Gannon University | Schuster Theatre

Fringe Fest 2014 is back! March 10-30, 2014

The Schuster Theatre is proud to announce that during the month of March, Fringe Fest returns to Gannon's Campus and the Erie Community! From March 10-30, 2014, the Schuster Theatre, and other companies in association with Fringe Fest, will produce 10 shows! Theatre and live arts will be performed around the Gannon Campus and Downtown Erie. There is something for everyone! Read all about Fringe Fest 2014 on Edge Online Magazine by clicking here. Or read the promotional article on goErie.com here (PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A TYPO IN THIS ARTICLE: THE PERFORMANCE OF "MUSIC MAN IN CONCERT" IS FREE ADMISSION. THANK YOU!)

Women without Skin Poster - Design by Keefer Kopco "Women without Skin" .Performed and Directed by Paula Barrett and Natalie Pertz. "There are probably little pieces of us littered everywhere. The insides of our clothes are lined with skin, our shoes are full of skin. When you touch someone you're just exchanging skin." To what length will we go to cover up our greatest insecurities? In pampering for an ominous occasion, a mother and daughter will scrub themselves bare only to conceal it all again. Performing Monday March 10 and Tuesday March 11 at 8pm in the Schuster Theatre Green Room (located on the 1st Floor of Scottino Hall). Read more about this show on Edge magazine by clicking here.

Inside the Actor's Studio Poster - Design by Keefer Kopco "Inside the Actor's Studio: Transitions and Cultural Stereotypes of post 9-11 America". This conversation led by Rob Lopez, will address the life of Middle Eastern people and their cultural upbringing, transitions to the United States, and the hardships they face, with a particular focus on stereotypes. The panel will include Maythem Nuri, Zamin Nuri, and Hiba Almasri. This one night only event is sure to be a panel discussion you do not want to miss. Wednesday March 12th at 8pm in Zurn 104. Read more about this show on Edge magazine by clicking here.

Music Man Poster The Erie Chamber Orchestra presents "The Music Man in Concert". Directed by Rev. Shawn Clerkin and produced in association with Cathedral Prep High School. This one night only engagement brings the music of Meredith Wilson alive! "The Music Man tells the story of Harold Hill, a man who poses as a band leader but is up to no good. His plans of thievery and lies are thwarted when Marian, a librarian and piano teacher in the small Iowan town, sees through his deceptive ways. Marian begins to fall in love and Harold risks being caught in order to win her heart." Featuring Patrick Theim, Kate Amatuzzo, Jeremey Flock and many more talented folks will bring this story to life through music, including our very own Gannon University's Mixed Chorus! Performance is scheduled for Friday March 14th at 7:30pm at Cathedral Prep High School.

Scooter Thomas Poster - Design by Keefer Kopco "Scooter Thomas Makes it to the Top of the World" by Peter Parnell. Directed by Joshua Mizikowski. Featuring Ethan Kelley and Ted Hallowell. A familiar tale to many of us. As we journey with two young men over the years and see the joy of new friendships and the pain of drifting apart to one final tragic loss. Performances Saturday March 15 at 2pm and Sunday March 16 at 8pm in the Morosky Cafe (located on the lower level of the Morosky Building on Sassafras, between 9th and 10th). Read more about this show on Edge Magazine by clicking here.

Good Doctor Poster - Design by MC Gensheimer "The Good Doctor" by Neil Simon. Directed by Paula Barrett. Featuring Rev. Shawn Clerkin, Nicole Dohoda, Nicholas Emmanuele, Jax Kubiak, and Jared Lossie. American playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon, widely regarded as one of the most successful, prolific and performed playwrights in the world, molds seven of Anton Chekhov’s short stories into beautifully timed, quite charming theatre filled with surprise endings, clever twists, and affectionate portraits of amusing and absurd characters. The “Good Doctor” is a reference to Anton Chekhov himself who acts as narrator and serves to connect the various scenes. Performances Saturday March 15 at 8pm and Sunday March 16 at 2pm in the Schuster Theatre (located at 620 Sassafras Street).

The Termination Poster - Design by Keefer Kopco "The Termination" by Sam Birnkrantz. Directed by Conor Grey. A dark, moving satire on overpopulation in the year 2000 in which a lonely young woman, fed up with romantic disappointments and overwhelming problems, applies to the government's Suicide Center for 'termination'. Hundreds of forms must be filled out; then there's the termination choice. Should she choose gas or pills or bullets or electrocution? The mirth-ridden interview is interrupted when an employee carries into the room the sole remaining possession of a recent terminee. It is a parakeet in a cage. How a bird rekindles our heroine's interest in life by providing her with something to love is a moving an powerful resolution to this play. Featuring the talents of Khadija Djellouli, Jade Mitchell, Kayla Scully, James McCormick, Katie Hoag, and Conor Grey. Performances are Tuesday March 18 and Wednesday March 19 at 8pm in Waldron 219.

Dramashop - Love Actually Isn't "Love Actually Isn't" by Dan Johnson. Directed by Zach Flock. Produced by Dramashop. This collection of six one-act plays is about love, doubt, closure, an compromise. The anthology was produced as a part of last year's Hollywood Fringe Festival. Since then, a number of revisions have been made to the as-yet-unpublished script. Dramashop will present four performances of this staged reading, on March 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8pm. Dramashop is located at 1001 State Street.

A Trois Poster - Design by Keefer Kopco "A Trois" by Barry Hall. Directed by Sarah Sgro. Featuring Ethan Kelley, Cristen Manion, and Zak Westfall. A Trois takes a different angle to look into the unique situations that accompany relationships, both between friends and between lovers. Using nonlinear format, the actors tell their stories in a series of short monologues and scenes, flowing seamlessly from one into the next, often without the knowledge of the audience. Oh and they never leave their stools! Performances Thursday March 20 and Friday March 21 at 8pm in the Schuster Theatre (located at 620 Sassafras Street).

"Let's Murder Marsha!" by Monk Ferris. Directed by Larry Lewis. Marsha is a housewife who is hopelessly addicted to murder mystery novels. Her husband Tobias forbids her to read them because they "rot the mind"....so she reads them behind his back! One night, she overhears her husband discussing her birthday surprise...but to Marsha's ears, it sounds like he's planning to murder her. So she enlists the help of her nerdy neighbor to murder him first! Produced by All An Act Theatre Productions, performances will be March 21, 22, 28, and 29 @ 7:30pm, as well as March 23 and 30 @ 3pm. All An Act is located at 652 West 17th Street. For more information, please call (814) 450-8553 or click here for more information.

Calling All Dawns Poster - Design by Keefer Kopco "Calling All Dawns" by Christopher Tin. Director - Matt Kridel. Orchestra Director - Conor Grey. Choral Director - Roberta Stoughton. The first choral piece to be performed in Fringe Fest, 'Calling All Dawns' is a song-cycle focusing on the themes of life and day, death and night, and dawn and rebirth. Featuring songs in 12 languages, many based on religious texts, this show is sure to uplift and inspire! Performances are Friday March 28 at 8pm and Sunday March 30 at 2pm at Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel (on the corner of 5th and Peach).