss the season for the year, auditions, and so many upcoming activities!

ESU Theatre is here to help anyone in the UArts Philadelphia community as much as we can. Feel free to reach out to department chairs Jason Narvy ([email protected]) and Bethanie Wampol Watson ([email protected]).

ESU Theatre in London LAST DAY Photo Dump:
It was our last day in London and students were able to explore freely. Some saw more shows, others got good food or went shopping, or visited museums. A few folks even made it to Windsor Castle, Bath, and Stonehenge!
We are now on the plane on our way back across the pond ✈️🥰🇺🇸

ESU Theatre in London Day 6 Photo Dump:
Shoreditch Walking Tour, Leadenhall Market, Historical Theatre sites, Museums, and so many evening shows!

ESU Theatre in London Day 5 Photo Dump:
Southwark Walking Tour, Borough Market, Historical Theatre sites, The Clink Prison, and a show at the Globe!

ESU Theatre in London Day 3 Photo Dump: Morning at Middle Temple and Temple Church, the Roman Wall, St. Giles, historic pubs, and multiple shows!

ESU Theatre in London Day 1 Photo Dump:
After leaving immediately following graduation yesterday, Professors Narvy and Watson boarded a plane with 20 of our theatre students and headed to London. We landed this morning and spent a full day exploring the city. So much fun! Now it’s definitely time to sleep 😴

Congratulations to all the students that performed their classical scenes for Dr. Narvy’s Voice for Performance Final. You folks killed it!

Last night we inducted twelve deserving students in our charter class of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Theatre Honor Society.
We are so proud of the work they have done and are so excited to see what lies ahead.

Thanks to everyone who came out and celebrated with us at the BBQ tonight! It was awesome to celebrate our graduates, scholarship recipients, and just enjoy some food and fun while reflecting on the year.
We were also so excited to reinstate our chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Theatre Honor Society, tonight with twelve new charter members at inductions following the BBQ!
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ESU Theatre students: join us today at 6pm for some casual food and fun in the scene shop. We will celebrate the year and share memories from our great productions and performances this year. We will also honor our graduates and scholarship recipients. 🥳

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!!! 🎂🎉🥳
Today we celebrate by looking at the past and remembering our recent production of “Twelfth Night” AND thinking about the future… In just over a week many of our students and faculty will be seeing Shakespeare plays and sights as they all visit London together!

HEATHERS 2pm SHOW IS SOLD OUT.
If you do not have tickets already please do not plan to attend the show today.
Any online sales purchased after 1:05pm will not be accommodated unfortunately.

It’s your last chance to see ESU’s exciting production of “Heathers”! Today at 2pm.
Only a few seats left!
https://www.esu.edu/theatre-performances/index.cfm

Holy Corn Nuts! What an amazing Opening Night!!! The performances were incredible and so was the audience.
Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of production of “Heathers”!
Only three more chances to see this exciting show!
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