“A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen is the first fall production of the Laboratory Theatre in West Virginia University’s Division of Theatre and Dance.

Performances will be at the Vivian Davis Michael Laboratory Theatre (Room 234A) of the Creative Arts Center, October 14-17 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 and 17. Admission is free, but seating is limited.

In 1870, there was a place for everything, and everything stayed in its place, including people. Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” follows an ideal wife, Nora Helmer, as she pursues her happiness and self-worth down a path least expected. The domestic battles and sacrifices Nora faces to free her family from a world of lies are as poignant today as when they debuted in 1879.

As Ibsen’s best-known play, “A Doll’s House” is often referred to as the first true feminist play in its questioning of gender roles prescribed by society. It is also an important work of the naturalist movement, choosing to focus on common people and their issues and portraying them in a style recognizable as scenes from real life.

Directed by Kara Hass, this production is part of the curriculum for her MFA in Theatre/Directing in the Division of Theatre and Dance. An alumna with a BFA in Acting, Haas returned to WVU last year to begin work on a graduate degree.

Haas is assisted in this production by Professor Linda Milian, production costume designer and associate professor of costuming, as well as students Addison Fogus, lighting designer, and Dean Wright, production stage manager.

The cast includes the following students: Megan Massie as Nora; Will Stout as Nora’s husband, Torvald; Josh Leeper as Dr. Rank; Erin Scarberry as Nora’s friend, Christine Linde; and Ben Koontz as Mr. Krogstad.

Another Laboratory Theatare production this fall will be “Close Up Space” by Molly Smith Metzler, to be presented as a staged reading during Nov. 4-7 in the Vivian Davis Michael Laboratory Theatre.

“Close Up Space” is an editing symbol that means to get rid of space and bring two letters together. This new play, set against the backdrop of the publishing world, is about a father’s strained relationship with his daughter after the death of his wife, and his failing and misguided efforts to “close up” the space separating him from his daughter. This reading will be student-directed by Jared Cronk and features Cody Riggins. It will also be free and open to the public.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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