Our Productions

Founded by Artistic Director Marilyn Plotkins in 1987, BMTP is the oldest professional organization in the Greater Boston area dedicated to supporting early and mid-career musical theatre artists. BMTP links professional composers and librettists with students in developing new work. Its commissioned original musicals have gone to performances at the Nashville Opera, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Prince Music Theatre, and off-Broadway.

Fall 2021 Productions

Fall Showcase

Our Fall Showcase is a festival of student-written and directed one-act plays.

November 18-21, Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th Floor
Admission is free, reserve your seat now.

Attendees will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result taken within the last 72 hours, unless otherwise indicated.

• "Red Light, Green Light" – Written by Olivia McDonnell & directed by Emma Hudd
  Within the confines of her bedroom walls, a young girl, named Lizzie grows up patiently awaiting for the “green light” to finally start her life.
• "Stella" – Written & directed by Amia Rodriguez Josoy
  Will Flynn is grieving, having recently lost the girl of his dreams. But what happens when the process of grief is interrupted by guilt?
• "The Thin Places" – Written & directed by Allison Hanna
  When curious siblings venture into the shadows of The Twilight Zone one of them finds that when you peer into the abyss, it peers back at you.

Fall Mainstage

Cymbeline

A tragic comic spectacle of seduction, deception, and betrayal in five acts.
Written by William Shakespeare.
Directed by Laura Shink and visiting artist Kristi Artinian.
Performance Dates: October 21-24
Held in the open air in Downtown Crossing: The Steps at Franklin & Washington Street

Fall Spotlight Performances

Our Spotlight Performances feature new student works in development.

5pm, Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th Floor

• "Dawn of Blackfish" – Written & directed by Erin Field, October 8
  Based on real life events. The play follows a young girl growing up during the high and ultimate downfall of SeaWorld Entertainment and its killer whale program.
• "Put To Rest" – Written & directed by Lily Ayotte, November 5
  A story revolving around the mysterious death of Alice, and how, with help from an interesting pair, she is able to find peace.
• "Deer Sanctuary" – Written & directed by Madlynn Bard, December 10
  A timeless story of love, life, and healing tying four characters together during a time of self discovery and change.

Spring 2022 Productions

Spring Showcase

Our Spring Showcase is a festival of student-written and directed one-act plays.

February 10-13, Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th Floor
Admission is free.

• "Where it Starts, It Ends" – Written & directed by Vincent Douglass
  A show about love and loss and the process of moving forward without leaving what’s really important behind.
• "Remission" – Written by Mason Lafferty. Directed by Rose Beardmore.
  Two friends reconnect after a terminal diagnosis.
• "No Day But Today" – Written by Casey Williamson & directed by Allison Hanna
  A young boy named Christopher whose mother died at childbirth dealing with the social and mental repercussions of this as he experiences life at its best and worst after meeting a new friend. A spinoff of "Perks of Being a Wallflower".

Spring Spotlight Performances

Our Spotlight Performances feature new student works in development.

Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th Floor
Admission is free.

• "Suffolk Night Live" – Written & directed by Paige D'Ambrosio, February 18
  Suffolk Night Live is about to be the best evening of your semester with a live musical guest, sketch comedy, and more. We’ll see you live and in audience in the heart of Boston - Welcome To S! N! L!
•  "Trauma" – Written by Eve Flederman, directed by Justin Lahue, April Date TBD
  An experience exploring the connections between our senses and memories while following a young girl's journey as she learns to cope with PTSD.

Spring Mainstage

Pilgrims of the Night

A play by Len Jenkin.
Directed by Wesley Savick.
Performance Dates: April 7-10
Modern Theatre, 525 Washington Street

"The People of The Peoples Temple"

Written & directed Collin Smith.
April Performance Dates TBD
Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th Floor
Admission is free.

A Staged Reading of the Musical, "Cabaret"

Book by Joe Masteroff
Based on the play by John Van Druten and
Stories by Christopher Isherwood
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Directed by Marilyn Plotkins
Musical direction by Scott Nicholas
Performance Date: Friday May 6, 7:30 p.m.
Modern Theatre, 525 Washington Street

Fall Productions

"To Gather Apart" - an online comic drama about creating relationships in a virtual world

To mute, or not to mute?

When's the last time you had a hug that wasn't with someone you live with? Peek behind the mask of a Zoom support group as they share stories of burritos, noisy neighbors, and the search for roses when you hit rock bottom.

The Suffolk University Theatre Department presents a live streaming original play devised by alumnus Nael Nacer (’06) and the cast.

Thursday 10/22, Friday 10/23, Saturday 10/24 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can $0-$20
Live Streaming Link included with Ticket Purchase

Sputnik

A festival of one-act plays written and directed by students.

November 20-22

• Agora: Written & directed by Justin Lahue (’22). Blending theatrical and cinematic formats, this film depicts a person’s tragic journey to make connection.
• Kathy Kares: Written & directed by Kendyl Trott (’22). A live-streamed blast from the past reveals a behind-the-scenes perspective of children’s TV shows that we all loved while growing up.
• The Murder at Garfield Manor: Written & directed by Erin Field (’22). A classic 1920s radio style drama about a detective who learns about his darker side while trying to solve the murder of his childhood friend.
• Which Witch - Written & Directed by Sam Durso (’21). A film comedy about witches competing to prove who is the most powerful.

