Playwright Terrence McNally to work with students in theatre fest, symposium

Four-time Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally (Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime, Love! Valour! Compassion!) will visit Chapman University on Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26, to take part in a two-day symposium examining and celebrating his work.

In addition to a public lecture in which McNally will talk about his plays and modern theatre, the playwright will work directly with Chapman literature, creative writing and theatre students.  The students will present papers on McNally’s work on Saturday and perform A Terrence McNally Festival — staged performances of five of his one-act plays – on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, with McNally present at the Friday night performance to offer feedback.

The symposium will also include a keynote lecture by Raymond-Jean Frontain, Ph.D. of the University of Central Arkansas, one of the world’s leading McNally scholars.

Most symposium events are free and open to the public.  McNally’s talk on Saturday evening is $10 general admission (free to Chapman students, faculty and staff who make online reservations).  Tickets are available through Chapman’s online ticketing service.

The symposium, presented by Chapman’s Departments of English and Theatre, Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Performing Arts, is “a significant event in the arts life of our university,” said Myron Yeager, Ph.D., Chapman professor of English and one of the event’s lead planners.  “The Chapman University community – and the public – will gain an unparalleled experience, and the chance to engage with an individual who has made a powerful contribution to the shaping of contemporary American art and culture.”

A full schedule of the symposium follows:

Thursday, April 24

• (Preview) 7:30 p.m., A Terrence McNally Festival, Black Box Theatre, Moulton Hall 149.  Student performers will present five one-act McNally plays.  Free and open to general public.  Performance will be repeated on Friday and Saturday nights.

Friday, April 25

• 7:30 p.m. A Terrence McNally Festival, Black Box Theatre, Moulton Hall 149. Student performers will present five one-act McNally plays, with McNally in attendance. The playwright will offer feedback in a post-show discussion. Free and open to general public.  Performance only will be repeated on Saturday night.

Saturday, April 26

• 1:15 p.m., Symposium of student papers on McNally, Argyros Forum 208.
• 3:30 p.m. Lecture: Something About Grace: Terrence McNally and the Redemptive Power of Theatre, by Raymond-Jean Frontain, Ph.D., University of Central Arkansas, Argyros Forum 208.  
• 7:30 p.m. Terrance McNally Public Lecture:  My Life in the Theatre, Waltmar Theatre, $10 general admission.  (Free to Chapman students, faculty and staff with online reservation.)  Tickets available at online ticketing service.
• 9 p.m.  A Terrence McNally Festival, Black Box Theatre, Moulton Hall 149. Student performers present five one-act plays by McNally.  Free and open to the public.