Theatre UCF's Bernarda Alba Portrays Strong Women with Dreams, Passion, Repressed Rage
By: Julie Musbach Mar. 08, 2018
Theatre UCF presents Bernarda Alba, a production that finds five idealistic and rebellious young women trapped within the walls of their own home by the rules of their widowed mother. Set in the south of Spain, this musical adaptation of Federico García Lorca's 1936 play The House of Bernarda, explores the vivid passion for life associated with the Spanish culture. Bernarda Alba will open on Thursday, March 22 and run through Saturday, March 31 in the Theatre UCF Main Stage.
Julia Listengarten, artistic director for Theatre UCF and director of Bernard Alba, selected this musical for its cultural message, as well as its educational value for Theatre students.
"Earl Weaver, who is the coordinator of the musical theatre program, and I talked about selecting a contemporary musical that will really challenge the musical theatre students," Listengarten explained. "It is not really a musical, but rather a play with music which requires different skills and techniques than a regular musical theatre piece. It is both educational and a beautiful story."
Listengarten sees a connection between the piece and modern day events.
"We talked a lot about the role women had in 1936 Spain and now," said Listengarten. "Women, daughters in particular in this play, have no voice. They are trapped physically, emotionally and sexually and the only exit for them is tragic circumstances. But in today's society, women are finding their voices and we as educators attempt to encourage the students to find their power."
Lilly Vreeland, an undergraduate acting student and actor in Bernarda Alba, further discusses the musical's connection to the current social climate.
"The #MeToo movement emerged as we were auditioning for the play," said Vreeland. "Women taking charge of their own lives and decisions is a difficult concept for the women in the house of Bernarda Alba and in general in the 1930s, unlike what we are seeing today."
Vreeland, who plays four characters both male and female in the all-female cast, talks about the process of playing a male character in the musical.
"It has been difficult for sure," Vreeland said. "I have never done it before but I am glad to have been given the task. Trying to keep the masculinity within my own femininity has been the toughest part of the task."
On opening night, March 22, audience members are invited to join the cast and creative team for a post-show reception.
Additionally, the public are invited for a post-show talkback on Saturday, March 24 immediately following the play with Listengarten, Dr. M.C. Santana of UCF Women's & Gender Studies, and Dr. Lisa Nalbone and Dr. Martha García from UCF Department of Modern Languages & Literatures.
Tickets are $20 and $10 for those with a valid UCF ID. They can be purchased online at http://theatre.cah.ucf.edu/tickets.php or at the box office.
For more information about Theatre UCF and the UCF School of Performing Arts, visit http://performingarts.cah.ucf.edu.
Production-at a-Glance
Bernarda Alba
Lyrics and Music by Michael John LaChiusa
Based on the play The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca
Directed by Julia Listengarten
Choreography by Earl D. Weaver
March 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 at 7:30 p.m.
March 25, 31 at 2 p.m.
A post-show reception will immediately follow the March 22 performance.
Please join us for a post-show panel discussion and talkback with Dr. M.C. Santana of UCF Women's & Gender Studies, Dr. Lisa Nalbone and Dr. Martha García from UCF Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, and School of Performing Arts artistic director Julia Listengarten following the performance on Saturday, March 24.
Bernarda Alba tells the tale of a powerful matriarch, who imposes a strict rule on her household following her second husband's funeral: "Not a breath of outside air is going to enter this house. It's going to feel like we've bricked up the doors and windows," she proclaims. Bernarda's five daughters, however, struggle with her cold wishes. The girls' dreams and desires challenge their mother's harsh rules and the outside world begins to slowly permeate their isolated existence.
$20 standard, $10 UCF ID
Main Stage, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando
The School of Performing Arts at the University of Central Florida comprises the Music and Theatre departments. In addition to year-round performances and teaching on the UCF campus, the School presents performances and outreach in cooperation with our community partners, which include the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orlando Repertory Theatre and the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. For more information about attending performances, visit http://performingarts.cah.ucf.edu.
America's Partnership University: The University of Central Florida, one of the nation's largest universities, has grown in size, quality, diversity and reputation in its first 50 years. Today, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at its main campus in Orlando and more than a dozen other locations. UCF is an economic engine attracting and supporting industries vital to the region's future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. For more information, visit http://today.ucf.edu.
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