What’s Coming Up for SMU Student Theatre

By Ally Van Deuren (B.F.A. Theatre, B.A. Journalism, ’15)

Don’t miss these upcoming SMUST shows in the lower level of Owen Arts Center. SMUST (SMU Student Theatre) is a student-run student organization at SMU where students are encouraged to put up their original work to explore the realm of theatre. Regardless of major, any SMU student can perform in SMUST shows.

FRACK What: A New Play by Dylan Guerra
When: April 5, 2014 at 8 p.m. and April 6, 2014 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Where: Greer Garson Theatre – Meadows School of the Arts
Free admission

Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking) (hī-drô'lĭk frāk'chəring): The forcing open of fissures in subterranean rocks by introducing liquid at high pressure, esp. to extract oil or gas.

Frack is a contemporary Greek tragedy that tells the story of a community trying to keep a mythical child's tree alive as massive hydraulic fracturing wells begin to take over.

The play is written and directed by Dylan Guerra (B.F.A. Theatre, ’16) with original music by Guerra and Dylan Bare (B.F.A. Theatre, ’15). The all-Theatre B.F.A. cast features Bare, Leslie A. Ballart (’17), Nicholas Costello (’17), Nina Dramer (’14), Stephanie Machado (’15), Marcus Pinon (’17), Mei Mei Pollitt (’15), and Seun Soyemi (’15) and is stage managed by Juliana Dellasanta (B.F.A. Theatre, ’17).

Frack is the recipient of a Meadows Exploration Grant. The play runs approximately two hours with an intermission and may not be suitable for children.

See Frack.’s Facebook page for more information.

THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN OF JENNY CHOW by Rolin Jones
What: An Instant Message with Excitable Music
When: April 5, 2014 at 8 p.m. and April 6, 2014 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Where: B349 – Kathy Bates Studio, lower level, Owen Arts Center
Free admission

Jennifer is a girl who re-engineers outdated missile components for the U.S. Army from her bedroom. When she decides to meet her birth mother in China, she uses her technological genius to devise a new form of human contact. She creates Jenny Chow, a programmable mannequin with abilities such as self-navigation, language comprehension, and conceptual thinking. Rolin Jones' "techno-comedy" chronicles one woman's quest to determine her heritage and face her fears with the help of a Mormon missionary, a pizza delivery guy, and her astounding creation called Jenny Chow.

Directed by Barbie Wu (M.F.A. Theatre, ’14), the cast features Heather Arney (M.F.A. Theatre, ’16), Taylor Harris (M.F.A. Theatre, ’16), Bao Ngoc Le (B.F.A. Theatre, ’14), Kristen Lee (B.F.A. Theatre, ’15), Matthew Talton (B.F.A. Theatre, ’16), and Kolby Tuck (B.F.A. Theatre, ’16). The show is stage managed by Joanna Coogan (B.F.A. Theatre, ’17).

See Jenny Chow’s Facebook page for more information.