Theatre Productions
Pipeline
September 20-24, 26, 2021
Directed by Ashley White
Allen Bales Theatre
Nya Joseph is a dedicated public high school teacher who only wants the best for her son. Omari, her son gets tangled in a controversy at his upstate private school, bringing him to the verge of expulsion, threatening the life Nya hoped to give him. Explore her journey as she rallies to save her son from a broken system while being confronted with her own choices as a parent.
Diversity Statement: The title of Dominique Morisseau’s play, Pipeline, refers to the school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately affects students of color. This play is a compassionate observance of a broken education system and tells us that if we ignore the school-to-prison pipeline and refuse to empathize, then we will continue forcing students to become trapped in this cycle. Because of the foundation of the play being about the school-to-prison pipeline, there are specific diverse race/ethnicity and gender characteristics central to the significance of the story. Pipeline is a play that speaks truth to power and the casting needs to maintain as inherently diverse as Dominique Morisseau imagined in telling this impactful, thought-provoking, and beautiful piece.
Pippin
October 13-15, 21, 22, 24, 2021
Directed by Matt Davis
Marian Gallaway Theatre
Pippin is plagued by a challenge – purpose. Join the son of King Charlemagne as he goes on the journey of a lifetime to discover his purpose in the world moving from war to love trying to live a brilliant and extraordinary life before finding the answer in a rather unexpected place.
Diversity Statement: Integrating biographical information and themes relevant to the political and social environment today, Pippin discusses what truly brings good to this earth by telling the story of a youth born into a life of privilege who, overtime, recognizes its negative impact on his life. Pippin’s story is narrated by the Leading Player – a character that is traditionally played by an artist of color. This is important; through The Leading Player’s narration we see them and their inclusive troupe of players shedding light on the privileges that bring Pippin to a state of constant conflict. Given that his privileges and carte blanche status in the world could be likened to that celebrity or politician, Pippin has the power to experience all the temporary “highs” that life offers: triumph in battle and politics; beautiful human beings that shower Pippin with attention, and the like. Yet in none of this extreme fortune and success can he find anything but the most tentative fulfillment. Through the guidance of The Leading Player, Pippin learns that the key to happiness is the process of throwing off all avarice and becoming aware of what’s truly important.
The Colored Museum
January 31-February 6, 2022
Directed by Christian Tripp
Allen Bales Theatre
Take a journey through the eleven exhibits of The Colored Museum and explore what it means to be Black in contemporary America. Come face to face with old and new stereotypes and, through George C. Wolfe’s “in-your-face” satire, challenge your understanding of Black culture.
Diversity Statement: Why is it that the same stereotypes of African-Americans have made us laugh and cry throughout our history? How has white perception influenced black culture? How can a racial narrative be both embraced and overcome?
These are the questions George C. Wolfe tackles throughout his satirical play, The Colored Museum, in addition to many other celebrations and challenges to the African-American cultural legacy. It is easy to recognize from our auditorium seats that the same persistent tropes and stereotypes held influence over Wolfe when he sat at his typewriter back in 1986. However, while his writing elicits difficult questions, Wolfe manages to make doing so look easy with a seamless weave of eleven vignettes, or “exhibits,” each one showing a different glimpse through the window of black culture.
Within this window and with these exhibits, we see a study of various topics digging into the core of black culture: historical whitewashing, the fragmentation of the black psyche, identity, self-hatred, black love, black empowerment, the observation of harmful stereotypes, and the mask that black people wear in America. The beauty of George C. Wolfe’s work is that it not only provides an opportunity to create a dialogue about the issues it bluntly presents but also offers an opportunity for those with different experiences to observe and join.
While the play is considered satirical at times and even absurd in most others, its existential rummaging through American history manages to reasonably pair with the absurdity of reality for African Americans.
Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
March 28-April 3, 2022
Directed by Ashley White
Allen Bales Theatre
Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles meets the comedic competence of Ken Ludwig to create this criminally entertaining comedy. Watch the master of deduction in his element as he unravels the clues to solve the murder that is rumored to be caused by a large, evil hound. Will everyone’s favorite detective duo succeed in saving the next victim from the jaws of death?
