Sponsored Productions
Throughout the academic year, Suffolk University's Theatre students are involved in various productions in many different capacities.
Main-Stage Productions
Each year, two main-stage productions are held in the Modern Theatre, where a faculty or guest artist directs a classic, contemporary or new play.
Fall & Spring Showcases
Held twice a year, the Showcases are opportunities to present student directed, written and designed one-act plays.
The Spotlight Series
The Spotlight Series is an opportunity to display experimental student works-in-progress focus on devised, ensemble and innovative work.
The April Production
A full-length production, alternating between student written & directed full-length productions and faculty-directed productions.
Additional Opportunities for Student Involvement
Every year the department generates special projects that offer additional opportunities for Suffolk students to get involved.
PlayDay
Readings of new student-written plays.
Musical Theatre in the Modern
Performances of songs by living composers rotate with staged readings of classic musicals.
Juvenilia
Founding Artistic Director Wesley Savick leads students, alumni and guest professional artists in developing original, urgent and timely new work. In 2019, the Theatre Department collaborated with the National Theatre of Allston to present Ubu Roar, a new adaptation of the play that launched theatre’s Modernist over 120 years ago.
Boston Music Theatre Project (BMTP)
From 1987-2014, Founding Artistic Director Marilyn Plotkins developed new musicals of exceptional promise with professionals and students. BMTP remains an important link for our students to dynamic musical theatre artists writing today.
Professional Productions
The Theatre Department collaborate with guest resident companies in the Modern.For example, the Theatre Department collaborated with The Poets’ Theatre in June 2017 to produce One Nation, Indeterminable, a festival of new work written, directed and performed by Suffolk students, alumni and professional guest artists.
“Writing and directing “Re-Evaluationland”, my Senior Honors Project, was challenging, inspiring, and fulfilling. I explored and collaborated with peers in an independent and decisive way. That experience exemplified the Theatre Department’s professional preparation. I came out of that project confident, capable, and eager to create more opportunities for myself."
Our 2019-2020 Production Season
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
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.
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.
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 21-24, Modern Theatre, 525 Washington St.
Spring Productions
Spring Showcase
A festival of one-act plays written and directed by students.
February 5-9, 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.
- 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
