Each year, the UW–Madison Department of Theatre and Drama produces several exciting productions in impressive spaces including the 291-seat Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre and the Gilbert V. Hemsley, Jr. Theatre, a flexible black box space.
Performances times are regularly Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM unless otherwise noted.
Due to COVID-19, face coverings are required in all UW-Madison campus buildings. UW-Madison does not have a vaccination requirement for attendance. Actors will be unmasked during the performance. Safety measures including face coverings, capacity limits, and seating for social distancing are subject to change as directed by UW–Madison guidelines for campus events.
2021-2022 SEASON
COMING SOON!
A PIECE OF MY HEART
March 3-11, 2022
Gilbert V. Hemsley Theatre
By Shirley Lauro
Director: Baron Kelly
Rehearsal dates: December 13-16, 2021 and January 25-March 2, 2022
The true stories of six courageous women sent to Vietnam and their struggle to make sense of a war that irrevocably changed them and a nation that shunned them. A work by UW graduate Shirley Lauro filled with the music and soul of a tumultuous era in our history.
Content Warning: This play contains mature content including adult language, racial epithets, substance abuse, discussions of sexual assault, descriptions of violence, and sounds of gunshots and explosions.
Performance Times:
3/3-3/5, 3/5-3/11 7:30 PM
3/6 2:00 PM
A PIECE OF MY HEART Cast
Sissy – Anna Bogan
Maryjo – Ashley Alberte
Leeann – Willow Pae
Steele – Jordyn Enniss
Whitney – Allison Hesselberg
Martha – Hannah Rehfeldt
Ensemble – Libby LaDue, Jacob Shipley, Artur Siklos
A PIECE OF MY HEART Production Team
Director – Baron Kelly
Scenic Designer – Rob Wagner
Costume Designer – Reina Werth
Lighting Designer – Ana Gonzalez Clark
Sound Designer – Ryan Bertelson
Properties Director – Lydia Berggruen
Technical Director – Rob Wagner
Stage Manager – Carson Romano
Assistant Stage Manager – Fina Zhou
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL
April 14-24, 2022
Mitchell Theatre
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe
Director: Jake Penner
Music Director: Ross Shenker
Rehearsal dates: February 21-April 13, 2022 (off March 12-20 – Spring break)
The darkly delicious story of Veronica, who is desperate to join the ruthless clique “The Heathers.” After falling for the new bad boy, JD, Veronica is kicked out of the clique and the pair resolve to rid Westerberg High School of the cruelly popular elite forever. A hilarious, heartfelt, and homicidal musical based on the cult classic film.
Content Warning: This production contains mature content including adult language, suicide, substance abuse, sexual assault, eating disorders, and gun violence.
Performance Times:
4/14-4/16, 4/21-4/23 7:30 PM
4/24 2:00 PM (No performance Easter Sunday 4/17)
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Cast
Veronica – Caroline Hansen
JD – Michael Decker
Heather Chandler – Corinna Smith
Heather McNamara – Natalie Wolff
Heather Duke – Natalie Matthai
Martha – Bree Bylak
Ram/Veronica’s Dad/Big Bud Dean – Joseph Green
Kurt – Josh Busher
Rams’ Dad/Principal Gowan – Dennis McMorrow
Ms. Fleming/Veronica’s Mom – Keagan Schlosser
Kurt’s Dad/Coach Ripper – Liam McCarthy
Beleaguered Geek – Francis Faye
Preppy Stud – Andre Canseco
Hipster Dork – Isaac Yang
New Wave Girl – Carly de la Masa
Stoner Teen – Eli Johnson
Young Republicanette – Alexandra Mack
Ensemble – Danielle Bullock, Nick Doerman, Cecilia Fleischer, Alegra Waverly
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Production Team
Director – Jake Penner
Music Director – Ross Shenker
Choreographer – Brian Cowing
Intimacy Director – Jyreika Guest
Vocal (Text) Coach – Colleen Conroy
Fight Director – Whitney Derendinger
Assistant Director – Anna Jansson
Scenic Design – Keith Pitts
Scenic Design Assistant – Juliana Gessner
Costume Design – Shannon Heibler
Costume Design Assistant – Jiaming Xie
Lighting Design – Megan Reilly
Lighting Design Assistant – Tabitha Houghton
Sound Design – Ethan White
Sound Engineer – Arthur Sommer
Technical Director – Rob Wagner
Properties Director – Lydia Berggruen
Lighting & Sound Supervisor – Ryan Bertelson
Stage Manager – Aleph Dankert
Assistant Stage Managers – Maya Hysaw, Daniel Lennartz
CLOSED:
Rashomon
September 16-26, 2021
Mitchell Theatre
By Fay Kanin and Michael Kanin; based on stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Director: David Furumoto
In a secluded forest, a samurai is killed, his wife assaulted, and a bandit arrested. But the shifting stories of what happened reveal the elusive nature of truth. Based on the landmark film by Akira Kurosawa.