Diversity Statement: With a small ensemble of actors playing over 40 roles in a dizzying array of slapstick comedy, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery lends itself to open casting where all artists are warmly encouraged to audition. Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery is a production that will excitedly benefit from a diverse and inclusive cast with a multitude of various voices to aid in the storytelling process. There are no specific race/ethnicity or other characteristics central to this story. This production is delighted to adapt the original character breakdown that is provided in the script.
Legally Blonde
April 13-15, 21-24, 2022
Directed by Stacy Alley
Marian Gallaway Theatre
In 2001 Elle Woods burst onto the screen captivating our hearts with her story of finding oneself in the face of heartbreak and doubt. After Elle’s boyfriend, Warner, breaks up with her to go to Law School at Harvard, Elle becomes determined to get into the same school and on the way finds friendship and a newly ignited passion for justice. This musical adaptation of the blockbuster movie was nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Book in a Musical and Best Score.
Diversity Statement: Based on Amanda Brown’s 2001 novel and the movie of the same name, the musical Legally Blonde stays faithful to the source. The show follows a female protagonist on a journey of sisterhood, self-discovery, and eventually, self-love. Said to have inspired a generation of women to attend law school, Elle Woods allows herself to achieve her full potential, regardless of the constraints placed upon her by society or her peers. Tackling issues and scandals predating yet reminiscent of the #MeToo Movement, this seemingly fluffy story is so much more than it seems. Legally Blonde has a pressing relevance in today’s society as women increasingly step into the spotlight and speak up for their equal rights and power. The musical creates a message that goes beyond promoting mere tolerance of different ideas and perspectives. It seeks out the merit in diversity so that the entire community can benefit from it.
Casting of all roles will be open to all ethnicities and done based on a color-conscious casting model which actively acknowledges and considers race when casting non-traditionally. The casting will move to reserve space for BIPOC performers while evaluating the cultural connotations of requesting an actor to insert themselves into a narrative that might not be their own and, if necessary, adapt the production to better suit their needs and perspectives.
Dance Productions
The Dance program aspires to create meaningful, engaging new art that reflects color-disruptive and/or color-conscious casting within its productions. The program does not believe in a generalized approach to decisions about race, ethnicity, and diversity in casting. In casting, we seek to embrace and celebrate difference always, and to disrupt tradition often. We eschew tokenism. Where possible, we consider the cultural backgrounds and life experiences of our dancers in the casting process. We recognize that because casting is not necessarily rooted within the diversity of our current student population, our need to affirmatively recruit and promote dancers of color within our program is underscored.
Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre
October 6-8, 2021
Dance Theatre
Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre returns to the stage for its 30th season with graceful performances choreographed by our nationally-acclaimed dance faculty. Join us for a transformative visual experience and lively journey through motion.
Dance Alabama!
November 3-5, 2021
Dance Theatre
Dance Alabama! is a collection of performances choreographed and designed by students and includes all genres of dance ranging from classical ballet, contemporary and hip-hop dance forms, designed to showcase student choreography that is conceptually original and visually stimulating.
MFA Dance Concert
November 17-19, 2021
Dance Theatre
UA Theatre and Dance brings to you the 2nd annual MFA Dance Concert, a series of expressive and eclectic pieces created and choreographed by the Masters of Fine Arts in Dance candidates
Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre
March 2-5, 2022
Dance Theatre
Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre’s spring production will feature exciting premieres by emerging and eminent guest choreographers. The concert encompasses contemporary, jazz, classical and contemporary ballet works.
Dance Alabama!
March 30-April 2, 2022
Dance Theatre
The spring production of Dance Alabama! brings together passion, dynamics, and rhythm to create beautiful student choreographic works of art that are enjoyable to all types of audiences.
Dance Collection
April 22, 2022
Dance Theatre
Dance Collection brings together choreographic works produced by students and faculty. Closing out the dance season, the concert features an evening filled with the raw power of dance, infused with originality, thoughtfulness, and beauty.
Ticket Office
For information about prices, policies, and more, visit the Department of Theatre and Dance Ticket Office page.
Tickets will be available online at ua.universitytickets.com.