Summer del Valle
Staff Writer
Florida Southern is ranked No. 15 by the Princeton Review for their outstanding theater department. So don’t miss out on what they have in store for this semester.
The first play that will open is “The Quest for Don Quixote,” written by Mark Brown and directed by FSC alumn Lawrence Lesher. “The Quest for Don Quixote” will be set in none other than a Starbucks. The is about a playwright Ben Eisenberg who sits in this Starbucks pondering what to write for his play. There is just one problem the play Eisenberg is writing. It is supposed to begin rehearsing tomorrow and he hasn’t written it.
Eisenberg needs to adapt the 1000-page Renaissance adventure of “Don Quixote into a play in one night. Suddenly, whether” from a stroke of genius or a near-lethal dosage of caffeine and Xanax, Starbucks itself begins to transform. The Errant Knight appears to tell the story. You won’t want to miss this hilarious retelling of Cervantes’ classic tale. FSC’s Theatre department will have performances occurring on select dates and times from Sept. 27 through Oct. 6.
The next play “The Children” is an eerie one, perfect for this Halloween. “The Children” is written by Lucy Kirkwood and will be directed by Karissa Barber. This show is centered around two retired nuclear scientists. These married scientists (Robin and Hazel) reside on the British coast in an isolated cottage. As the world around them crumbles they plan together to live forever on yogurt and yoga. Unexpectedly an old friend (Rose) arrives with a frightening request. This play discusses climate change and explores the responsibility we have for future generations. All the shows will begin at 8 p.m. and will be in the Frank Lloyd Wright Theatre in the round.
“Spring Awakening” will be held in the fall. The show is a pop-rock musical that first premiered on Broadway in 2006 with stars Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele. It then went on to be a world-renowned success and received eight Tony awards. “Spring Awakening” explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood. It is an unforgettable musical that tackles challenging topics that are still very prevalent in today’s society
Set in 1891 Germany, this musical is an electrifying fusion of morality and rock and roll that explores the trials and tribulations of growing up. It is centered around Wendla Bergman, a young girl curious about the world around her but sheltered by her mother and other adults around her. Junior Chelsea Campbell will portray Wendla this fall.
“To be cast in such an iconic and coveted role truly is such an honor,” said Campell. “It means so much to be given the opportunity to portray these themes and ideas that are usually very uncomfortable to talk about. Getting this character off the page and diving into the harsh reality of her story excites me in knowing I have a chance to bring light to this deep and intentional character that is Wendla.”
“Spring Awakening” can have a different meaning for all audiences who see it. Everyone has experienced life through different lenses therefore different audiences will feel unquie things when viewing “Spring Awakening.”
“‘Spring Awakening’ has always interested me because of how extreme they take the ideas and themes,” said Campell. These ‘uncomfortable’ topics are shown, experienced, and lived through by each character and in doing so give the audience the awareness that people outside of the context of this musical experience these things as well. It’s a mirror on life and doesn’t hide or disguise some of the ugly truths of living as a young adult.”
This musical will be the first directed by new professor Natasha Lee Martin and music will be conducted by Wesley Morgan. “Spring Awakening” will be performed Nov. 15 through the Nov. 24 during select times.
