Theatre will be for all to hear and see tomorrow with the next scheduled Artist Series performance by the National Theatre of the Deaf.
“Oh, Figaro!” Time: 7:30 p.m. Date: Tuesday Place: Zorn Arena Cost: $15 for the public, $13 for those 62 and older and UW-Eau Claire faculty and staff, and $5 for students or those 17 and younger. Tickets are available at Service Center and at the door. |
“Oh, Figaro!” is a romantic comedy based on the French farces, “The Barber of Seville” and “The Marriage of Figaro,” according to a press release. It will be performed in both American Sign Language and in English. The actors in “Oh, Figaro!” are deaf and hearing impaired.
According to the National Theatre of the Deaf Web site, the main character, Figaro, is “a playful jack-of-all-trades who has gone from barber to horse doctor to romantic lover amidst the sensual surroundings of Spanish Harlem where romantic rivalries begin.”
The story follows Figaro’s romantic adventures to the Hamptons, a playland for the rich, where rivalries continue and everyone seems to end up in everyone else’s clothing, the Web site stated.
“There have been 64 national tours, performances in all 50 states, all the continents, 31 international tours and over 8,000 performances earning the NTD its place in theatrical history as the oldest continually-producing touring theatre company in the United States,” the Web site stated.
Senior Amanda Stoffregen, of the Activities and Programs office, said she encourages students to attend the event.
“It will be an interesting and new way to watch a play,” Stoffregen said. “Watching in sign language and hearing the words should give a deeper understanding and appreciation of the work. But more importantly, it will be fun to watch.”
Our greatest challenge is getting UW-Eau Claire students, faculty and community to understand that this performance is going to be fun,” Stoffregen said.
The theatre company also faces the challenge of setting up Zorn Arena, said Jennifer Hinners, coordinating assistant of University Centers and Programs. “It is amazing to see what the theater companies can do.
“It’s wonderful … National Theatre of the Deaf is a Tony award-winning company and we got them to come to Eau Claire,” Hinners said. “It’s going to be hilarious. We think students will be getting a kick out of it.”