Family. Fun. Transformation. That is what is in store for patrons of this summer’s Nebraska Repertory Theatre (NRT) season, according to Virginia Smith, professor of theatre and artistic director of NRT.
“One of the plays is a crazy family comedy. One of them is pure, unadulterated fun. And one of them is about transformation,” Smith said.
The NRT season begins July 10 with “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” by Christopher Durang and directed by Doug Finlayson. Performances are July 10-12 and 19 and Aug. 1 and 8 at 7:30 p.m. and July 27 at 2 p.m. in Howell Theatre.
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” was the most produced play in the U.S. last year and was named Best Play of 2013 by the Tonys, Drama Desk and the New York Drama Critics Circle, to name a few.
“I think it’s fun to bring those shows that theatre people all over the country are talking about to Lincoln to our audience,” Smith said.
The play revolves around three middle-aged single siblings, two of whom live together, during a visit by the third who supports them. The play depicts how their lives have evolved and how they have come to their current state. Some of the show’s elements were derived from the works of Anton Chekhov.
The second show of the season is “Circle Mirror Transformation” by Annie Baker, which opens July 17. Performances are July 17-18, 25, 30-31 and Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. in the Studio Theatre.
Smith is directing this piece, which she says is more of a character-driven piece.
“It’s funny and delightful, but it’s about how we change when we reach out and try something new,” Smith said.
“Circle Mirror Transformation” is one of the plays in Baker’s Shirley, Vt., Trilogy, exploring the characters of that fictional town. The head of the local art center, Marty, is teaching four students in a dramatics class.
“They find out a lot about each other, and I think they find out a lot about themselves,” Smith said.
The third play this season is “Unnecessary Farce,” by Paul Slade Smith and directed by Alan Knoll, which opens July 23. Performances are July 23-24 and 26 and Aug. 2 and 6-7 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. in Howell Theatre.
The play has been called the funniest farce since “Noises Off.” Set in two identical rooms of a cheap motel, the cop room and the sting room. Enter two recent graduates of the police academy, one mayor with a lot of explaining to do and a very attractive accountant sure the mayor is “cooking” the city’s books. Now add several mafia types who will stop at nothing to avoid detection, and you have what one critic called “a terminally silly and howlingly funny” evening in the theatre.
“I think the audience will really enjoy it,” Smith said. “It’s just fun to laugh that hard.”
In addition, there are two performances scheduled in the Destinations Series. On July 29, there will be a staged reading of “Other Desert Cities” by Jon Robin Baitz and directed by recent MFA in Directing for Stage and Screen graduate Joshua Waterstone.
On Aug. 5, Associate Professor of Dance Susan Levine Ourada’s new modern dance company, SloDance will premiere in “P(l)aying Due(t)s!” featuring choreography by Ourada, Alexander Beller, Paul Besaw, Clare Byrne and Jenna Riegel.
“That’s exactly what Destinations are about—showcasing other artists,” Smith said.
This season marks Smith’s 10th and final season as artistic director of the NRT. In May, it was announced that she was stepping down from that role after this season.
“The joke, which is also true, is that it’s the only way to get a summer off,” Smith said. “Somebody offered me a directing job that was very tantalizing that I would have done if I had not done the Rep this year. I’m just getting a little itchy to do other things.”
As artistic director, Smith takes a leadership role in choosing the scripts, hires all of the artistic staff and casts the plays with auditions in major theatre markets.
Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film Director Paul Steger said Smith created a legacy of excellence during her tenure.
“Virginia has done exceptional work for the Nebraska Rep over the past 10 years,” he said. “We’re grateful for her service and her artistic guidance. Virginia has created a considerable legacy of excellence, and it’s hard to imagine Nebraska Rep moving forward in the post-Virginia Smith era. We’ve all been very privileged to be witness to her impressive artistry and leadership.”
NRT was created in 1968 as an opportunity for students to have experience working in a professional environment. An agreement with the professional actors’ union, Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) was established in 1988 so that students could work with accomplished working actors from across the nation. This season, there are 25 students working for the NRT out of about 55 in the company.
“Students have a chance to really see what it’s like,” Smith said. “We try to operate our theatre as much like a professional theatre as we can. I think what’s so unique about it is we work shoulder to shoulder. We’re equals in the summertime.”
Smith will continue her role as a senior faculty in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, where she is head of the MFA program in Directing for Stage and Screen and the Bachelor of Arts program in directing and management.
Smith said she will miss being the artistic director of NRT.
“I’m going to miss absolutely everything,” she said. “I haven’t really walked myself down that road of staying home when they’re doing the first rehearsal next year. I will, no doubt, cook up other stuff to do, knowing me.”
Both season passes and individual tickets are available now at the Lied Center for Performing Arts Box Office at (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231. For ticket price options or to purchase tickets online, visit http://go.unl.edu/edhm.