Gainesville, Fla., June 20, 2014 — Twentieth Century, a classic 1930s screwball comedy that explores the theme and effects of stardom during the Golden Age of Hollywood, will be presented by the University of Florida (UF) School of Theatre + Dance during a limited one-week engagement July 17-20, 2014. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. July 17-19 and at 2 p.m. July 19 and July 20.
The play is adapted by Ken Ludwig from a 1930s play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur and will be directed by Dr. Judith Williams, School of Theatre + Dance professor and former director. Williams’ recent past productions include Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Servant to Two Masters and She Stoops to Conquer.
In the play, eccentric Broadway producer, Oscar Jaffe, has transformed Lily Garland from a chorus girl into a leading lady and is determined to sign his former protégé to a new show he is working on. He knows that with Lily his show will be a hit, so he is desperate to get her back under his wing. However, she is determined not to fall prey to his manipulations. This story follows both characters on this journey as they travel the luxurious 20th Century Limited from Chicago to Grand Central Station.
Ken Ludwig is an internationally-acclaimed playwright. He has won two Laurence Olivier Awards, two Helen Hayes Awards, the Edgar Award, the SETC Distinguished Career Award and the Edwin Forrest Award for Services to the Theatre. His plays have been commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Bristol Old Vic. His first play on Broadway, Lend Me A Tenor, won three Tony Awards. He is a McCarter Theatre/Sallie B. Goodman Fellow, and he has degrees from Harvard, where he studied music with Leonard Bernstein.
The 1930s play was turned into a well-known 1978 musical called On the Twentieth Century, book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Cy Coleman.
"Perfection! ... A nostalgic moment of flawless parody ...
If you need to laugh, don't miss this one!” — Liz Smith
Tickets are $13 for UF students, UF faculty/staff and senior citizens, and are $17 for the general public. Group rates are available for parties of eight or more. Tickets are available through the University Box Office located at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, by calling 352-392-1653 or at ticketmaster.com.
The Nadine M. McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion is located at 687 McCarty Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611. Parking is available across the street from the UF Bookstore & Welcome Center on the University of Florida located on Museum Road.
About the School of Theatre + Dance
The School of Theatre + Dance is one of the University of Florida College of the Arts’ three fully accredited schools. Undergraduate students can pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting, dance, musical theatre, theatre production—including costume design, lighting design and scenic design—or a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance studies or general theatre. Minors are also offered in dance and theatre as well as certificates in arts in medicine and dance in healthcare. Student organizations, showcase programs and other intensives provide students with invaluable professional experiences. UF is home to three School of Theatre + Dance theaters, including the Constans Theatre, Black Box and G-6 Studio. To learn more about the School of Theatre + Dance, including upcoming performance dates and ticket information, visit www.arts.ufl.edu/theatreanddance.
About the College of the Arts
The College of the Arts, previously known as the College of Fine Arts, is one the 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The College of the Arts offers baccalaureate, master’s and Ph.D. degree programs in its three fully- accredited schools — the School of Art + Art History, School of Music and School of Theatre + Dance. The college is home to the Center for Arts in Medicine, Center for World Arts, Digital Worlds Institute, University Galleries and the New World School of the Arts in Miami. More than 100 faculty members and more than 1,220 students work together daily to engage, inspire and create. The college hosts more than 300 performances, exhibitions and events each year. Faculty and students also exhibit and perform at other local, national and international venues. To learn more, visit www.arts.ufl.edu.
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Media Contact:
Leah Craig, Public Relations and Marketing Manager
University of Florida College of the Arts, Gainesville, Florida
Office: 352.273.1489 | Cell: 904.419.3346