Spring Productions

"Sputnik 2" - A festival of one-act plays written and directed by students

March 11-13

And after the show, stay for a conversation with the cast! The show is free, but registration is required. Your viewing link will be sent with your registration confirmation.

"Sargasso Sea" written & directed by Liv Joan

Aboard the Roebuck ship, Sailing Master Mariner is the greatest Master of the seas, but holds a secret that could be deadly. The fully virtual story of Mariner unravels as they course the waves of the once thought-to-be-myth Sargasso Sea.

"The House that Dripped Blood" written & directed by Collin Smith

A multimedia show based on the album Tallahassee by the Mountain Goats. A couple, John and Danielle, move to Tallahassee to give their relationship one last chance.

"Rhododendrons" written & directed by Katie Johnson

A show immersed in the Pacific Northwest following the relationships and internal battles of three siblings and their close friend as they live illegally in Forest Park. Prerecorded from the studio theater.

“Our Time” – Directed and curated by Wesley Savick

A virtual time capsule in three parts. To stream in perpetuity.

April 15-17

Fall Productions

Ubu Roar

Translated and adapted by Brenda Withers from Alfred Jarry’s King Ubu. Directed by Wesley Savick, Music by Joey Del, Class of 2018. Produced by Juvenilia, the department’s professional production initiative for students and alumni in partnership with the National Theatre of Allston.

September 19-21 & 26-28, Modern Theatre, 525 Washington Street

The Seven Deadly Sins

By Thornton Wilder, directed by Wesley Savick and guest alumni directors. The world premiere of Wilder’s entire series of one-act plays in The Seven Deadly Sins.

November 22-23, Modern Theatre, 525 Washington Street

View more about The Seven Deadly Sins published in American Theatre Magazine.

Fall Showcase

A festival of one-act plays written and directed by students.

October 10 -13, Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th floor

Area 51: Written & directed by Courtney Langlais, Class of 2020. Intrepid podcasters venture into the desert to investigate the disappearance of young woman.
PLAY.: Written & directed by Kaleigh Ryan, Class of 2020. Pushed, pulled—people identify themselves in certain ways. Results are complicated.
In the Shadows: Written & directed by Gabriella Quigley, Class of 2019. Mourning family members search for their love for one another.
Reserve your seat today here or by calling 866-811-4111.

Fall Spotlight Performances

New student work in development. Each performance takes place at 5 p.m. in the Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th floor, and is followed by a community pizza party.

October 4, The Experiment: Written by Will Grubb, Class of 2021, directed by Anastasia Bolkwadze, Class of 2021. Lucifer: "I'm worn out by this ^#%$* job! I'll give my POWERS to that teenager in the cornfield....and enjoy myself."
November 1, Night Shift: Written & directed by Nick Cenci, Class of 2019. A bored night watchman notices an unexpected—unwelcome—occurrence in the video monitor.
December 6, Doughboy: Written & directed by Justin Peavey, Class of 2020. A courtroom drama inspired by a 1920s murder trial.

Directed by Professor Wesley Savick, Suffolk University student Micaleen Rodgers (SU '20), and Suffolk alumna Sydney Grant (SU '15). Wilder’s ambitious 7 one-act play cycle features 28 characters located in 7 distinct locations set within 7 distinct time periods. Tickets: $15 | $10 students (with valid I.D.) & seniors. Purchase tickets with this link, or call 866.811.4111.

November 21-24, Modern Theatre, 525 Washington St.

Spring Productions

Spring Showcase

A festival of one-act plays written and directed by students.

February 6-9, Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th floor

Little Dog: Written & directed by Olivia Florek, Class of 2021. Even when self-discovery arrives, it can be hard to admit what we must.
Flicker: Written & directed by Ma’chel Martin, Class of 2020. Forest sounds and a campfire enable two friends to speak honestly—finally.
Rodéo: Written & directed by Micaleen Rodgers, Class of 2020. Dancing, singing, juggling, pickle-eating cowboys cheer up their rodeo bull-rider friend who has been thrown off too many times.

Spring Spotlight Performances

New student work in development. Each performance takes place at 5 p.m. in the Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th floor, and is followed by a community pizza party.

February 7, Here Comes the Moon: Written & directed by Alice Byrne, Class of 2020. Based on Beatle George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun,” celebrating his life and music and his struggle with cancer.
Interview with Professor David Gallant
March 6, A Lunatic’s Guide to Dating Narcissists: Written by Grace Rizzuto, Class of 2021, directed by Ryan Stack, Class of 2021. Getting close to people is difficult. Wanna ’ know who to stay away from?
April 10, The Lover: By Harold Pinter. Directed by Stephanie Coyle, Class of 2020. An untrusting, unhappy, untruthful (married) couple let it all out.

