UW Drama & The Horse in Motion Partner for Site-Specific Work

As part of its 75th Anniversary Season, the University of Washington School of Drama is collaborating or co-producing with Seattle theatres that have grown out of the School or been significantly impacted by the School's alumni. ...And Hilarity Ensues... is a co-production in partnership with The Horse in Motion, one of the city's newest theatre companies.

Current members of The Horse in Motion have been working with School of Drama undergraduate students since the fall to create a site-specific work at the historic Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre. Under the direction of Bobbin Ramsey (BA '12), and taking the plays from the School's inaugural 1940-41 season as their starting point, the ensemble has created an immersive theatre piece that invites the audience to move freely through time and space. The audience will be invited to explore all areas of the Penthouse, where they will find installations and experiences that explore the theatrical history of the Penthouse and the history of escapism in 20th and 21st century America.

On the opening night of the Penthouse Theatre in 1940, Glenn Hughes, chair of the School of Drama, said, "Artistically there is no reason why we should not present drawing-room tragedy as well as comedy. The actual reason why we do not present tragedy is that our audiences wouldn't like it as well. The Penthouse Theatre is bright and gay and sociable. We like it that way, and so does the public."

"The ensemble found it fascinating that at the end of the Great Depression and the brink of American involvement of World War II, Glenn Hughes was only interested in producing fluffy comedies, and that that is what audiences wanted and needed during that time," says director Bobbin Ramsey. "For us, this created a conversation about the need for escapism, and art's role in helping society to deal with hardship and collective threat."

...And Hilarity Ensues... opens May 25 and runs through May 29. Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 pm & 9:30 PM and Sunday at 2 pm & 4 pm. Tickets range from $12-20 and are available online or over the phone through the ArtsUW Ticket Office, 206-543-4880 / drama.uw.edu/performances. The ArtsUW Ticket Office is located at 1313 NE 41st Street, open Monday-Friday, 11 am-6 pm.

Performances are in the Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theatre, located on the UW campus near the north entrance at NE 45th St. and 17th Ave. NE.

About The Horse in Motion

The Horse in Motion was founded in 2014 by a group of UW School of Drama alumni, including Bobbin Ramsey (BA '12), Ben Phillips (BA '13), Nic Morden (BA '12), Katie Bicknell (BA '13), Mary Hubert (BA '13), Shaudi Vahdat (BA '12), and Andrew Pritzkau (BA '13). Their first show, Attempts on Her Life, was a site-specific piece at the University Heights Center.

The Horse in Motion is a young, ambitious, and passionate ensemble with a commitment to placing art in relationship to real world issues. By presenting theatre that is challenging and fresh, The Horse in Motion strives to create the inspiration and opportunity for dialogue, creativity, and action.

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