Everybody
Oct 23 - Oct 26, 2019
A contemporary twist on a classic, Everybody takes the 15th century morality play Everyman on a journey through modern day sensibilities exploring life’s greatest mystery – the meaning of living. The ensemble of actors portray personified concepts or ideas like "Friendship," "Understanding," and "Strength." A random, live lottery mid-show determines which roles each actor will portray. This extraordinary experiment is a thrilling testament to the power of live theatre. There are 120 possible combinations of actors and roles, so it’s never the same show! This is one of the things that intrigued director, Patrick Pearson about the show, “presenting a show where the actors have to learn so many roles, and the show is chosen by chance in a lottery every night...the idea of a lottery is a terrific metaphor for the journey of life itself, which the show is all about…We don’t always know what lies ahead, and the actors, even though they know the parts, still get to experience that adrenaline rush of discovering in the moment what their journey will be that performance.”
The change of title from Everyman to the more inclusionary Everybody hints at the manner in which Jacobs-Jenkins retrofits the play for modern consumption. He removes the parts about Catholic confession and penance, but adds references to capitalism and social media, explicitly showing how the themes of the play relate to our lives. The storytellers seem to purposefully seek out an excuse to be offended and then destroy the person who originated that offense, almost as a form of entertainment. In the age of Facebook flame wars, these examples of wrath feel uncomfortably on point.Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Everybody, playing at Sam Houston State University’s Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre’s Showcase Theatre October 23-26, 2019 with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and a Saturday matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. Everybody is directed by Patrick Pearson.
By Branden Jacobs - Jenkins
ADULT CONTENT
EVERYBODY is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York
Call the BOX OFFICE at 936.294.2339 or visit www.shsutickets.com to purchase your tickets online. Tickets are $12 if purchased in advance, $15 at the door. SHSU Students can obtain one free ticket the week of the show online at www.shsutickets.com
The Showcase Theatre is located in the University Theatre Center at 1740 Bobby K. Marks Drive and 17th street between the Newton Gresham Library and the James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center.
MEET DIRECTOR Patrick Pearson:
Patrick Pearson holds his MFA in Directing from California State University, Fullerton and his BFA in Musical Theatre from Sam Houston State University. At SHSU, he teaches directing and stage management. He is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), and served as the Director of Artistic Programming at Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC from 2013-2018. Before that, he spent nine years working in California as a freelance director and adjunct professor at several schools. As a graduate student, he was recognized twice as a National Finalist in Directing through the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Select directing credits include Caps for Sale (Off-Broadway: New Victory; National Tour; Adventure Theatre); Rooms: a Rock Romance (Chance Theatre - OVATION Nomination Best Director); The City Of… (Capital Fringe at Arena Stage); The Trouble with Words (Coeurage Theatre); A New Brain (El Portal Forum); Altar Boyz, Songs for an Unmade Bed (Celebration Theatre); The Diviners (Kennedy Center); West Side Story, Catch Me If You Can (Montgomery Summer Dinner Theatre); As You Like It, The Merry Wives of Windsor (Old Globe SSI); Equus, A Prayer for Owen Meany (Young Theatre); Hansel and Gretel, Seussical (Little Theatre); Reefer Madness, Drowsy Chaperone (Burnight Theatre); Violet, A Piece of My Heart, I Love You Because (Grand Central Theatre).
Meet The Cast
Ensemble
Diana Alcaraz Villa
Ciara Anderson
Quinn Berry
Robert Bunn
Essence Fontenot
Kelsea Henderson
Dominic Kelley
Kristy Lozano
Tucker Luedecke
Chelsea M. MacElvaine
Tyler Mahler
Zach Marullo
ARTISTIC STAFF
Scenic Design, Jessica Hightower (Senior, Design & Technology major)
Costume Design, Elizabeth Walker (Senior, Design & Technology major)
Sound Design, Mason Johnson (Junior, Design & Technology major)
Light Design, Ben Stacher (Junior Design & Technology major)
PRODUCTION STAFF
Stage Manager, Sarah Sturdevant (Senior, Design & Technology major)
Assistant Stage Managers, Rebecca Francis (Junior, Theatre Studies major) Sammi Pierce (Sophomore, Theatre Studies major), Abbie Garrison (Freshman, Design & Technology major)
Scenic Charge Artist, Charly Topper
Props Master, Charly Topper
Technical Director, Craig Brossman
Costume Shop Supervisor, George Curry
Theatre Manager, Katie Prior
Theatre Production Coordinator, Bill Thomas
Box Office Manager, James Shields
Poster Design, Hannah Anderson (Senior, Acting & Directing major)
Publicity Photography, Brandon Willis (Senior, Musical Theatre major)