Violet
Music by Jeanine Tesori, libretto by Brian Crawley. Based on the short story "The Ugliest Pilgrim" by Doris Betts. Directed by guest artist Maurice Emmanuel Parent.

April 2-5, Modern Theatre, 525 Washington Street

Seminar
By Theresa Rebeck, directed by Laura Shink.

A writing seminar goes awfully awry.

April 16-18, Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th floor

Suffolk University Theatre Department - Productions in 2018-2019

Fall Showcase

October 11-14, 2018
Sullivan Studio Theatre, 11th Floor Sawyer Building
A festival of student-written and directed one-act plays

Paciencia

Patience, hope, and family drive Latino immigrants to find a better life in America. Written & directed by Adriana Alvarez ‘19

Wild, Alone

Welcome to beautiful, gothic New England.  Discover the difference between an urban legend and a full-blown haunting. Written & directed by Ali Maynard ‘19

Talk To Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen

Two lovers struggle to escape from their relentless cycle of giving comfort and inflicting pain. By Tennessee Williams, directed by Micaleen Rodgers ’20 with Amanda LoCoco ‘19

2018-2019 Spotlight Performances

A year-long series of new student work in development
Sullivan Studio Theatre, 11th Floor Sawyer Building
5:00 PM
Pizza Reception follows each presentation

• Friday, October 5: Not My Cup of Tea - Written & directed by Kaleigh Ryan ’20
What happens when you ‘see’ a friend who desperately needs your help….but you don’t really see?

•Friday, November 2: Twice Upon a Self - Written & directed by Peter Teutsch ’20
A family’s wounds across generations: “I see scars on my face. But why can no one else see them? They see what I want them to see.”

• Friday, December 7: Two Girls, One Cigarette - Written & directed by Amanda Hackney ‘20
The Great Depression: to survive grueling poverty, two sisters master the art of the con.  But the con goes deeper than they can ever imagine.

•Friday, February 15: It Takes a Village - By Joey Lyons & Joseph Zappulla, music by Brendan Hickey, lyrics by Josie Long and Deniz Demirkurt, directed by Grace Libby ’19
The Prince is coming to visit… High alert! The towns-folk will do whatever it takes to make Celine look good to get her out of their proverbial hair. 

• Friday, March 22: Sala Do Szycia (Sewing Room) - Written & directed by Rory Lambert-Wright ’19
What happens to someone cut through by the harrowing knife of war?….based on accounts from the Warsaw uprising of 1944.

•Friday, April 12: Thom Pain (based on nothing) by Will Eno - Directed by Sam Deans ’19

Loss of Breath: The Unfinished Life and Death of Edgar Allan Poe

November 15-18, 2018
Modern Theatre, 525 Washington Street
Written & directed by Wesley Savick with puppet creation by Puppet Showplace Theater
Scenic design by Richard Wadsworth Chambers

Draws from Poe’s stories and biography to invent a fantastical world between life and death. The Theatre Department in collaboration with the Puppet Showplace Theater showcases puppets and masks to depict the characters.  Encounter Poe, his mother, spouse, Annabel Lee, ghosts and other ghastly beings.….and a middle-school English teacher from Indiana.

Spring Showcase

This Is NOT a Comedy

Written & directed by Kane Harper ‘19
Even though the playwright is mired in obscurity and no one has ever read his plays, he struggles to be remembered.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Adapted & directed by Blair Bogle ‘19
It takes a woman to be a king.

Studio 602

Written & directed by Justin Peavey ’20 & Ma’chel Martin ‘20
How many actors does it take to save a sitcom? The studio may never know.

Everybody

April 4-7, 2019
Modern Theatre, 525 Washington Street
By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by guest artist Anna Kohler
This 2018 Pulitzer-Prize finalist is an adaptation of, “The Somonyng of Everyman” - the 15th century morality play about how to achieve salvation. Death informs Everybody: it’s time to die. After some negotiation, Death permits Everybody to bring someone along for company. Everybody asks Good Deeds, Kindred, Fellowship, Love and others to join in the plunge into the wormy grave.

Mary’s Monsters

April 18-20, 2019
Sullivan Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th floor
By Ingrid Oslund ‘14, directed by Sara Kerr ’19
To create the Monster that will become legend, Mary Shelley confronts demons of her own past.

Guys & Dolls Concert Version – A musical fable of Broadway

May 3, 2019
Modern Theatre, 525 Washington Street

Based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon. Directed by Marilyn Plotkins with musical direction by Scott Nicholas

Suffolk University Theatre Department - Productions in 2017-2018

Fall Showcase

October 12-15, 2017
Sullivan Studio Theatre, 11th Floor Sawyer Building
A festival of student-written and directed one-act plays

Welcome To Hell

Written by Xenia Kamalova ‘18. Directed by Xenia Kamalova & Kane Harper '19
The demons in hell are way too nice - it takes an Angel to teach them how to be bad.

Bigfoot

Written and directed by Ali Maynard ‘19
Four botanists on a mountain expedition encounter a mysterious presence and must decide whether to stay…or leave very quickly.

