2018-2019 SEASON LINE-UP

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ACU THEATRE We produce quality theatre influenced by a CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW featuring a wide variety of shows including family fare, musicals, dramas, classics, contemporary and dinner theatre. Productions are part of the training for ACU THEATRE majors reflecting a cutting-edge and contemporary curriculum.

BY PURCHASING SEASON TICKETS• You secure first choice seating for all shows.• You retain the ability to exchange tickets at any time.• You receive substantial savings.• You support our missions of training and preparing young artists of faith to enter the world in ways that will impact our culture.

Dinner theatre options are available on select nights for the winter and spring shows. A gourmet meal will be served in our elegant lobby at 6:15 p.m. These dates are identified in BOLD on the return page. Season subscribers receive a $2 DISCOUNT on each dinner.

For our winter and spring shows we will open on Thursday and then play Friday-Saturday for two weeks. This is a CHANGE from last year when we offered Sunday matinees.

Our Shakespeare shows are FREE admission. Season ticket SUBSCRIBERS will have priority seating.

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We are happy to continue our educational emphasis by offering TALKBACKS* following designated shows. A Talkback is a short presentation immediately after the show consisting of background information followed by a time of audience questions and comments with the director, designers, cast and crew. Talkback dates are identified with an * on the return page.

acu.edu/theatre | 325-674-ARTS (2787)

@ACUTheatre

@acutheatre

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SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

Directed by Adam Hester

Shakespeare’s hilarious and brilliantly constructed farce, The Merry Wives of Windsor, finally comes to the Abilene Shakespeare Festival. Adam Hester has reimagined this piece as a variety show capturing current social and political themes through the lens of Saturday Night Live. Imagining that Mistress Ford and Mistress Page have fallen for him, the fat knight Sir John Falstaff decides to seduce them both, as much for their husbands’ money as for their personal charms. Wise to the old rogue’s tricks, the women turn the tables on him with a series of humiliating assignations and a very damp, extremely smelly laundry basket.

Fulks TheatreJune 21-22, 28, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.Doors open at 7:00 p.m.First come, first served Season Subscribers will be seated firstRecommended for ages 10 and olderFREE ADMISSION

Directed by Gary Varner

Gary Varner brings an exciting new take on Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice using five actors to play all the roles, except for Shylock, the antagonist and tragic character (played by Adam Hester) at the center of the drama. This uncompromising production explores the tense relationship and prejudices between those that have, and those that don’t. Dark in its humor and romantic hijinks, The Merchant Of Venice takes audiences on a journey of love, mercy and justice.

Fulks TheatreJune 23, 29-30, 2018 at 7:30Doors open at 7:00 p.m.First come, first served Season Subscribers will be seated firstRecommended for ages 10 and olderFREE ADMISSION

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YOUR SHOTWITH EEAN COCHRAN!

(YOU DON’T WANNA MISS)

Currently on tour with Hamilton, ACU Theatre alum Eean Cochran has experienced a meteoric rise in professional theatre. He has performed in tours of Newsies, Bring It On!, Dreamgirls and Freaky Friday.

National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St.

(This event is available as an add-on purchase to season package)

Friday, September 21 at 7:30 pmTickets $40 includes light hors d’oeuvres

LIGHTS UP! FUNDRAISER

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HOMECOMING MUSICAL

Two sisters. One incredible city. Unlimited possibilities. Join Ruth and Eileen Sherwood as they leave behind their mundane Ohio lives in pursuit of making it big in New York City. Chock-full of swinging show tunes, breathtaking choreography and effervescent charm, Wonderful Town captures the thrill of chasing one’s dreams like no other musical. Don’t miss this lavish revival of Leonard Bernstein’s classic musical, featuring one of the largest orchestras in Homecoming history conducted by Steven Ward!

Abilene Civic CenterOctober 12, 13 & 14, 2018

Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Recommended for all agesTickets range in price

from $25-$7 (Student Rush)

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Book by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov(Based upon the play “My Sister Eileen” by Joseph Fieldsand Jerome Chodorov and the stories by Ruth McKenney)

Music by Leonard BernsteinLyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Choreography by Lily BaloghDirected by Adam Hester

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CORNERSTONE MUSICAL

Set against the background of a changing America between 1950 and 1990, this truly original musical sheds a heart-warming light on the power of family. With a cast of only two people, John & Jen is a tour-de-force, taking them from playful childhood, through awkward adolescence, and far beyond. Audiences will find themselves uplifted by this sentimental gem, perfect for anyone who values the love, connection, and commitment of family.

