Department of Theatre's 'Top Girls' Examines Equality, Feminism, and Family
Mollie Armour, Halley Mayo, and Mischa Hutchings rehearse a scene from "Top Girls," opening Nov. 9 at the University Theater.
The Department of Theatre in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences presents the razor-sharp comedy Top Girls, written by noted playwright and activist Caryl Churchill.
Marlene is a successful career woman who has just received a major promotion. She has fought her way to the top, and now she is celebrating with a dinner party. Famously using iconic female historical figures, Top Girls explores the realities of being female and the potential price of achieving success. What does it take to make it in a man's world?
This production was originally scheduled to be performed at the Department of Theatre's newest space, the UA Black Box Theater on the Fayetteville Square. However, the decision was ultimately made to move it to the University Theater, which is located in the Fine Arts Center on central campus. Because of the move, the Nov. 10 performance was also cancelled due to parking challenges presented by the home football game that day. According to Michael Riha, chair of the Department of Theatre, the decision to change locations was influenced by the final design of the show, tight timeline between productions, and the desire to enhance the overall experience for both the students working on the show and the audience attending performances.
Top Girls is being directed by guest artist Shana Gold, who previously directed Spring Awakening at the University Theater, and involves a cast of both graduate and undergraduate actors, as well as a mixed team of student and faculty designers. It opens this Friday, Nov. 9, at the University Theater in the Fine Arts Center on campus. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Additional performances are Sunday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13, through Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. Please note, there is no performance on Saturday, Nov. 10, due to the Razorback home game.
Ticket prices are $20 for adults; $15 for faculty, staff and seniors; and $5 for students and children under the age of 18. University of Arkansas students may attend the show free on Nov. 13 and 14. Tickets are available at theatre.uark.edu or at the box office window 90 minutes prior to each performance. For questions, please email theatre@uark.edu or call (479) 575-4752. For parking information and directions to the University Theater, please visit fulbright.uark.edu/departments/theatre/box-office-information.
Top Girls is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.
Contacts
Ashley Cohea, theatre business manager
Department of Theatre
479-575-6067,
acohea@uark.edu
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