Falsettos Brings Awareness to SUU and Community
Published: April 07, 2022 | Author: Ashley H Palmer | Read Time: 3 minutes
SUU’s Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration will present William Finn and James Lapine’s Falsettos, in the Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre on April 14, 15, 16, 18, and 22, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. with matinee performances on April 16 and 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Originally premiering on Broadway in 1992, Falsettos was nominated for seven Tony Awards and won for Best Book and Best Original Score. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for alumni with card, and $7 for youth. SUU faculty/staff (and one guest) and students can attend for free with a valid ID card. Tickets can be purchased at the America First Event Center Box Office, at the door the night of the performance, or online at www.suu.edu/arts.
Jessica Sannar, whom Cedar City audiences saw this summer in the Utah Shakespeare Festival productions of Richard III, says, “Falsettos is about the stories and familial relationships of Queer Jewish people. As a Queer, ethnically Jewish person, this show holds a very special place in my heart and has been an opportunity for me to reconnect with my heritage. Also, as a Classical Acting major, I'm not typically cast in musicals. In fact, this is my first one here at SUU! This show has been an incredible learning experience for me and has been a masterclass for me in music, vulnerability, and identity. I think our community could really benefit from the exposure that Falsettos provides. While the familial themes will be familiar to the people of Cedar City, this show can do a lot to bring awareness to Judaism, queer relationships, and the AIDS epidemic and that kind of exposure is priceless.”
Please be advised that this production contains strong language and adult themes including domestic abuse, manipulation, suicidal ideation, and death. This musical brings to life the struggles of keeping family bonds through faith, gender roles, the AIDS epidemic, and gay life during the 1970s and 1980s.
Matthew Wangemann, a junior in the Musical Theatre BFA program at SUU from Lindon, Utah, shares, “Throughout this process I have learned a lot about the Queer community, Jewish community, and simply my own personal communities. This show has also required a lot of self-reflection as we deal with difficult topics and situations, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself and how I relate to the material. Playing Marvin has taught me that love can’t be selfish. It’s only when you fully give your love to someone that you get it in return. And that’s often a lesson learned too late. My favorite part about this production has been watching the cast become a tight knit family. There is a huge amount of trust involved in performing a show like this and I feel very lucky to be in the room with this specific group. It’s been very special in that regard.”
Don’t miss the opportunity to see this production of Falsettos happening April 14, 15, 16, 18, and 22, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. with matinee performances on April 16 and 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. For more information about arts events at SUU, please visit www.suu.edu/arts.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 26 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year and is affiliated with the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the Center for Shakespeare Studies. Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Tags: Theater College of Performing and Visual Arts