UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS
FALL THEATRE PRODUCTION: A second shepherds' pageant
november 14-15 | 7:00 p.m.
Davis Hall Little Theater
This fall the USAO Theatre Arts Program will present an updated, re-imagined version of “The Second Shepherds’ Play” by the Wakefield Master. This 15th Century poetry was composed to accompany a festival production for the Feast of Corpus Christi, which was celebrated outside of the cathedral in the medieval English community of Wakefield. The tradition of “Mystery Plays,” presented by amateurs from the trade guilds (after the Pope banned public performance by clergy), included a Cycle of plays based on stories from the Bible. These short plays ranged from ten to thirty minutes long, were all in verse, and increasingly included ideas, perspectives, and language contributed by local writers. “The Second Shepherd’s Play,” so named because there was also a First Shepherds’ Play, is a unique artifact from the 1400s because it is largely a secular farce leading to a final scene that is a sacred drama. There have been numerous adaptations from the Old English text discovered in the Towneley manuscript. Katie Davis, MFA, Professor of Theatre has adapted this text (and the text of another cycle play “The Annunciation”) for an original performance titled “A Second Shepherd’s Pageant: Hark! A Harold! (Angels sing.)” This evening of “amateur” theatre combines elements from medieval pageants (music, dance, puppetry, physical comedy, and religious themes) with the structure of contemporary long-form Improvisation (affectionately nicknamed “Harold” by Improv companies). The evening’s show features new poetry as the dialogue of an old story, live sound effects, and a performance by the USAO Concert Choir. This event is suitable for audiences of all ages.
The performance at USAO will take place on November 14th and 15th at 7:00pm in the evening in the Davis Hall Little Theatre. Tickets are free for all students; General Admission tickets are by donation ($10 recommended).
For more information call Katie Davis, Coordinator of the Theatre Arts Program for the School of Arts and Humanities at (405) 574-1310.