Department of Theatre and Dance:
"Moors" spookier than Halloween
By Mildred Kilimanjaro, Travis Pressley and Amber Trivette
BOONE, NC – The Department of Theatre and Dance at Appalachian State University is proud to present "The Moors," a mysterious dark comedy by Jen Silverman. The production is being staged in the Greer Studio Theatre for two weekends, October 26 through 30, and November 2 through 4. This production is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults. For more information, call the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts box office toll free at (800) 841-ARTS (2787), visit their website, or visit theatreanddance.appstate.edu.
"The Moors" is full of choices for the characters in the script. Love, power and visibility create vast dynamics within the world of this play, and those who live in this world must find ways to combat and overcome those challenges. Life is full of choices, and the characters must choose between what they want and what is right. Characters include two sisters, the governess, the mastiff, the maid and the moorhen. They must battle self-consumption in a world that's anything but forgiving. Will these characters get what they want, or will they forever live regretting their choices? Audience members are invited to come to Greer Studio Theatre and find out.
Professor of Theatre Dr. Paulette Marty is directing this production, and finds "The Moors" a compelling story of the issues we face in our society today, stating, "As the playwright says in the script, the play is set in 1840s England, but it's about today. It explores so many important issues we're facing in our culture, like isolation, yearning for connection, fear, and savagery."
Dr. Marty is also preparing her cast for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), as "The Moors" will be entered into this year's festival. KCACTF is a national theatre program involving more than 18,000 students from across the nation with the goal to recognize and celebrate the work done at the college theatre level.
Alexa Nemitz, a senior theatre performance major from Youngsville, North Carolina, plays Huldey, one of the sisters in "The Moors," which Nemitz describes as "...goofy, playful, and personal space is not in her vocabulary." When asked about the importance of this show, Nemitz said, "The world today severely lacks empathy, forgiveness, and kindness. To me, this show represents how being consumed with only your wants and needs, can end up destroying your life or the lives of others. I encourage you to enjoy the show, laugh because it's funny, but also really ponder how just a little bit of kindness from all the characters would've drastically changed the ending."
When asked about what audiences should anticipate in this show, Dr. Marty says that audience members, "Can expect to laugh and be surprised and, ultimately, be pretty horrified. I know that sounds like a strange combination, but this play mixes the very funny with the very serious!" She also wants audience members to know that there is a content advisory for "The Moors" due to references to sexual assault (not seen onstage), violence (seen onstage), and manipulative relationships.
This production has an expanded two week run from October 26 through 30 and November 2 through 4, 2022 in the Greer Studio Theatre at Appalachian State University, with evening performances starting at 7 p.m. and a Sunday matinee on October 30, starting at 2 p.m. The Greer Studio Theatre is located on campus in I.G. Greer Hall, near Roess Dining Hall, and the entrance to the studio theatre is on the first level, facing Founders Hall. For parking information, please see Visitor Parking.
Tickets for this mainstage production are $10 for adults, and $7 for students. They can be purchased in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or on their website. They may also be purchased by calling (800) 841-ARTS (2787). The Valborg Theatre box office will also be open from 1 to 5 p.m. during the weeks of the show.
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About the Department of Theatre and Dance
The Department of Theatre and Dance is one of seven departments housed in Appalachian's College of Fine and Applied Arts. Its mission is to facilitate transformative experiences for students and the public, which cultivate compassionate, creative and collaborative communities through theatre and dance. The department also offers coursework for integrated learning through the arts to the general university student population. Its dynamic co-curricular production program provides exemplary theatre and dance experiences to departmental students, the university community and the region.
About Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University, in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls 20,436 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
The Department of Theatre and Dance at Appalachian State University is proud to present "The Moors," a mysterious dark comedy by Jen Silverman.
The Department of Theatre and Dance at Appalachian State University is proud to present "The Moors," a mysterious dark comedy by Jen Silverman.