Student theater is vibrant and thriving at Tufts. So much so, in fact, it's hard to keep track of what exactly is going on each semester. New groups and troupes seem to be popping up constantly, and it's not easy to decipher which clubs are limited to a weekly gathering of friends and which intend to involve a larger audience in a campus-wide spectacle.
Among the most prominent on-campus performance groups are Pen, Paint, and Pretzels (3Ps), Torn Ticket II, and Bare Bodkin. The three often team up, but each is known for their more specialized fare. Torn Ticket and 3Ps have been around the longest, with the former primarily focusing on musical theater and the latter on dramatic theater.
This semester, 3Ps majors and minors will be headed by the group's president, Paul Toben. The spring major, to be performed in March, will be Georg B??chner's "Woyzeck." Directed by sophomore Brendan Shea, this disturbing story focuses on a servant to a German army officer who takes a job as a human lab rat.
The script, unfinished due to the untimely demise of its writer, has the possibility for many interpretations, according to veteran director Shea.
The spring 3Ps minors include "Pillowman," directed by senior Dan Balkin, and "Newsies," directed by sophomore Brian Smith. Written by Alan Mencken and Jack Feldman, the latter production is a musical about an 1899 newsboy strike and will be co-produced with Torn Ticket.
Torn Ticket has an equally full roster this semester, under the leadership of senior Mike La Fazia. In addition to his role as the organization's president, La Fazia will also be directing the spring major, "Children of Eden," written by Steven Schwartz, and to be performed in early April. As indicated by the title, the musical tells the story of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel as they live in and are expelled from the Garden of Eden.
Apart from the traditional schedule of one 3Ps and Torn Ticket major production and a few minors every semester, Tufts now has a few additions to its set of theatrical traditions. Bare Bodkin appeared on the scene two years ago with a slightly different twist on student theater. The group not only produces plays directed by and starring students, but also encourages these same aspiring dramaturges to write their own plays.
The widespread encouragement of expression and experimentation brings a twist to theater tradition, and makes for a more spontaneous season. "I think I don't even know what to expect yet," said 3Ps' Shea. "I think all the productions this spring are going to be new and surprising."
This semester's Bare Bodkin major is senior Armen Nercessian's play, "The Night Visitor." The show, premiering March 5, will be directed by sophomore Caitlin Johnson. Bare Bodkin president, senior Marc Frost, hopes to include other student groups in the performance by inviting student bands or a capella groups to perform.
The group is also planning a first time writing workshop for students interested in playwriting. Details concerning the workshop will be announced at weekly meetings (Sundays, Campus Center) and will be led by Hillary Shayne.
There's little doubt that Tufts has an active on campus arts scene, and apart from these principal student organizations, others are developing constantly. From Israeli-Afro dance fusion to weekly improv gatherings, there's always something to watch or perform.
