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The Acting Company presents Inspirational Live Theatre Feb. 19 for Wayne State Black & Gold Series
WAYNE – Live theater sparks laughter and stirs the soul with two performances by The Acting Company Thursday, Feb. 19, at Wayne State College. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” plays at 1:30 p.m., with “Great Expectations” to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Both performances take place in the Peterson Fine Arts Building’s Ramsey Theatre and are part of the Wayne State Black & Gold Performing Arts Series.
Tickets are required for each show. To obtain tickets, visit www.wsc. edu/performing-arts and select “Buy tickets.” Tickets for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” are $5 each. Tickets for “Great Expectations” are $10 each. Wayne State students, faculty, and staff attend free, but must obtain a ticket using their NUID number on the ticketing website.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” by William Shakespeare, is a whimsical look at the lives of four young lovers. The plot unfolds with abundant amusement, fanciful fairies, and magical mishaps. This 60-minute, crowd-pleaser explores the complexities of love, the consequences of manipulation, and the power of forgiveness.
“Great Expectations,” by Nikki Massoud and adapted from the Charles Dickens novel, examines the search for true happiness by peering into the roles of social status, wealth, power, and love. The two-hour journey integrates struggling orphans, beautiful heiresses, violent criminals with good hearts, and even a bit of true love. “Great Expectations” includes loud noises, stylized stage violence, and discussion of mature content. This performance is provided with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.
The plays share the same ensemble, illustrating the virtuous brilliance as actors must memorize both plays. Some portray more than eight different characters. For example, an actress plays a hyper-aggressive working-class woman and a near-insane wealthy recluse in one play and a warrior queen in the other. The actor’s adroit skills call on tricks of voice, body, costume, and language to cultivate each identity.
Founded in 1972 in New York City by legendary performer-producers John Houseman and Margot Harley, The Acting Company has helped launch the careers of nearly 500 actors, including Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Rainn Wilson, Frances Conroy, Harriet Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Hamish Linklater, Jesse L. Martin, Roslyn Ruff and Kelley Curran.
The Acting Company has performed in 48 U.S. states, 10 foreign countries, on and off-Broadway and at leading regional theaters. In 2003, the Company received the Tony Award for Excellence in the Theater. In 2019, they received the Audelco Award for Best Play.