Heist

Written and directed by Erica Wisor ‘18
America’s greatest art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - Rembrandt, Vermeer, Manet, Degas out the door! Reward - $10,000,000.

2017-2018 Spotlight

A year-long series of new student work in development
Sullivan Studio Theatre, 11th Floor Sawyer Building
5:00 PM
Pizza Reception follows each presentation

• Friday, September 29: A Fish Without a Bicycle. written and directed by Justin Smith ‘19
Finding the way to fit into a complicated world….
• Friday, November 3: Alive 2017, conceived and orchestrated by Jake Mariño ‘18
A Daft Punk-inspired collaborative, interactive dance club experience.
• Friday, December 8: A Typical Love Story, written and directed by Adriana Zuniga-Acevedo ‘18
The struggles of being an immigrant woman in America.
• Friday, February 2: L'Arbre Du Performer, written and directed by Kane Harper ‘19
Performers can be the loneliest people.
• Friday, March 2: The Swimmer, by F. Xavier Hogan directed by Kelsey Whipple ‘18
An absurdist classic about the encounters of a drowning man – at a bus stop.
• Friday, March 30: Visiting Hours, written and directed by Olivia Lowe ‘18
Loving and living in a hospital visiting room.

MIDNIGHT RIDE

From James Forrestal, First Secretary of Defense
To Donald Trump, Last President of the United States
A reading of a new play by James Carroll, directed by Wesley Savick

October 2, 2017
Modern Theatre

As the dust settles on World War II, the newly appointed Secretary of Defense James Forrestal makes a series of well-intended but tragic decisions which catapult us to the America of 2017 and beyond. James Carroll's Midnight Ride is a sweeping, mythological re-imagining of history, policy, and human fallibility.
Featuring Nael Nacer ’06, Nick Wilson ‘09, Ben Evett [Artistic Director of The Poet's Theatre], Robert Walsh [Artistic Director of the Gloucester Stage Company], and Marianna Bassham. Stage Manager Alycia Marucci ‘11.
Sponsored by The Suffolk University Theatre Department & The Poets' Theatre.

The Suffolk Story Slam: When I'm At Home

October 18, 2017
Modern Theatre
Presented by Suffolk University and the Boston Literary District.

Anton Chekhov's 3Sisters

A new version adapted & directed by Robert Kropf
November 16-19, 2017
Modern Theatre

2019: Moscow, Illinois. In the wake of a global disaster, a few survivors have taken refuge in the ruins of a decimated library. When they stumble upon Chekhov's masterpiece, this ill-fated population brings the play to life as a final act of resilience, courage and hope.

Spring Showcase

February 8-11, 2018
Sullivan Studio Theatre, 11th Floor Sawyer Building
A festival of student-written and directed one-act plays

• Acting 101//Ames’ Room, written and directed by Elektra T. Newman ‘18
A student, new to this world, lacking in understanding but drawn to beauty, undertakes an arduous journey to fulfillment.
• I Enjoy Being a Girl, a cabaret directed and choreographed by Victoria Isotti ‘18
A revue of Broadway songs depicting the evolving role of women in musical theatre.

One State, Two State
Red State, Blue State
An American Musical

April 5-8, 2018
Modern Theatre

Book, lyrics and direction by Professor Wesley Savick.
Music by Brian Bernhard (Suffolk '14), Scott Nicholas and Wesley Savick.

An uplifting, heartbreaking musical comedy about the volatile mix of drama and democracy in a nation divided by irreconcilable differences.

one state, two state /red state, blue state is inspired by Dr. Arlie Hochschild’s "Strangers In Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right" (National Book Award Nomination for Nonfiction). Dr. Hochschild will visit Suffolk University on April 6-7. She will participate in a post-performance talkback after the 3PM matinee on April 7.

The Universe in You

April 19-22, 2018
Sullivan Studio Theatre, 11th Floor Sawyer Building

Conceived and directed by Aria Lynn Sergany ‘18

A play about us based on true stories and research.
A collaborative experience involving theatre, dance, live music, and science.

Humanity's Worth

April 26 & 27, 2018
Sullivan Studio Theatre, 11th Floor Sawyer Building

Written by Sam Deans '19
Directed by Aisling Mehigan '18 and Peter Firek '18

Members of an environmental cult decide to save the human race in a most inhuman way.

Songs From Broadway's Golden Age

May 5, 2018
Modern Theatre
Conceived and directed by Dr. Marilyn Plotkins with musical direction by Scott Nicholas

A revue of songs written by some of America’s greatest musical theatre composers and lyricists.

Miss Julie

September 15-25, 2016
Modern Theatre
By August Strindberg. Adapted and directed by Robert Kropf
Produced by Harbor Stage Company of Wellfleet in association with Suffolk University.
This fiery new version of Strindberg's volatile classic explores how passion and privilege ensnare the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat and an enigmatic hired hand. An unrelenting look at intimacy, status, and desire.

