With another semester underway, the College’s theatrical community is suiting up for a new season of productions. Last spring brought the musical brovado of Herbert Ross’s “Footloose” to campus, but theater groups of all styles are prompting fresh ideas and auditions for the upcoming fall stage.
This October, All College Theatre will present the Greek comedy “Lysistrata” on Kendall Hall’s main stage. The play, which will run from Oct. 9 to 12, chronicles an attempt by Greek women to end the Peloponnesian War by withholding sex from their husbands — a ploy that instead tends to inflame the men. Students young and old are encouraged to get involved with the production.
“We’re excited to meet and work with new people,” ACT president Lindsey Nice said. “Whether that’s freshmen, new transfers or anyone who’s been at TCNJ for a while but hasn’t made it to an ACT meeting yet, we love to make friends.”
There will also be an interactive murder mystery show scheduled later in the semester, though at this time there are no released details.
This semester additionally brings new faces to ACT, but they trust that the organization’s talent has remained.
“Besides a newly elected executive board, not much has changed,” Nice said. “However, this year we plan to focus more on working with other organizations on campus.”
Another key campus group, TCNJ Musical Theatre, is planning its usual roster of shows for the fall. Broadway Night routinely occurs in early October, with solo or group musical numbers crowning the night, while “Cabaret” will premiere from Nov. 14 to 16 and on Nov. 22 and 23.
“TMT is so excited to be performing a two-weekend run for the first time,” president Jenna Rose said. “‘Pippin’ was such a success last year that we had to spread the performances out of Cabaret over two weekends.”
In addition to their upcoming shows, TMT is jointly planning an event with the College Union Board and Lion Late Night, with more details expected to surface soon.
Elsewhere, The Mixed Signals, the College’s improvisation group, will hold their first show on Sept. 15 in the Library Auditorium, according to their website. Annual auditions for the troupe will be held in October for anyone interested and quick on their feet.
And even if students are not keen on acting, the College’s theater groups welcome students with talents across the board.
“(Theater) is not just a place for actors,” Nice said. “It is for anyone who is interested in writing, producing, directing, stage management, set, tech, lights, sound, costumes, props or makeup.”
Needless to say, the College’s theater community has a spotlight reserved for the dramatic side in all of us.
