Theatre Department's Studio Series to Showcase Two Student Playwrights

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Theatre will open its 2014-15 Studio Series original works by two Master of Fine Arts playwrights, Brittany Taylor and Robert Flaherty Hart. Taylor’s V is for Violin and Hart’s Poor Relations will play Sept. 25-28 in Kimpel Hall room 404.

V is for Violin follows a young photographer as he faces the possible disintegration of all he holds dear, after taking a brilliant – but brutal – photograph of a starving child in the Sudan. The production is directed by Kholoud Sawaf, who previously directed A Doll’s House and Time Stands Still.

Poor Relations tells the story of two Missouri brothers – bitter enemies since boyhood – as they begin to confront their hatred for one another following their mother’s death. As family secrets unfold, will they find forgiveness? The director is Mavourneen Dwyer who also directed Translations and Arcadia.

Performance Schedule:

Thursday, Sept. 25

• 7:30 p.m. — Poor Relations

Friday, Sept. 26

• 7:30 p.m. — V is for Violin —

Saturday, Sept. 27

• 2 p.m. — V is for Violin
• 7:30 p.m. — Poor Relations

Sunday, Sept. 28

• 2 p.m. — Poor Relations
• 7:30 p.m. — V is for Violin

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and university faculty and staff, and $5 for University of Arkansas students with valid student identification. There are no free student tickets available for this production. Due to limited seating and increased demand, patrons are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Taylor, from Texas, and Hart, from Kansas, are both candidates for a Master of Fine Arts in playwriting. These productions will serve as their thesis projects. Clinnesha Sibley, assistant professor of theatre, has run the department’s playwriting program since fall 2014. 

For more information about upcoming productions, visit the Department of Theatre website.