Fall Showcase

October 6-9, 2016
Sullivan Studio Theatre
A festival of student-written and directed one-act plays.
Sälem by Andrew John Bourque, directed by Annalise Fosnight
A chilling wind hurtles through a puritanical town bringing with it mischief, mayhem and magic. What could go wrong?
Déjà Vu written and directed by Jack Yeatman
At a time of war, friends gather together one last time - before opening letters from the draft board.
queer, written and directed by Maggie Bie
Adam and Steve: and other LGBTQ voices that refuse to be silenced.

Spotlight Series

A year-long series of new student work in development.
Studio Theatre, Sawyer Building, 11th floor: 4:40-6PM
Pizza Reception follows each presentation
FREE
• Friday, September 23: Just Alright, written by Dylan Amerena, directed by Erica Lundin
What will it take for Murphy to move beyond ‘just alright?”
• Friday, October 14: 45 Reasons, written by Justin Smith, directed by Sara Kerr
Higher Ed Surprise! Stumbling through the unknown unknowns about making it in college
• Friday, November 4: Sperm Soap on a Rope, written by Richard Morin, directed by Sara Kerr
A Yankee Swap – gone wrong, very awesomely wrong.

• Friday, January 27: Title TBA, written and directed by Erica Wisor
Take a sneak peak inside a rehearsal of the yet-to-be-named spectacular!

• Friday, February 17: One Last Night, written and directed by Keynessa Nazaire
Accepting oneself is sometimes the hardest battle...

• Friday, March 24: A Second Chance, written and directed by Ivan Ramirez Cuevas
A journey... after losing something precious, how can Vella become whole again?

A More-Or Less-Perfect Union

October 18, 2016
Modern Theatre
A documentary film directed by Jim Gabbe
Presented by CitizenArts & the Suffolk Cinema Series
Co-sponsored by the Department of Advertising, Public Relations & Digital Media
This is the first feature-length film to explore in-depth the state-of-mind of the United States of America, whose Constitution was penned by the Founding Fathers to “form a more perfect union.” This unprecedented documentary probes into what really unites/divides us, getting beyond the noise from the pundits and news media entertainment megaphones.

Margo Veil

November 17-20, 2016
Modern Theatre
by Len Jenkin, directed by Wesley Savick
Startling, satirical and funny, drawing from 1950s paranoia, Margo Veilexplores the instability and volatility of the human experience and the fracturing of individual identity. We jump into the consciousness of failed actress Margo Veil who uses outlawed technology to leap from place to place, identity to identity - as her reality collides with illusion.

Spring Showcase

February 9-12, 2017
Sullivan Studio Theatre
A festival of student-written and directed one-act plays.
The Lucid, written and directed by Matt Bittner
An unusual encounter leads a man and a woman to question their own realities.
~~**2009**~~, written by Kevin J.P. Hanley and Claire Boyle, directed by Kevin J.P. Hanley
The Enigma of the Pre-Adolescent Brain: Finally Explained!
Something Went Wrong with the Mystery Machine, by Ariana Messana, directed by Jessica Hickey
Advice: what NOT to do when what happens is not logically possible.
900 Mouths Versus The Black Box (A Parade Of Fragments), by Theo Goodell, adapted and directed by Aria Lynn Sergany, assistant directed and choreographed by Erica Lundin
The colorful and immersive portrayal of a new beginning.

Orlando

April 6-9, 2017
Modern Theatre
By Virginia Woolf. Adapted by Sarah Ruhl
Directed by A. Nora Long
After a night of debauchery, Duke Orlando wakes up as a Duchess. During her/his/their frolic through 17th century Constantinople, Victorian and 20th century England, and places and selves in between, Orlando asks: "Who then am I?"

Voices for Now '17

May 5, 2017
Modern Theatre
Instructors Dr. Marilyn Plotkins and Scott Nicholas
A revue of songs about what it means to be a millennial today written by some of the most important young musical theatre writers of our day.

One Nation, Indeterminable

A theatrical response to our current national climate.
June 10, 2017
Modern Theatre
Readings of new plays by Robert Brustein, James Carroll, Wesley Savick, Theo Goodell & Nick Wilson
One Nation, Indeterminable continues the Suffolk University Theatre Department's commitment to alumni and students to support socially-engaged work for the stage. Join us for five new play readings by distinguished guest playwrights Robert Brustein and James Carroll, along with Suffolk Professor Wesley Savick and Suffolk alumni, Theo Goodell and Nick Wilson.
Sponsored by the Suffolk University Theatre Department and The Poets' Theatre.

Othello

In association with the Actors' Shakespeare Project
September 26-October 25, 2015
Modern Theatre 
by William Shakespeare, directed by Bridget Kathleen O’Leary 
“Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus.” -Othello, Act I 

Shakespeare serves up a searing and operatic tale of envy and manipulation. The Machiavellian mind of Iago yields machinations that wreak heartbreaking havoc for those around him while seducing us with his glee and gall.

Fall Showcase

A collection of student-written and -directed one-act plays.

