Eastern to Present 'To Damascus' Immersive Theatre Experience
Willimantic, CT (04/18/2019) — The Theatre Program at Eastern Connecticut State University will present "To Damascus" from April 23-28. Based on August Strindberg's seminal trilogy "The Road to Damascus" and adapted/directed by Theatre Professor David Pellegrini, "To Damascus" is an interactive theatre experience that traverses venues throughout the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC).
The show follows a man on a fascinating and sometimes terrifying spiritual journey. Small groups of viewers will follow the journey and be taken through scenes in multiple settings throughout the FAIC - including the building's three performance venues, main lobby and select classrooms.
Speaking to the traveling, multi-venue format of the play, Pellegrini explained, "In this adaptation, we attempt not only to actualize the spatial-temporal conditions of the medieval-cycle plays (a medieval format of theatre) - where spectators would visit various 'stations' all over town in much the same way as present-day theme parks - but we also extend the palindromic structure to the entire trilogy."
The "palindromic structure" of the play is such that the protagonist passes through several "stations" on his journey, and then returns to each in reverse order before concluding at his starting point.
The cast and crew of "To Damascus" are students who are enrolled in the capstone course "Experimental Theatre." The production features theatre majors as actors, designers and technicians, as well as new-media studies students who have created the media content alongside faculty mentor-artists.
"To Damascus" will run at 8 p.m. on April 23, 24, 26 and 27; at 7 p.m. on April 28; and at 11 p.m. for a special late-night performance on April 26. Tickets are free for Eastern students; $5 for other students and groups of 10 or more; $10 for senior citizens; $12 for Eastern faculty, staff, and alumni; and $20 for the public.
Purchase tickets online at http://easternct.showare.com/todamascus/. Contact the box office at (860) 465-5123 or theatreboxoffice@easternct.edu.
Written by Michael Rouleau
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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving more than 5,300 students annually at its Willimantic campus and satellite locations. In addition to attracting students from 163 of Connecticut's 169 towns, Eastern also draws students from 26 other states and 20 other countries. A residential campus offering 40 majors and 65 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal art foundation grounded in an array of applied learning opportunities. Ranked the 25th top public university in the North Region by U.S. News and World Report in its 2018 Best College ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review eight years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.
It is the policy of Eastern Connecticut State University to ensure equal access to its events. If you are an individual with a disability and will need accommodations for this event, please contact the Office of University Relations at (860) 465-5735.
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