JENNA DIGREGORIO
Staff Writer

The Fairleigh Dickinson University theater department has begun the process of preparing for this year’s productions.

The first play, “Boeing Boeing,” tells the story of a 30-year-old architect and his affairs with multiple women, all of whom find out about each other, said Stephen Hollis, theater program director.
“It is a city play that has no right to be as funny as it is,” said Hollis.

Opening night is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7. The play will run to Sunday, Oct. 11, with repeat performances on Oct. 16 and 17.

Usually the plays only last one weekend, but the theater department wanted to try something new this semester.

“It takes time for word-of-mouth to spread, and we wanted to give the actors a few extra nights to get used to how the audience would react and which parts they would laugh at,” said Hollis.

The second play of the semester, called “Once in a Lifetime,” is set in the 1920s, said Hollis. “It is a group of out-of-work New York actors, and basically the condemnation of Hollywood,” he said.
Rosemary Glennon, a junior at FDU, is excited to be a part of the play this year.

“This play is hilarious. It’s really upbeat, very high energy, and the audience will get sucked into it,” she said.

Glennon, a theater arts major, is happy to get involved with the plays in any way, but this one seemed particularly interesting to audition for.

“It is a period piece with different dialect, and the guest director seemed interesting to work with,” she said.

Glennon explained that the actual acting in this play should be very good, and the end result is always her favorite part of working on a performance.

“Afterwards, when people believed your performance, believed that you were really the character you were portraying, when it actually moves people – that is the best part,” she said.

It will run from Wednesday, Nov. 18 until Sunday, Nov. 22.

“Sweet Charity,” the third play, will take place in the spring of 2010. It was created after the movie in the 1970s, Hollis said. It will feature songs such as “Big Spender” and “Rhythm of Life.” Opening night will be Wednesday, March 31.

“Who’s Life is It Anyway?” will be the fourth and final play of the school year, and will open the first week of May.

Hollis explained that it is a serious play about a man who gets into a car accident and becomes completely immobile. His brain is completely fine, but his body is completely useless. He is confined to his bed for the rest of his life, and wants to die.

“I was hoping that some classes could make this last play a part of their course curriculum by being required to come see it, like a Humanities class,” said Hollis.

According to Hollis, plays are chosen according to four specific criteria: Will they be able to cast them? Would anyone come see them? Is it a play with a large cast, so more students can be involved? Is it an overall good play?

Hollis said this year’s plays are all very different from one another. “It’s like ingredients in a cake,” he said.