• The Convicted Prophet: The Trial of Warren Jeffs, written and directed by Linnea Rose
  One of the United States’ most wanted fugitives and the true story of the controversial trial that shook the nation.
• The Lost Queen, written and directed by Kelsey Endter
  A tyrannical ruler sits on her throne, waiting for the day she can have her revenge. But not even she knows of the secrets of her past.
• Bethena, written by George Brant, directed by Aria Sergany
  Inspired by Scott Joplin’s waltz, this play is a journey through a lifetime of love. 

Doris Day in Belarus

An original new play written and directed by Wesley Savick

A Mysterious Man in a Suit wanders into a room on the fourth floor and asks a theatre student: “Was this the Studio Theatre?” Inspired by the plays of Anton Chekhov and real-life events in the past year, Doris Day in Belarus is a hilarious, tearful goodbye to a beloved home and a celebration of the creative life it has inspired in generations of Suffolk students.

A collection of student-written and -directed one-act plays.

• Intoxicating Me, Darling, written and directed by Maggie Bie
  In a room filled with everyone you’ve ever loved, who would you run to? Choose wisely.
• Oedipus by Sophocles,adapted and directed by Andrew John Bourque
  A re-imagined version of the primal tragedy: the king in a fatal struggle with the gods.
• How You Remind Me, by Ariana Messana, directed by Erica Wisor
  A troubled alcoholic is reminded of his past memories. 

Rhinoceros 

A professional co-production with the Boston Playwrights' Theatre
by Eugene Ionesco, adapted and directed by Wesley Savick

Sunny afternoon. Newbury Street. Meeting a friend for coffee.
You’re borderline depressed...crappy job, too neurotic to make the first move with a “gal pal” co-worker, wallowing in self-pity...and maybe just a little hung-over. Everything is normal.
And all at once, everyone you know turns into a rhinoceros.
A brand-new adaptation of Eugene Ionesco’s twentieth-century absurdist masterpiece, re-imagined for the twenty-first.

Sponsored by The Back Deck, Boston. 

Directed by Paul Melone with Musical Direction by Scott Nicholas

The hit musical RENT dives deep into the loves and dreams of friends struggling to survive in Manhattan’s gritty East Village. This intensely felt play, winner of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize, explores eternal themes of youth - joy, rebellion, and passion.  

Fall Showcase

Student directed and written one-acts.

• Daydream written and directed by Tom Martin
• Scalpel Please written and directed by Tom Martin
• The Dangers of Eating Dessert Before Dinner written by Rachel Fund, directed by Alexa Costa
• Yesterday written and directed by Paige Monopoli

FAB! or whatever

Party at Hollywood's hottest indie film festival with the scandalous, promiscuous, dangerous starlet Fabulous Miamore, her stoned pals and vicious rivals. Find your place among glamorous entourages, hot-shot agents, truth-seeking sages and ruthless stalkers of the silver screen. Savick's new play is inspired by Luigi Pirandello's Ciascuno a suo modo.

Spring Showcase

Student directed and written one-acts.

• Playing Dead written by Tom Martin, directed by Laurie Riihimaki
• For Every Reason, Rhythm, and Rhyme written and directed by Marina Silva
• Hum's Girls written and directed by Ingrid Oslund
• Hamlet Submerged written by Robert Rejek, directed by Andrew Pinto

Midsummer Night

A new musical based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, book and music by Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda, directed by Marilyn Plotkins. Titania and Oberon - rock stars and hot-blooded lovers - are locked in a nasty feud. Their quarrel boils over at a rock festival, entangling the lovers, an infatuated personal assistant and an ambitious roadie with unintended, hilarious consequences.

At Ease

At Ease is a documentary theatre production about the United States military experience, conceived and directed by Suffolk University professor Caitlin Langstaff with theatre and Veteran students.

These Seven Sicknesses

Hilarious, terrifying, and primal; these words describe the Boston premiere of Sean Graney’s adaptation of the Sophocles tragedies Oedipus, In Trachis, Philoktetes, In Colonus, Ajax, Elektra, and Antigone. Savick directs this unique theatrical event—lauded by the New York Times as “entertaining and fresh”—which features Suffolk University Theatre Department students.

Spring Showcase

Student-directed one-acts.

• Josephine’s Baby- Written and Directed by Leslie Steeves The birth of Josephine's baby is not the blessed event that her husband and family were anticipating.
• Mountain Air - Written and Directed by Ingrid Oslund A young poet retreats to the Appalachian Mountains to look for inspiration. Instead, he encounters two mysterious sisters who open his eyes to a poverty ridden reality he never knew existed.
• Relationships in Terms of Brownies -Written and Directed by Marina Silva Olivia has her doubts about her relationship with Neil. Seeing another couple fall apart before her eyes and Neil convincing her to take a chance and try a brownie, Olivia realizes what the possibilities of a relationship can hold.
• River -Written and Directed by Adam Santaniello As two sisters wait by a river to christen a newborn child tensions arise and secrets are revealed. The Crucible Suffolk University Theatre Department presents the classic Arthur Miller play.

Fall Showcase

Theatre Department directing students showcase their wares in this diverse evening of short plays.

