Trinity Student Directs Powerful Performance of "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom"

The two vampire lesbians, La Condesa (left), and Madeleine Astarte (right),
played by Aria Gaston-Panthaki and Sophia Elsadig respectively, casting a spell.
(Photo by Kathryn Gore)

By Sophie Dwyer

Trinity Theatre brought the off-Broadway show Vampire Lesbians of Sodom to campus over the weekend, directed by Trinity junior Sarah Bastos, a Theatre major.

The show focuses on the never-ending lives of two lesbian vampires who continue to meet at different points through time, and how their relationship evolves. While the show contains plenty of comedy, the core meaning lies in the emotion of characters spending eternity as marginalized individuals.

Originally written by American playwright and actor Charles Busch in 1984 with a $36 budget and first performed in a bar, the show’s spirit spoke to Bastos. She said she chose to direct this piece because she “figured that this would be a really fun, really campy, really interesting play to direct.”

Trinity Theater Presents ​"​Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play"​

Photo caption: The stage of Mr. Burns. 

(Photo by Breton Smith)

By Breton Smith

Trinity Theater’s new production, “Mr. Burns, A Post-electric Play,” had its fourth run
​​last night.

The play is based on Anne Washburn’s imaginative dark comedy that deals with the survivors in a post apocalyptic world, who pass time by re-enacting old Simpsons episodes from memory.
​
Right before the play started, the cast members ​gathered ​on ​stage,​ completely shrouded in darkness. The only source of light ​was a fake ​campfire the actors huddle around. ​Recent pop music ​filled the theater.

The Bald Soprano: Live Tweeted Play

Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the Oval Office
Photos by Johnny Kassis

By Johnny Kassis

Right before the play, The Bald Soprano, started on April 12, the announcer told the audience that cell phone use during the play was encouraged.

In fact, throughout the play, the cast live tweeted pictures and commentary about the play using @TUMainstage. They invited the audience to interact with them on Twitter.

The Bald Soprano is a revamp of a play with the same name written by Eugene Lonesco after the World War II. The Trinity version was directed by Roberto Pestigiacomo, a highly acclaimed theater-maker who’s works include many renditions of original productions.

Trinity Theater Production Debuts "A Midsummer Night’s Dream"

The simplistic stage of Trinity's production of 
A Midsummer Night's dream

Photo by Andrea Acevedo

By Andrea Acevedo

Trinity theater’s production of the Shakespeare classic, "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," debuted Friday.

The play, a comedy, was written in the late 16th century. While it has seen countless adaptations, many with extravagant stage design and props, Trinity’s production features minimal stage design. Instead, the show wowed its audience with the acting and light design. The lighting imitated the light effects in a forest, where the play is set.

The acting was also unusual as characters like Hermia and Lysander were played by two actors at once, who said the same lines and synchronized their motions side by side. This made their voices louder and emotions more visible.

"The Mousetrap" Opens at Trinity

Guest artist, Andrew Thornton, performs alongside
Trinity University senior, Brianna Wood.
Photos by Abby Stigler

By Abby Stigler

After six weeks of grueling rehearsal, Agatha Christie’s most famous play was performed on the Trinity stage on Friday, with a bang, as the crowd for the opening night almost filled the Stieren Theatre.

"The Mousetrap" is a classic whodunit with murder and mystery. The play consists of eight characters: newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Ralston and the guests at their manor, including the young and quirky Christopher Wren, the old, grumpy Mrs. Boyle, the former soldier Major Metcalf, and a surprise visitor, Mr. Paravicini.

This production is directed by Dr. Stacey Connelly, who turned the Stieren Theatre stage into the living room of the Monkswell Manor in the 1950’s. The crew’s use of lighting and sound helped to create a mysterious ambiance and keep the identity of the murderer a secret until the very end, ensuring that the play keeps the audience guessing.

“How I Learned To Drive” Opens Trinity Theatre Spring Season

Actors Sarah Tipton and Alaynna Marttala 

sit on stage waiting for the show to start

Photo by Katie Groke

By Katie Groke

Seats were filled up Friday night as Trinity Theatre Department opened its spring season with “How I Learned to Drive.”

More than 70 people came to the show, which was performed in the small black box theater on the second floor of the Ruth Taylor Fine Arts Center.

The space was transformed with two seating areas facing each other. A painted road ran in between the seating areas and a swing hung from the ceiling, indicating the play’s themes of driving and loss of youth.

“We put it in the smaller theater for a more intimate setting,” said Rachel Joseph, a Trinity professor and director of the show.