Tonight's production of "Over the Rainbow," the usually gender−bending Pen, Paint, and Pretzels (3Ps) cabaret to raise HIV/AIDS awareness, will be given a fresh spin.
Originally conceived by 2011 graduates Samantha Kindler and Jeewon Kim, this is the first year "Over the Rainbow" has officially passed into the hands of new leadership, demonstrating the recently conceived tradition's staying power on campus as it graces Balch Arena Theater for the fourth time.
In contrast to previous performances, boys will be boys and girls will be girls this year in "Over the Rainbow." The performance will also take on the additional theme of celebrating life to complement the previous years' focus on defying adversity.
"Something people say a lot about AIDS these days is that it's no longer a death sentence, and we've been incorporating that by making this event's theme a celebration of life," Jeff Ryder a senior and executive producer of "Over the Rainbow" said.
"It should be a fun night for the audience to come and have a good time and donate and learn."
The biggest change in this year's production is the decision for the performers to no longer swap gender roles.
"We made the decision not to do that this year, partially because it's easier singing in the range that [a song is] written in, but also because the original creators of ‘Over the Rainbow' wanted to make it clear that ideally it didn't have to stay exactly as it was," director NadavHirsh, a junior, said.
Not everything has changed. As in past years, there will be a 45−minutesemi−formal reception taking place at 7:15 p.m. in the Balch Arena Theater's lobby.
While the show is free, guests are encouraged to donate to the cause or to take part in the silent auction fundraiser and raffle. Student artists and faculty artists prepared artwork for an AIDS−related prompt that will be auctioned as well.
All money raised is donated to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a group that pairs theater with a good cause. Previous "Over the Rainbow" productions at Tufts have raised as much as $5,000 for the group.
The reception is not just for donating, however, because it also serves as an opportunity to educate people about the current state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
"The theme this year for the lobby is teaching people about the misconceptions of AIDS and righting the things that people think to be true, that aren't," Ryder said.
This goal leaks into the performance as well, which alternates musical numbers with powerful readings of passages that reflect the prejudices and misconceptions about people with HIV/AIDS.
More than an educational tool, the cabaret also functions as a showcase of the talent in the theatre department.
With minimal props, a simple set and no costumes, the performers rely on bare−bone vocals and piano accompaniment.
It helps that nearly all involved are Tufts drama veterans, and many have already appeared in shows earlier this semester.
Hirsh himself has had experience both performing in and assistant directing "Over the Rainbow's" previous productions.
With the exception of a performance by Sarabande and a mime skit by the Tufts theater manager and her husband, the cabaret consists mainly of Broadway songs that range in topics of loss and triumph, overcoming obstacles and ultimately the happiness that can arise from unlikely circumstances.
Hirsh made sure to strike a balance between the joyous, the bitingly witty and the somber in his song selection. While the Broadway numbers did not address HIV/AIDS in their original conception, the songs have been selected for their ability to be re−contextualized into the "Over the Rainbow" cause.
Tickets are still available for "Over the Rainbow" at the Balch Arena Box Office, and 50 standing room tickets will be provided on the day of the show if it sells out.
Swing by Balch tonight to enjoy hors d'oeuvres, drinks and a celebratory night of theater — all for a good cause.
