Vickie Washington is coming back to her alma mater to direct the opening play of the Texas Woman’s University 2014-15 season.
Speech and Debate is in the vein of Moliere’s Tartuffe — shedding light on hypocrisy through comedy.
In the comedy by Stephen Karam, characters Howie, Solomon and Diwata are on a quest for truth and recognition. Quirky Diwata decides that the only way to fully expose their small town’s do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do ways is to stage an original musical adaptation of The Crucible. Only instead of keeping the cast of magic-fearing Calvinists, Diwata’s musical includes modern dance, amateur electronica, a time-traveling Mary Warren and a sexually confused Abraham Lincoln.
Washington is a faculty member at the Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas.
Speech & Debate features a cast of four TWU undergraduate students: Jordan Desmarais, David Freyman, Kolby Campbell and Alle Mims. TWU faculty, staff and students are on the directorial staff are: Michael Stephens, scenic designer; graduate student Kathryn Fullbright, lighting design; graduate student Misty Clark, costume design; undergraduate Chelsea Reeves, sound design; undergraduate Riley Payne; properties design and graduate student De Amber Houston-Dailey, choreography. Violet Goforth is the stage manager, and Selena Flores is the assistant stage manager.
— Lucinda Breeding
SPEECH & DEBATE
What: TWU presents a dark comedy by Stephen Karam, with guest director Vickie Washington, a TWU alumna
When: Show opens Wednesday, with performances at 8 p.m. Wednesday; 4 p.m. Oct. 2; 8 p.m. Oct. 3-4, and 2 p.m. Oct. 4-5
Details: Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for students with an ID and senior citizens. For reservations, call 940-898-2020.