• Under Covers -Written by Ryan O’Connor ‘12 Directed by Isaiah Rotondi-Gray ‘12
• Sitcom -Written and directed by Alec Lawless ‘12
• Boy Meets Girl -Written by Connor Sampson Directed by Lindsay Brissette ‘12
• The Secret of Mr. Montgomery -Written and directed by Arissara Chounchaisit ‘12 Doctor Faustus Elliot Norton Award-Winning Director David R. Gammons directs Suffolk students in a haunting adaptation of the classic thriller about a demented genius who strikes a terrifying bargain with the devil.

Spring Showcase

Theatre Department directing students showcase their wares in this diverse evening of short plays.

• Bathroom -Written and directed by Ryan Baker ‘12
• Hydrangea -Written by Deirdre McAllister Directed by Zack Zatet ‘12
• The Mother -Written by Mark Ravenhill Directed by Jessica Miller ‘12
• Four Strong -Winds Written and directed by Brian Pytka ‘12

Anything Goes

Stow-aways, gangsters, debutants and the Suffolk University Theatre Department board the cruise liner S.S American. Cole Porter’s wonderful screwball comedy of a musical nearly capsizes with hilarious hijinks, mistaken identities, the quest for true love… and with hits like “You’re the Top,” “I Get A Kick Out of You,” “It’s De-Lovely,” and the fabulous title song, “Anything Goes.” Professor Marilyn Plotkins skippers the crew!

Fall Showcase

Student-directed one-acts, free and open to the public.

• The Man Who Turned Into a Stick by Kobo Abe -Directed by Brittany Daley ‘11
• Bleed (a term to describe photographs without borders) by Kacie Kirkpatrick Directed by Ryan Began ‘11

Forever, Briefly

Director Wesley Savick takes Suffolk for a journey through three of Thornton Wilder’s classic one-acts: The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden, Pullman Car Hiawatha and The Long Christmas Dinner.

Spring Showcase

Student-directed one-acts

Car Talk: The Musical!!!

Suffolk University Theatre Department presents a world-premiere musical inspired by NPR’s favorite call-in show. Written & directed by Professor Wesley Savick.

Play Day!

A celebration of original student plays

24 Hour Play Festival

Students and Alumni collaborate to write, rehearse, and perform short plays in 24 hours. What can you do in day?

The Green Bird

Wes Savick directs Conrad Bishop & Elizabeth Fuller’s adaptation of Carlo Gozzi’s classic, bawdy comedy from the 18th century. Earnest twins Renzo and Barbarina, on a quest to find wisdom, encounter a magical green bird, power-hungry poet, and wicked queen.

Fall Showcase

Theatre Department directing students showcase their wares in this diverse evening of short plays:

• What She Found There -by John Glore Directed by Ryan Began ‘11
• Drop the Curtain by Trevor Livingston ‘11 Directed by Kacie Kirkpatrick ‘10
• Furfur, the Bad Demon -Written & directed by Deirdre McAllister ‘10
• The Skinhead Hamlet by Richard Curtis Directed by Claire Van Riper ‘11

Casa Patas

A performance by some of Spain’s foremost Flamenco artists. The artists will also teach a master class to select students the following day.

Mortal Terror

Distinguished Scholar in Residence Robert Brustein’s play about William Shakespeare's creation of Macbeth. The play is set in 1605, the year of the famous Gun Powder Plot, a terrorist conspiracy to blow up the Houses of Parliament. King James commissions Shakespeare to write a play that justifies his right to the throne.

Spring Showcase

Theatre Department directing students showcase their wares in this diverse evening of short plays: •

• Reverse Transcription by Tony Kushner Directed by Bryan Daley ‘10
• Hansel & Gretel Adapted & directed by Brittany Daley ’11 & Laura Liberge ‘10
• The Pronoun I by Tennessee Williams Directed by Lindsay Eagle ‘11

Into the Woods

The Theatre Department rounded out the year with Sondheim’s classic musical based on Grimm’s fairy tales…and what happens after “happily ever after.”

Dance Day!

Dance students perform choreography they have developed over the course of the semester in consultation with faculty.

Play Day!

An opportunity for student playwrights to showcase their work throughout the year, Play Day! features readings of original short plays.

24 Hour Play Festival

Students and Alumni collaborate to write, rehearse, and perform short plays in 24 hours. What can you do in day?

Fall Showcase

Student directors explore complex social themes in original and established short plays.

• Perchance -By Craig Pospisil Directed by Jennifer Laudia ‘09
• Pandora -Adapted from the songs of Tori Amos and directed by Laura Liberge ’10
• Bus Stop -Written & directed by Meredith Mitchell ’10

ZinnFest: Emma

Marilyn Plotkins directs readings from Zinn’s theatrical exploration into the untold story of one of history’s most fascinating social and political activists, Emma Goldman. Following the reading, Dr. Zinn will discuss the convergence of art and politics in Emma and today with Professor Judy Dushku.

