Life is a rather tricky thing full of uncertainty and curiosity. Mix in the wonders of art, math, and science, and the play Arcadia, comes to life.
Theatre UCF, part of the UCF School of Performing Arts, will begin their 2015 season with Tom Stoppard’s well renown play, Arcadia .
The show will run from Jan. 22 till Feb. 1 in the Main Stage Theatre at UCF.
Arcadia is a story that takes place in an English country house between two time periods, 1809 and 1999. The play centers itself on 13-year-old Thomasina, who makes an incredible scientific discovery. However, the adults around her are too caught up in their own problems to see the big picture of this life changing occurrence. Many years later, the same discovery comes up, and the relationship between the past and present begins to unfold.
According to a release from the UCF School of Performing Arts, Director Kate Ingram has long wanted to bring this play to UCF because of how it brings sciences and mathematics to the stage.
“We have such a strong history of sciences at UCF. It’s a perfect fit for the university,” said Ingram.
In order to give the audience the full old-English experience, Dramaturg Teresa Kilzi has prepared a guide for the audience to read before the play.
“The dramaturgy will be on display in the theater lobby, and an abbreviated version will be given to all attendees with their playbill,” stated the release. Downloadable content and videos will also be available in advance at the Theatre UCF website.
“Having a background in literature, physics and 19th century England would certainly enhance the experience of seeing Arcadia, but that’s not a combination that most people have. All the audience really needs is an eagerness to know and to learn,” says Kilzi.
Ingram, along with UCF Physics professor Enrique Del Barco, will be giving a free preshow discussion at this Friday’s performance. During this discussion, the scientific principles of the play will be explained so the audience can get a better understanding of the show.
Showtimes:
Jan. 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 at 8 pm (Preshow discussion on Friday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.).
Jan. 25 and Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for students.
“This play combines human nature, and math, and physics all rolled into one. And if that’s not enough to make someone want to come see this play, I don’t know what is,” exclaimed Ingram.
For any questions, contact Theatre UCF at 407-823-1500 or visit their website.
