Skidmore College Department of Theater Presents PASSION PLAY 11/18-12/4

The Skidmore College Department of Theater is pleased to announce its Fall 2011 mainstage production, PASSION PLAY by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Carolyn Anderson. Performances are November 18-20 and December 1-4. All shows are in the Janet Kinghorn Bernhard Theater at 7:30pm except Sunday matinees at 2:00pm.

PASSION PLAY, by award-winning contemporary writer Sarah Ruhl, is a bold, funny, and poignant expression of the intersection of religion and politics. This thrilling, epic play "takes us behind the scenes of three communities in different eras of time who are attempting to stage the death of Christ." Throughout the play we see a yearning for spirituality, as well as a questioning of our major beliefs in political systems and religion.

From Director Carolyn Anderson: "I am drawn to this work because of Sarah Ruhl's unique poetic voice and her ability to plunge into complex and controversial issues with simplicity, biting humor and poignancy. One major challenge is designing the right rehearsal strategies, which allow us to tell many stories that continue across a vast expanse of time. The actors have embraced the complexity of this epic work with a commitment to an ongoing exploration of the vast landscape Sarah Ruhl puts before us."

For reservations, call the Skidmore Theater Box Office at (518) 580-5439 or email boxoffice@skidmore.edu. Tickets are $12 general admission and $8 for students and senior citizens. For group sales, contact Kathy Mendenhall at (518) 580-5431 or kmendenh@skidmore.edu.

The Skidmore Theater Department is a pre-professional program that offers students the opportunity to pursue the serious study of the theater arts within a liberal arts setting. Courses within the department afford training in the basic demands of the discipline-physical and vocal control, technique in acting and directing, technical and design skills-as well as the opportunity for advanced study, practical production experience, study abroad, and off-campus internships. The college liberal arts requirements help the student to understand the moral, intellectual, and political context in which any artist practices.

Photo: Alex Greaves '12 and Christine Pardos '14. Photo Credit: Matthew Cohen '13