MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — The Middlebury College Department of Theatre and Dance presents Jumpers, its final faculty production of the 2007-08 academic year, Thursday through Saturday, May 1-3, in Wright Memorial Theatre.
With two members of Actors' Equity Association—one, faculty member Alex Draper '88 (pictured above) as the unfortunately named George Moore, professor of philosophy; the other, Guest Artist James Matthew Ryan as George's nemesis, Archie Jumper, vice chancellor of George's university—the production is sure to be the comedy of the year. In a play that includes the moon landings, a team of gymnastic philosophers, Zeno’s paradox, a detective who might have stepped from the pages of Agatha Christie (not to mention a hare called Thumper and a tortoise called Pat), playwright Tom Stoppard combines effervescent burlesque with moral urgency.
"I write plays because writing dialogue is the only respectable way of contradicting yourself. I'm the kind of person who embarks on an endless leapfrog down the great moral issues. I put a position, rebut it, refute it, refute the rebuttal, and rebut the refutation. Forever. Endlessly."
— Tom Stoppard, from an interview with Mel Gussow '55 in the New York Times, April 26, 1972.
Alongside Draper is Allison Corke '08 as Moore's wife, the retired musical comedy star Dotty. Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki '08 is Inspector Bones, John Glouchevitch '10 is Crouch and Stephanie Spencer '09 is the enigmatic secretary who strips on the side. The Incredible Radical Liberal Jumpers, a team of athletes and philosophers, are Ben Schiffer '10, Michael Kessler '11, Jeremy Cline '11, Claire Groby '08, Ellen Grafton '08, Oscar Loyo '10, Teddy Crecelius '08, Peter Hoffman '10, and James Wong '09, with movement direction by Vanessa Mildenberg.
The set design is by Hallie Zieselman with light design by Mark Evancho, costume design by Jule Emerson, and technical direction by Jim Dougherty. The production is directed by Cheryl Faraone.
This production is presented by the Department of Theatre and Dance with support from Pathways to Flourishing: A Dialogue of Science, Religion and Politics at Middlebury College.
Behind-the-Scenes Lunch and Discussion:
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 12:30 P.M.
Wright Memorial Theatre
Free; lunch is provided.
Performances:
Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 8:00 P.M.
Friday, May 2, 2008 at 8:00 P.M.
Saturday, May 3 at 2:00 P.M.
Saturday, May 3 at 8:00 P.M.
Wright Memorial Theatre
Tickets: $5 regular admission; $4 faculty, staff, alumni, emeriti, senior citizens, and children; $3 Middlebury College students
BUY TICKETS ONLINE ANYTIME
or call 802-443-MIDD (6433) or stop by during Box Office hours:
Mahaney Center for the Arts Box Office:
Monday 12:00-4:00 P.M.
Tuesday-Friday 10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Central Campus Box Office (McCullough):
Monday-Thursday, 10:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M. and 7:00-10:00 P.M.
Friday 10:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.
The Box Office at Wright Theatre will open one hour prior to curtain.
Please note: Tickets are valid until curtain time only.