Drake University’s Theatre Department kicks off its 2015-2016 season with “Blood Wedding,” by Frederico García Lorca, from October 8-11.
No, it’s not an episode of “Game of Thrones,” although the story does feature marriage and murder. This 20th century theatre classic, set in 1930s Spain, examines the consequences of repressed desires and the breakdown of societal and familial norms.
The production, in a new translation by director and acting professor John Graham, contains text in both English and the original Spanish and features music written by junior Adam Dooley. Director John Graham, associate professor of theatre arts, says this production incorporates unconventional acting and staging techniques that stretch actors’ skills.
“The style of the show stays away from 20th century American ‘method’ styles of acting, which attempt to mimic naturalistic human behavior and re-create psychological realism, and uses a style more the American avant-garde in its use of physical and vocal expressionism,” said Graham. “To stage the play we used a compositional technique based on the actor’s impulse and kinesthetic awareness, wherein the director facilitates and edits their creations, thus freeing up the need for a hierarchical top-down form of staging.”
Grace Sopko, first year B.F.A. Musical Theatre major, says “the style of the show is completely different than anything I worked on in high school. This show has pushed me to examine a completely new process of theatre.”
“Blood Wedding” runs in the Studio Theatre of the Harmon Fine Arts Center, 2505 Carpenter Ave. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 8 through Saturday, October 10 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 11. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available either at the Fine Arts Box Office or online. Visit https://wwww.drake.edu/theatre/productions/fineartsboxoffice/ or call 515-271-3841 for more information.