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Daniel Uria/Staff Writer
With MMC not quite as busy during the summer, some may expect on-campus activities to slow down as well.
But the Theatre Department has taken the opportunity to spice things up a bit with their Alternative Theatre Festival.
Running every weekend of the Summer B session, this festival provides an opportunity for the department to “do some things that we wouldn’t normally do during the semester,” said Stephanie Sandoval, one of the directors involved in this year’s Alternative Theatre Festival.
“It’s a crazy bachelorette party gone wrong,” Sandoval said of her play, “Bachelorette,” which opened this past weekend and will also run on July 4, July 5 and July 6. The play’s risqué subject matter exemplifies the true alternative nature of the festival.
“There’s sex, there’s alcohol, there’s drugs; there’s mayhem, basically,” said Sandoval. Based on the opening performance, Sandoval claims students can expect “a lot of laughs and a lot of ‘oh my goodness’ moments.” She also encourages students to stop by to prepare themselves for a hopefully slightly less wild night.
“It’s very fast and fun, and it’s something to do for an early Friday or Saturday night and you still have time to go out later,” she said. “It’s a great pit stop for your night.”
Next up is “Reverse Psychology,” a play directed by Marina Pareja, who took a cue from the play’s title in encouraging students to come and check it out. “Don’t come see the play, don’t come and enjoy, don’t come and laugh,” she said, in hopes that students will in fact do the opposite.
And for those that do, “Reverse Psychology” provides an interesting and relevant look at romance. “This play is about relationships in the most basic sense,” says Pareja, “And the effect that people can have on each other.” “Reverse Psychology” will be previewed on July 10 and runs the weekends of July 11 through July 13 and July 18 through July 20.
Then comes a play that is being fully produced and performed for the first time at FIU the weekends of July 25 through July 27 and Aug. 1 through Aug.3 with a preview on July 24.
“The play brings the impossible to the stage,” said Director Michael Yawney. “If you took a dozen telenovelas and ran them through a blender, you would end up with ‘A Thousand Years.’”
The play, written by Kenny Finkle, who was on hand to help with the production, tells the tale of a woman who takes a thousand year journey to be reunited with her hospitalized husband.
“She faces imprisonment for murder, a tsunami, airplane crashes, amnesia and other disasters as she climbs mountains, crosses deserts and visits the far reaches of the universe all in an effort to find her husband,” said Yawney. He also claims that “A Thousand Years,” along with the rest of the festival plays must be seen to be believed.
“This summer’s plays are the ones that go too far for most theaters. The subjects, styles and stories are some that cannot be shrunk down to iPad size. You just have to be there,” said Yawney.
The festival will conclude on the weekend of Aug. 8, Aug. 9 and Aug. 10 with a special production of Glengarry Glen Ross. This production will serve as a special alumni reunion featuring the entire 2002 cast reprising their original roles.
The Alternative Theatre Festival is known for pushing the boundaries of what is usually shown at FIU. “We tend to go for more comedic, avant-garde or fringe plays,” said Pareja. “This season is one of the most ambitious.”
“The festival is a lot of fun,” added Sandoval. “It’s a lot of wildness going on, on stage. You’re going to be laughing and having a good time.”
Along with these plays, there will also be special events such as a July 4th cookout in the Performing Arts Center Rotunda and the South Florida League’s bed for “Get in Bed with the Arts” on July 25. All performances will begin at 8 p.m. at the Black Box Theatre located in the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus. Tickets cost $10, cash or check only, and the alumni shows are University fundraisers with a suggested $20 donation at the door.
daniel.uria@fiusm.com