Notre Dame Film, Television, and Theatre to Hold Nationwide Reading of IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE
By: A.A. Cristi Oct. 12, 2016
On Thursday, October 27, Notre Dame Film, Television, and Theatre (FTT) will hold a free public reading of the new stage adaptation of It Can't Happen Here, based on the 1935 novel written by Sinclair Lewis. In 1936, the novel was adapted into a play and theatres across the country opened productions on the same night. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of those productions, regional theatres, universities, and communities across the country will read the new adaptation by Berkeley Repertory Theatre's Artistic Director Tony Taccone and screenwriter Bennett S. Cohen.
Written during the rise of fascism in Europe, Lewis' darkly satirical It Can't Happen Here follows the ascent of a demagogue who becomes president of the United States by promising to return the country to greatness. Witnessing the new president's authoritarian tyranny from the sidelines is a liberal, middle-class newspaper editor from Vermont who is caught in the chaos of social upheaval.
"Lewis' novel reads like it was ripped out of today's headlines," says FTT's Acting Director of Theatre, Siiri Scott. "Whether he's describing Buzz Windrip, the demagogue who wins the presidency based on the promise of making our country great again, or Doremus Jessup, a liberal newspaper editor who simply waits too long to take Windrip seriously, Lewis' understanding of our political system was precise and far reaching."
The new adaptation of Lewis's classic had its world premiere performance at Berkeley Rep on September 30, 2016. FTT's reading will be directed by Aaron Nichols and feature a cast of both Notre Dame students and members of the South Bend community. The event will take place at 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 27 in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center's Philbin Studio Theatre; it is free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://ftt.nd.edu/events/2016/10/27/staged-reading-it-cant-happen-here/. Information about the national initiative is available at http://www.berkeleyrep.org/season/.
A Nationwide Reading is made possible thanks to the generous support of Barbara and Rodgin Cohen and Orin Kramer and is presented in cooperation with the Sinclair Lewis Estate. FTT's reading is sponsored by Notre Dame Film, Television, and Theatre, the Notre Dame Debate Team, and Notre Dame's Department of American Studies.
PERFORMANCE:
Thursday, October 27 at 7:00 pm
Philbin Studio Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
TICKETS:
Free and open to the public; tickets required. Tickets may be reserved online at http://performingarts.nd.edu, by phone at 574-631-2800, or in person at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center ticket office. Ticket office hours are Monday-Friday, 12:00-6:00 pm.
PARKING: Free parking is available daily after 5:00 pm in the Stayer Center parking lot, just north of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, and (until November 1, 2016) in the gated lot just east of DPAC on the corner of Eddy Street and Holy Cross Drive. Patrons may now receive free event parking at thE Eddy Street Commons Parking Garage by bringing your event tickets and parking ticket to the DPAC Ticket Office to receive a pre-paid parking voucher.
An accessible lot for disabled patrons is available immediately adjacent to the center; a valid hangtag or license plate is required. There is a ten-minute parking zone on the north drive of the center for ticket pick-up; during inclement weather you are welcome to drop off guests in this area and proceed to parking.
Note: The Notre Dame campus experiences increased traffic during home football game weekends. If you are planning to attend a performance during these weekends, we suggest allowing an extra 30 minutes to arrive and find parking.
ABOUT NOTRE DAME FILM, TELEVISION, AND THEATRE
Notre Dame's Department of Film, Television, and Theatre seeks to inspire intellectual inquiry and nurture creativity. We offer both a scholarly and a creative context for the general liberal arts student at Notre Dame as well as those students seeking intensive preparation for advanced study in these fields. The hands-on nature of our curriculum, coupled with a very high degree of student-faculty interaction, provides students with a singular educational opportunity at a university known for its teaching excellence. The FTT performance season is a direct outgrowth of the department's academic program and an integral component of our students' artistic development. Learn more at ftt.nd.edu.
ABOUT Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to an international leader in innovative theatre. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. In four decades, four million people have enjoyed nearly 400 shows at Berkeley Rep. These shows have gone on to win five Tony Awards, seven Obie Awards, nine Drama Desk Awards, one Grammy Award, and many other honors. In recognition of its place on the national stage, Berkeley Rep received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1997. Its bustling facilities - which include the 400-seat Peet's Theatre, the 600-seat Roda Theatre, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, the Osher Studio, and a spacious new campus in West Berkeley - are helping revitalize a renowned city. Learn more at berkeleyrep.org.
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