Drake University Theatre’s upcoming production of Sunday On the Rocks brings to the stage a work of theatre based in the empowerment of women.
The play will be performed in the William S.E. Coleman Theatre in the Harmon Fine Arts Center from May 2–4 at 7:30 p.m. and May 5 at 2 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and students with a Drake ID. Tickets are available at the Fine Arts Box Office or online. Please go to drake.edu/fineartsboxoffice or call 515-271-3841 for more information.
Sunday On the Rocks is directed by Adam Yankowy, visiting professor of theatre. Yankowy said he chose the play because he wanted to direct a work of theatre with a strong female cast.
“This [cast] is made up of four women. It’s set in the 1990s and it deals with the female experience and feminism and women’s rights,” said Yankowy. “Also, looking at the entire [theatre] season, there were no other plays written by female playwrights on the mainstage directed by faculty. I wanted to make sure that there was a female voice represented.”
Lacking the direct experience of a women in America, Yankowy leaned on the cast and external resources to make sure the production would be true to the female viewpoint.
“I’ve really had to trust the cast and my stage management team to give me insight and help tell the story,” said Yankowy. “I’m also relying heavily on outside resources. We’re doing a workshop with Planned Parenthood to get an understanding of what happens in a clinic, and talking to some former Planned Parenthood workers and executive directors to get an understanding of what happened in that time period.”
Senior musical theatre major Grace Sopko plays the character of Jessica in the show. Sopko looks forward to the audience experiencing the play’s themes and how they are still relevant today.
“I’m excited for the audience to see different views of womanhood,” said Sopko. “I also think it will be very interesting because even though the play was written and takes place in the nineties, it deals with some of the exact same issues that women are still fighting today.”