September 14, 1998 Volume 21, No. 2

Theater Season Opens with Little Shop of Horrors

Celebrating 30 years in the Dillingham Center for the Performing Arts, Ithaca College's theater department has put together a 1998-99 season lineup that will feature the comic and the tragic, the classic and the contemporary, the dramatic and the musical.

The season opens October 1 with Little Shop of Horrors, a love story about a boy, a girl, and a killer plant. Seymour hopes that his fast-talking, man-eating plant will help him get everything he wants out of life, but the plant has other plans in this hilarious musical in the style of those 1950s monster flicks. Based on the film by Roger Corman, Little Shop of Horrors features music by Alan Menken.

Macbeth, Shakespeare's classic tale of murder and ambition, opens October 27 in the newly renovated Hoerner Theatre. When Macbeth meets three witches, they tell him he will one day be the king of Scotland. How far will Macbeth go to see his dream come true? Lighting director for this production is Paul Gallo '74, whose work has earned him five Tony Award nominations since 1986.

The theater season continues on February 23 with Orpheus in the Underworld, new book and lyrics by Phil Park. Orpheus, a mediocre violinist, and Eurydice, his wife, are unhappily married. When Pluto, disguised as a shepherd, seduces Eurydice, she willingly accompanies him to Hades. A hilarious climax ensues as Orpheus is cajoled by his mother into pursuing Eurydice.

Flora, the Red Menace opens March 25. This is David Thompson's story of Flora, an artist, in love with Harry, a communist. This tender and funny musical features a score by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb-the same team that brought Cabaret, Chicago, and Kiss of the Spiderwoman to the American stage.

The season concludes with Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid. Opening April 20, this is the story of Argan, whose maladies, perceived or otherwise, lead audiences into a comic exploration of the medical practices of the late 17th century.

A special limited-run production of Aristophanes's Lysistrata will be staged December 3-5.

For more ticket information, call the Ithaca College Theatre box office at 274-3224.