The Hunter College Theatre Department’s spring season is underway with two productions running in rep: Water by the Spoonful, by Quiara Alegria Hudes, directed by Hunter Theatre Department Chair Gregory Mosher, and Everybody, by Master Artist-in-Residence Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by Knud Adams.
These two plays, chosen by a committee comprised of both students and faculty, were selected from a list of sixty contenders for their ambitious themes and vital relevance. Written by two of the most vibrant theatrical voices currently contributing to theater, these plays present Hunter student actors the opportunity to engage with rigorous, lyrical text, and to tackle timeless themes of identity, trauma, and mortality. Water By The Spoonful, which received its New York premiere in 2013, won the Pulitzer Prize for its imaginative portrayal of the homecoming of an Iraqi veteran. Everybody, which was a 2018 Pulitzer finalist, approaches a classic morality play with a contemporary colloquial spin.
The repertory decision was made to allow for more casting opportunities for the student body. Works from more than fifty years ago, or “classics,” tend to have larger cast sizes, but Mosher felt the benefits of working on and performing contemporary plays were sizable – and so, the solution: a repertory season, with both plays sharing the Frederick Loewe theater and alternating performances. This repertory experience is the first for the department.
“I think these two shows in rep, both by relatively young writers, is a terrific springboard for our young artists, and I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve achieved,” says Mosher, who is for the first time serving as director in the department he leads. “Directing the students was both a learning experience and a great treat. I came here for them, and they are endlessly rewarding.”
Water by the Spoonful can be seen on: March 29th at 7:30pm; April 2nd, 4th, 6th, 10th, and 12th at 7:30pm; April 6th at 2pm
Everybody can be seen on March 30th at 7:30pm; April 3rd, 5th, 9th, and 11th at 7:30pm; March 30th and April 13th at 2pm
All tickets are FREE with Hunter ID
$12 General Admission/$5 for seniors & students