Music by Andrew LippaLyrics by Tom Greenwald

Book by Andrew Lippa and Tom GreenwaldDirected by Dawne Meeks

FULKS THEATRENovember 12*-17*, 2018

Monday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m.*Talkback following all performances

Recommended for ages 10 and older Tickets $15

WINTER COMEDY

Steel Magnolias is a hilarious and heart-warming play set in a Louisiana beauty shop. It follows the hopes, dreams, triumphs and tragedies of six colorful characters and inspired the

1989 film which starred Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Dolly Parton. It’s a story exploring the bond between a mother and daughter, and friendships of those who feel like family. When tragedy strikes, however, the women pull together in this play about life, laughter, love, loss, and the inner strength that helps us go on.

by Robert Harling | Directed by Dawne Meeks

FULKS THEATREFebruary 14-16, 22*-23, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.*Talkback on February 22 | Dinner on February 23Recommended for ages 10 and olderTickets $18

DANCE PREMIERE

Choreographed byLily Balogh

Photos by Len Testa

Highlighting ACU Theatre’s new dance track in our BFA program will be this thrilling night of dance featuring new dance faculty member Lily Balogh. Don’t miss her

innovative and original choreography along with electric performances by the BFA dance track majors and other ACU Theatre dancers.

FULKS THEATREDecember 8, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets $20 - Includes light hors d’oeuvresRecommended for all ages

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Inspired by a real event and featuring the Grammy-nominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Broadway’s Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past – and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. The story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tight in its grasp, Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.

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Inspired By A True StoryMusic, Book & Story by Steve Martin & Edie Brickell

Directed by Adam Hester

FULKS THEATREApril 11-13, 26*-27, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.

*Talkback on April 26 | Dinner on April 27Recommended for ages 10 and older | Tickets $18

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Mail-in Form Complete this form, select your preferred dates and mailwith payment to the box office.

Contact Information1

Name Address

Home or cell phone City State ZIP

Work phone Email

Select Your Preferred Dates2

Wonderful TownONE WEEKEND ONLY

10/12, Friday (8 p.m.)

10/14, Sunday (2 p.m.)10/13, Saturday (8 p.m.)

Show starts at 7:30 p.m. each night Talkback* following each performace

11/12, Monday*

11/14, Wednesday*

11/13, Tuesday*

11/15, Thursday*

11/16, Friday*

11/17, Saturday*

12/8, Saturday (7:30 p.m.)

* Denotes Talkback following the performace

STEEL MAGNOLIAS FIRST WEEKEND

2/14, Thursday

2/16, Saturday2/15, Friday

2/22, Friday*

2/23, Saturday

SECOND WEEKENDFRI-SAT at 7:30 p.m., SUN at 2:00 p.m.

Subtotal3 Payment Information4Fab Four ($65) Showstopper ($75)

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SHOWSTOPPER PACKAGE: $75 ($21 savings) – All Five ShowsIncludes seats for the entire season – Homecoming Musical, Cornerstone,

Dance Premiere, Winter Comedy and Spring Musical. You may trade your tickets for another date if a conflict arises.

FAB FOUR: $65 ($13 savings) – Your Selection of Four ShowsYou choose four of the five shows you want to attend: Homecoming Musical,

Cornerstone, Dance Premiere, Winter Comedy and Spring Musical. You may trade your tickets for another date if a conflict arises.

ADD ONS:You may add dinners at a discounted price of $20 each ($2 savings) to your season ticket order provided you choose one of the dates in bold. You may pick and choose

the dinner for either or both of the shows with dinner options.

You may add tickets for our Lights Up! Fundraiser, Your Shot with Eean, for a discounted price of $35 each ($5 savings).

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Homecoming Musical

Cornerstone Musical

Dance Premiere

Winter Comedy

Spring Musical

Wonderful Town

John & Jen

One Night Only

Steel Magnolias

Bright Star

Shakespeare Festival

Shakespeare Festival The Merchant of Venice

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Fab FourChoose 4

ShowstopperAll Shows

FREE FREEFREE FREE

Price per Package $65 $75Savings $13 $21

THREE WAYS TO ORDERComplete form and mailwith payment: ACU Theatre, Season Tickets ACU Box, 27843 Abilene, Texas 79699-7843

FAX your order to 325-674-68871 2

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PRICING CHART INFORMATION FullPrice

$25

$15

$20

$18

$18

$96

Donna Hester 325-674-2303and hesterd@acu.eduOrder individual tickets online atacu.edu/theatre or call Box Officeat 325-674-ARTS (2787)

John & JenONE WEEK ONLY

ONE NIGHT ONLY9/22, Saturday (7:30 p.m.)

YOUR SHOT with EEAN COCHRAN!

BRIGHT STAR FIRST WEEKEND

4/11, Thursday

4/13, Saturday4/12, Friday

4/26, Friday*

4/27, Saturday

SECOND WEEKENDFRI-SAT at 7:30 p.m., SUN at 2:00 p.m.

Dinner add on($20)Lights Up! ($35)

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