ZinnFest: Shouting Theatre in a Crowded Fire

Facing a future of political uncertainty, an ensemble of young idealists try out their own "tiny acts" of resistance to change the world. But will their attempts result in optimism or despair? Righteousness or doubt? Equal parts Marx and Marx Brothers, Shouting Theatre in a Crowded Fire catapults the writings of historian and activist Howard Zinn through a dizzying American landscape of game shows, pop music, and fractured reenactments of the Group Theatre, the Living Theatre, and The Crucible.

Casa Patas

A performance by some of Spain’s foremost Flamenco artists. The artists also taught a master class to select students.

ZinnFest: Daughter of Venus

Performed both at the C. Walsh Theatre at Suffolk University and at BPT, Daughter of Venus shows us a family in pain, a mother too fragile to carry the weight of her husband’s desires, and a father and daughter emotionally distant to the point of despair. Sometimes the choices we make (or don’t make) have vast repercussions on our world and the people we love. By the author of A People’s History of the United States, Marx in Soho, and Emma and directed by Wesley Savick. Daughter of Venus is a co-production with Boston Playwrights' Theatre.

Spring Showcase

Studio Theatre Assistant Professor of Theatre Caitlin Langstaff and senior Joe Jellie create a wildly inventive night of original theatre.

• Circa: The Boom Goes Bust will be a clown piece in six parts developed with the performers. Mind-Eraser is a roller-coaster of emotion exploring self-identity through a series of monologues, impromptu dances and short skits. Circa: The Boom Goes Bust Conceived and directed by Caitlin Langstaff
• Mind-Eraser Written & directed by Joe Jellie ’10

Blood Wedding

In a new translation/adaptation by Melinda Lopez, Marilyn Plotkins directs Federico Garcia Lorca’s classic drama of desire and repression. The production will include original music by Claudio Ragazzi.

Dance Day!

Dance students perform choreography they have developed over the course of the semester in consultation with faculty.

Play Day!

An opportunity for student playwrights to showcase their work throughout the year, Play Day! features readings of original short plays.

The English Channel

Suffolk University, in association with The Vineyard Playhouse, presented the professional world premiere of Robert Brustein’s play, The English Channel, at the C. Walsh Theatre. The play is a comic and provocative imagining of Shakespeare’s coming of age as a playwright.

24 Hour Play Festival

Teams of talented alumni and students will write, rehearse, and perform a series of 10-minute plays—all in less than 24 hours! What can you do in a day?

Fall Showcase

Two veteran student directors explore modern interpretations of classic stories. The Frog Prince is a whimsical fairy tale that seeks the true nature of love and The Trial puts a modern spin on Kafka’s terrifying journey through the wrong-side of the legal system in a totalitarian state.

• The Frog Prince By David Mamet Directed by Greer Rooney ‘08
• The Trial Adapted by Rachel Lampert from the novel by Franz Kafka Directed by Purnima Baldwin ‘08

Shrapnel

Written & Directed by Wesley Savick

Adapted from and inspired by the writings of James Hillman (A Terrible Love of War), Chris Hedges (War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning & What Every Person Should Know About War), and Lawrence LeShan (The Psychology of War : Comprehending Its Mystique and Its Madness), Professor Wesley Savick explores the nature of war in this original work for the stage. How do we make war “normal?” Is war an inevitable and fundamental part of the human condition? Can our impulse for war ever be tamed? This theatrical event incorporates mythology, stage combat, live music and a sweeping array of personal accounts to explore the contradictory nature of war within all of us.

Spring Showcase

A celebration of new student directors and writers, Spring Showcase is an opportunity for first-time writers and directors to explore their creative voices alongside some of the Department’s more experienced students.

• Dancing with a Devil By Brooke Berman Directed by Alix Goldsmith ‘08
• The Guilt Written & Directed by Julia Gustafsson ‘08
• On Shame Written & Directed by Rachel Kelsey ‘08
• The Battle of Bull Run Always Makes Me Cry By Carole Real Directed by Elyssa Newcorn ‘09

Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical

At the dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Tribe, a group of politically-active friends (also known as Hippies) fight for their bohemian lifestyle and against the War in this ground-breaking rock musical directed by Theatre Department Chair, Dr. Marilyn Plotkins.

Play Day!

An opportunity for student playwrights to showcase their work throughout the year, Play Day! features readings of original short plays.

September Showcase

• 27 Wagons Full of Cotton By Tennessee Williams Directed by Jonathan Orsini ‘07
• How To Kill a Robot By Theo Goodell ‘07 Directed by David Foley ‘07

One-Act Play Festival

• Loyalties By Murphy Guyer Directed by Purnima Baldwin ‘08
• Full Circle Written & Directed by Rachel Kelsey ‘08
• Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You By Christopher Durang Directed by Amy Frizzi ‘08

Candide, or Optimism

Adapted by Len Jenkin From the book by Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire Directed by Peg Denithorne

Centennial: about a hundred years

Written & Directed by Wesley Savick

Spring Showcase

• Tout Compendre, C'est Tout Pardonner Written & Directed by Caitlin Kenney ‘07
• Very Savage Written & Directed by Theo Goodell ‘07

Play Day!