FIDDLER ON THE ROOF & More Set for Sonoma State University Department of Theatre Arts & Dance's 2013-14 Season

The Department of Theatre Arts & Dance has announced its 2013-2014 performance season, which showcases emerging talents of Sonoma State University students studying dance, theater and music with productions including the beloved Broadway musical "Fiddler on the Roof."

The season begins in October with Melanie Marnich's whimsical comedy "Blur," directed by Jennifer King. The play tells the story of a young woman losing her vision, and how she learns to create relationships with friends and family guided by her heart rather than her sight. Performances are Oct. 17 to Oct. 26, 2013 in Studio 76, Ives Hall.

Audiences will be seated on-stage for an integrated experience when the drama unfurls in "Ghost Sonata," the groundbreaking modernist play written in 1907 by Swedish playwright August Strindberg. Judy Navas directs this atmospheric play, a mind-blowing masterpiece of modern theater which opens Halloween night, Thursday, Oct. 31 and plays though Nov. 9, 2013 in Evert B. Person Theatre. The production will feature specially designed sets, costumes and eerie black-light projections creating a shadowy, translucent "Tim Burton-like" phantom world.

The sounds of Sonoma State University's Nature Preserves will be brought to the stage for "Soundscape Project," part of the annual Fall Dance Concert 2013 performance presented Nov. 21 to Nov. 24, 2013 at Evert B. Person Theatre, with a special free Soundscape-Only matinee offered at 12 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Weill Hall.

The Soundscape Project is a multi-media presentation, featuring acoustic recordings, video and new choreography set to original music. It is the culmination of a cross-disciplinary project, funded by the Community Foundation of Sonoma County and Green Music Center Academic Integration Fund, to increase awareness of natural sound and potential human impacts on ecology for residents and students of Sonoma County.

Soundscape collaborators include SSU's Departments of Biology, Environmental Studies and Planning, Engineering and Theatre Arts & Dance; choreographers Christine Cali, Kristen Daley and dance students; renowned bio-acoustics expert Dr. Bernie Krause; and composer Jessie Olsen Bay. The Fall Dance Concert 2013 also includes new dance pieces by noted choreographers Risa Jaroslow and Rogelio Lopez.

The 50th Anniversary of "Fiddler on the Roof" will be celebrated with a co-production by the SSU Departments of Music and Theatre Arts & Dance presented Feb. 6 to Feb. 16, 2014 at the Evert B. Person Theatre. Featuring music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and book by Joseph Stein, "Fiddler on the Roof" is the groundbreaking Broadway musical which tells the story of a Jewish family clinging to its sacred traditions in a rapidly changing world. The musical production, with musical direction by Lynne Morrow and stage direction by Adrian Elfenbaum, features a sixteen-piece orchestra and a special "Sing-A-Long" performance.

For its annual performance season, the Department of Theatre Arts & Dance offers special events, SSU "Faculty and Staff Night" and alumni performances. Sonoma State University students are admitted free to all productions.

Tickets for the SSU Dept. of Theatre Arts & Dance 2013-2014 performance season are on sale now at www.sonoma.edu/theatreanddance/productions

Box office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For tickets or more information call the box office at 707-664-4246 or emailtickets@sonoma.edu

Sonoma State University Department of Theatre Arts & Dance 2013-2014 Season includes:

"Blur"
By Melanie Marnich / Directed by Jennifer King
Oct. 17 to Oct. 26, 2013 at Studio 76, Ives Hall

Life is wonderfully safe in the eccentric world of Dot Di Prima and her mother, until the day Dot learns she is fated to gradually lose her vision. Now Dot must learn how to create relationships with friends and family guided by her heart rather than her sight.

"Ghost Sonata"
By August Strindberg / Directed by Judy Navas
Oct. 31 to Nov. 9, 2013 at Evert B. Person Theatre

Audiences will be seated on-stage for an integrated experience when the drama unfurls in "Ghost Sonata," the groundbreaking modernist play written in 1907 by Swedish playwright August Strindberg. Judy Navas directs this atmospheric play, a mind-blowing masterpiece of modern theater which opens Halloween night. The production will feature specially designed sets, costumes and eerie black-light projections creating a shadowy, translucent "Tim Burton-like" phantom world.

"5th Annual Super Mega Molten Hot Lava New Play Festival"
Directed by Scott Horstein
Nov. 14 to Nov. 16, 2013 at Studio 76, Ives Hall

Annual presentation of script-in-hand readings of new plays written by Sonoma State University student playwrights.

"Fall Dance Concert 2013"
Featuring "Soundscape Project" / Choreography by Christine Cali and Kristen Daley
Original Music by Jesse Olsen Bay
Also featuring new dances pieces choreographed by Risa Jaroslow and Rogelio Lopez.
Nov. 21 to Nov. 24, 2013 at Evert B. Person Theatre
"Soundscape Project" Encore is 12 p.m. Dec. 6, 2013 at Weill Hall

Fall Dance 2013 will explore the rich soundscapes of SSU's Nature Preserves in a new dance piece entitled "Soundscape Project" and will also feature new dance pieces choreographed by Risa Jaroslow and Rogelio Lopez.

"Fiddler on the Roof"
Music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and Book by Joseph Stein
Musical Direction by Lynne Morrow, Stage Direction by Adrian Elfenbaum
Feb. 6 to Feb. 16, 2014 at Evert B. Person Theatre

A co-production of the Departments of Music and Theatre Arts & Dance, "Fiddler on the Roof," the awarding-winning Broadway musical, tells the story of a Jewish family clinging to its sacred traditions in the face of a rapidly changing world. Sonoma State University celebrates the 50th Anniversary of this beloved, joyous celebration of the power of love and the triumph of the human spirit.

"She Kills Monsters"
By Qui Nguyen / Directed by Paul Draper
March 5 to March 8 and March 26 to March 29, 2014 at Studio 119, Ives Hall

A young high school teacher's teenage sister has just died. She tries to come to terms with the untimely death of the little sister she never knew by discovering her sister's gamer world of Dungeons and Dragons. "She Kills Monsters" is a pseudo-violent comedy adventure of identity, fantasy and killing monsters.

"Spring Dance Concert 2014"
Original choreography by SSU dance students
April 11 to April 19, 2014 at Evert B. Person Theatre

Always exhilarating, unexpected, professional and thoroughly entertaining - the annual Sonoma State University Spring Dance Concert features SSU dancers performing new, cutting-edge dance works - each with a different aesthetic sensibility. The Spring Dance Concert will highlight student choreography and performance as it celebrates the talent of future dance artists.

"The Comedy of Errors"
By William Shakespeare / Directed by Dario Tangelson
April 25 to April 27, 2014 at Studio 119, Ives Hall

The Acting Block Showcase production combines Shakespeare and Commedia del Arte in this presentation of "The Comedy of Errors."