Riverland Community College Theatre Director Lindsey Duoos Williams announced the Theatre Department’s 2016-2017 season today. This season will present a range of works from classic musicals to contemporary dramas that examine the beauty of life.

The season opens Oct. 5 with the musical Cabaret, with book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.  As 1929 draws to a close, American writer Clifford Bradshaw arrives in Berlin.  At the seedy Kit Kat Klub, he meets British singer Sally Bowles and the two pursue escapist pleasures together. But as life in pre-WWII Germany grows more and more uncertain, will the decadent allure of Berlin nightlife be enough to get them through these dangerous times? This recent revision of the classic Broadway musical is eerily timely today. Cabaret is suggested for ages 14 and up and will be directed by Lindsey Duoos Williams. 

The fall season continues with It’s a Wonderful Life adapted for the stage by James W. Rodgers, based on the film by Frank Capra and the story by Philip Van Doren Stern, playing Nov. 16-20.  In the small town of Bedford Falls, George Bailey dreams of escape and adventure but is stuck in a life of family obligation and civic duty.  George’s guardian angel descends on Christmas Eve to save him from despair and to show him what the world would have been like had he never been born. This adaptation of the classic film celebrates our American philosophy of life: hard work, fair play, and the love and support of one's family and community. It’s a Wonderful Life will be directed by Riverland Theatre faculty member Susan V. Hansen and is suggested for ages 10 and up.

The Language Archive by Julia Cho will be the first production of 2016, opening Feb. 22. George is a man consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of far-flung cultures.  Closer to home, though, language is failing him.  He doesn’t know what to say to his wife, Mary, to keep her from leaving him, and he doesn’t recognize the deep feelings that his lab assistant, Emma, has for him.  Is love a universal language or just a well-intentioned dream that leaves us all at a loss for words?  Susan V. Hansen directs The Language Archive, which is suggested for ages 12 and up.

The season finishes with the Broadway musical Seussical, with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Based on the works of Dr. Seuss, Seussical lovingly brings our favorite Dr. Seuss characters to life, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie La Bird, and a little boy with a big imagination: Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos. Dr. Seuss fans both young and old alike will be entranced by this fantastical, magical musical extravaganza.   Lindsey Duoos Williams directs, and the musical is appropriate for all ages.  Seussical will be performed at 7 p.m., instead of the usual 7:30 p.m. curtain time, in order to accommodate younger theatre patrons.  There will be two 2 p.m. matinees on Sunday, April 12 and Sunday, April 30.

Theatre Director Lindsey Duoos Williams says, “It occurred to me after selecting this season’s fantastic lineup of shows that our season centered on a theme.  All four of this season’s plays and musicals examine the way we see beauty in our world.  In Cabaret, the Kit Kat Klub is a beautiful escape from the problems in pre-war Germany.  It’s a Wonderful Life is about a man who is ready to give up on life discovering its beauty once again.  The Language Archive considers the beauty of the words we use to express our deepest emotions.  And in Seussical, we learn to appreciate the beauty that exists in our own imaginations.  In a year that has brought us one depressing news story after another, the theatre is a vital reminder of the beauty that exists in our world.”

“I am thrilled to continue the tradition of bringing new works each season to the Riverland stage,” continued Williams. “Three of the four shows this season are being performed for the first time at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre.  The fourth, Cabaret, is a version of the classic show that was first performed on Broadway in 1998 and recently revived again.  Audiences that have seen earlier versions of the show will still recognize all of their favorite songs, but this version includes songs written for the 1972 film that weren’t in the original 1966 Broadway production.”

Season Ticket subscriptions to Riverland’s 2016-2017 season are $50 and are on sale through Oct. 9.  Individual tickets to each of the four productions will go on sale Sept. 6, when the box office officially opens for the season.    Tickets are available for purchase online at www.riverland.edu/tickets, or in person and by phone after Sept. 6.  To purchase a season ticket or to receive more information, call the Riverland Theatre Box Office at (507) 433-0595, email boxoffice@riverland.edu, or visit the web site and download the brochure at www.riverland.edu/theatre. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and one hour before performances. Individual ticket prices for Cabaret and Seussical are $16, and $13 for It’s a Wonderful Life and The Language Archive. Riverland students receive two free tickets to each production.

Riverland Theatre strives to provide quality productions that are entertaining and challenging to both the audience and the artists.  Because we reach such a diverse audience, some audience members may find some subject matter, language, or situations objectionable. If you have concerns about a specific production, we encourage you to become familiar with the material before attending the performance.

Riverland’s Theatre Department is a high-energy performance-oriented program. Plays produced vary from classical tragedy to modern comedy and from full-scale large cast musicals in intimate small cast plays. Students are encouraged to get involved in all areas of theatre production including, but not limited to, acting, stage managing, set building and painting. Strong academic offerings provide challenges in and out of the classroom.

The 2016-2017 Riverland Theatre Season Up-Close:

CABARET
Book by Joe Masteroff
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Oct. 5, 6, 7, 8 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 9 at 2:00 p.m.

As 1929 draws to a close, American writer Clifford Bradshaw arrives in Berlin.  At the seedy Kit Kat Klub, he meets British singer Sally Bowles and the two pursue escapist pleasures together. But as life in pre-WWII Germany grows more and more uncertain, will the decadent allure of Berlin nightlife be enough to get them through these dangerous times? This recent revision of the classic Broadway musical is eerily timely today. Suggested for ages 14 and up.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Adapted for the stage by James W. Rodgers
Based on the film by Frank Capra and the story by Philip Van Doren Stern
Nov. 16, 17, 18, 19 at 7:30 pm, Nov. 20 at 2:00 p.m.

In the small town of Bedford Falls, George Bailey dreams of escape and adventure but is stuck in a life of family obligation and civic duty.  George’s guardian angel descends on Christmas Eve to save him from despair and to show him what the world would have been like had he never been born. This adaptation of the classic film celebrates our American philosophy of life: hard work, fair play, and the love and support of one's family and community. Suggested for ages 10 and up.

THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE
By Julia Cho
Feb. 22, 23, 24, 25 at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.
George is a man consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of far-flung cultures.  Closer to home, though, language is failing him.  He doesn’t know what to say to his wife, Mary, to keep her from leaving him, and he doesn’t recognize the deep feelings that his lab assistant, Emma, has for him.  Is love a universal language or just a well-intentioned dream that leaves us all at a loss for words? Suggested for ages 12 and up.

SEUSSICAL
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Book by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty
Based on the works of Dr. Seuss
April 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 at 7 p.m.; April 23, 30 at 2 p.m.

Seussical lovingly brings our favorite Dr. Seuss characters to life, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie La Bird, and a little boy with a big imagination: Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos. Dr. Seuss fans both young and old alike will be entranced by this fantastical, magical musical extravaganza.  Appropriate for all ages.

Curtain times for all evening theatre performances begin at 7:30 p.m. except Seussical, which begins at 7 p.m., and all Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m.

Audition Info for Cabaret and It’s a Wonderful Life:

Auditions for Cabaret and It’s a Wonderful Life will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 23 and 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. All auditions are held at the Frank W. Bridges Theatre on the Austin Campus, East Building. Actors will be given sides to read from the show and, if auditioning for Cabaret, music and a short dance combination will be taught. Although Riverland students are given priority in casting, auditions for all Riverland theatre department productions are open to the public.  Contact Lindsey Williams at 507-434-7390 or Lindsey.Williams@riverland.edu for more information.