View PRODUCTION PHOTOS
RASHOMON Cast
Wigmaker – Nan Asuncion
Priest – Reez Bailey
Woodcutter – Ben Dellheim
Mother/Medium – Allison Hesselberg
Husband – Liam McCarthy
Deputy – Ryan Siddell
Tajomaru – Zhong “John” Wang
Wife – Rae Wasson
RASHOMON Production Team
Director – David Furumoto
Scenic Designer – Neil Mills
Assistant Scenic Designer – Juliana Gessner
Costume Designer – Jim Greco
Lighting Designer – Megan Reilly
Assistant Lighting Designer – Ana Gonzalez Clark
Sound Design – Ryan Bertelson
Properties Director – Lydia Berggruen
Technical Director – Rob Wagner
Fight Director – Whitney Derendinger
Stage Manager – Sarah Candee
Assistant Stage Manager – Aleph Dankert
CLOSED:
Don Juan
November 4-21, 2021
Gilbert V. Hemsley Theatre
By Molière; translated into English by Richard Wilbur
Director: Mark H.
Rehearsal dates: September 27-November 3, 2021
The notorious rake Don Juan defies conventional morality with his scandalous affairs, deceitful behavior, and blasphemy. Can the libertine’s soul be redeemed or do the gates of Hell beckon?
View PRODUCTION PHOTOS
Content Warning: This production contains mature material including graphic imagery, physical and sexual violence.
Performance Times:
11/4-11/6, 11/11-11/13, 11/18-11/20 7:30 PM
11/7, 11/14, 11/21 2:00 PM
*** Join us Friday, November 5 for a special preshow discussion with Mark H., director of DON JUAN and Assistant Professor of Acting/Directing in the Department of Theatre and Drama, and Dr. Richard Goodkin, Professor of French in the Department of French and Italian. They will talk about the playwright Molière, the fascinating and controversial history of the play, and the unique aspects of this production. The talk takes place at 6:00 PM in the Mitchell Theatre. Reservations are not required.
DON JUAN Cast
Don Juan – Ryan Siddell
Sgnarelle – Francis Faye
Elvira/Robber/Spectre – Allison Hesselberg
Don Carlos/Gusman – Jacob Shipley
Don Alonso/Statue of Commander – Joseph Green
Don Luis/Poor Man/La Ramee/Attendant – Reez Bailey
Charlotte/Ragotin/Attendant – Ashley Alberte
Mathurine/La Violette/Robber – Hana Schuricht
Pierrot/Mr. Dimanche/Robber – Liam McCarthy
Drummer – Trygve L. Lebakken
DON JUAN Production Team
Director – Mark H.
Fight Director – Whitney Derendinger
Costume Designer – Jim Greco
Lighting Designer – Connor Wiedenbeck
Properties Director – Lydia Berggruen
Technical Director – Rob Wagner
Stage Manager – Juliana Gessner
CLOSED:
Bonnets (How Ladies of Good Breeding Are Induced to Murder)
December 2-12, 2021
Thursdays-Saturdays 7:30 PM, Sundays 2:00 PM
Mitchell Theatre
By Jen Silverman
Director: Guest Artist Pamela Sterling
Rehearsal dates: October 18-December 1, 2021 (off November 24-28 – Thanksgiving break)
Valerie is a poisoner, her sister-in-law Claire is a virgin, Webster is an indentured servant, her mistress Georgina is a pain in the ass, and Prudence and Fortitude have a weird feeling about each other…but can we call it witchcraft? Bonnets is a dark comedy that plays with elements of camp, history, and rock ‘n roll.
Content Warning: This play contains mature content including adult language, sexual content, and depictions of graphic violence.
Performance Times:
12/2-12/4, 12/9-12/11 7:30 PM
12/5, 12/12 2:00 PM
View PRODUCTION PHOTOS
*** Join us Friday December 3 for a special preshow discussion with guest director Pamela Sterling and members of the production team as they discuss the play’s themes and the process of bringing the play to life. The talk takes place at 6:00 PM in Room 4010 in Vilas Hall (accessible via the outdoor courtyard up the stairs near the Mitchell Theatre entrance off East Campus Mall). Admission to the talk is free but please click here to RSVP.
BONNETS Cast
Claire – Libby LaDue
Valerie – Rae Wasson
Webster – Makayla Strohmeyer
Georgette – Maya Buffomante
Prudence – Krista Laszewski
Fortitude – Anna Bogan
Mistress Stone – Lauren Taylor Knutson
Mrs. Wolcott – Lauren Iverson
Daniel Stone – Megan Tennessen
Laurent – Sydney Walker
God – Erin McConnell
BONNETS Production Team
Director – Pamela Sterling
Assistant Director/Dramaturg – Beck Keller
Choreographer – Jessica Lanius
Music Director – Erin McConnell
Fight Director – Whitney Derendinger
Intimacy Director – Jyreika Guest
Scenic Designer – Neil Mills
Costume Designer – Ashley Duncan
Lighting Designer – Zoe McCarthy
Sound Designer – Isabel White
Properties Director – Lydia Berggruen
Technical Director – Angie Hause
Stage Manager – Dylan Thoren
Assistant Stage Manager – Aleph Dankert