UIS Theatre presents Tartuffe by Molière

The Theatre Program at the University of Illinois Springfield will debut its first production of the 2012-13 season with the play Tartuffe by Molière, opening Friday, October 26. Six performances will be presented in the Studio Theatre, on the lower level of the Public Affairs Center at UIS - on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, October 26, 27, and 28, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, November 1, 2, and 3. All shows will begin at 7:30 p.m., except the Sunday performance (October 28), which will begin at 2 p.m.

Moliere's 17th century comedy is brought to light in a contemporary translation by Ranjit Bolt. The play, subtitled, “The Hypocrite,” focuses on a religious fraud, Tartuffe, who slyly dupes a wealthy merchant, Orgon, into signing over his estate, and even his daughter, to Tartuffe. Orgon’s family readily recognizes Tartuffe’s unscrupulous behavior, and Orgon’s refusal to acknowledge Tartuffe’s fraud creates much of the comedy. Twice banned in the 17th century as sacrilegious, Moliere repeatedly petitioned Louis XIV, who finally allowed the play to be performed in 1669. Tartuffe has continued to gain popularity and relevance ever since. UIS Associate Professor of Theatre Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson will direct.

The cast includes UIS students Jennica Danner (Dorine), Keegan Otwell (Damis), Diane Sahagun (Mariane), Nathaniel Ed (Valere), Blake Detherage (Tartuffe), and Hallie Lang-Kells (Laurent), along with alumni Sarah Collins (Elmire), Deirdre Blankenberger (Cleante), and Tom Hutchison (Officer). Community cast members include Susan Jeffers (Mme Pernelle), Amy Cantrall (Flipote), Christopher Beckstrom (Orgon), and Mary Myers (Loyal).

Production team members include Assistant Professor of Theatre Dathan Powell as Scene Designer/Lighting Designer/Technical Director and staff member Wes Abbott as Lighting Technician. Student production team members include: John Spurgeon, Liza Torrence, Alex Shaver, Emma Gillespie, Christopher Holmes, Colin Kautz, Kelly Zoelzer, Hallie Lang-Kells, Gretchen Addis, Will Newton, Zhang Zinzhu, and David Hecht.

Ticket prices are $14 for adults; $12 for senior citizens (65 or older with a picture I.D.); $10 for UIS Faculty/Staff; $8 for UIS students (and all other college-level students) with a valid, current i-card or college I.D. card; and $6 for 17 and under. Please note that a service charge, not included in the prices above, from Sangamon Auditorium will be added to each ticket price, at the time of purchase. To avoid a higher service charge, buying tickets in person at the Sangamon Auditorium ticket office is highly recommended.

For more information about this year's UIS Theatre season, contact Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson at 217/206-8307 or email mthom1@uis.edu, or visit www.uis.edu/theatre/.