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The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Theatre Department presents A Wayward World 2016–2017 Theatre Season featuring productions by Susan Glaspell, Milbre Burch, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon and Agatha Christie.

The season opens at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 with Susan Glaspell’s Trifles, directed by Bryan M. Vandevender and Milbre Burch’s Sometimes I Sing. The production also has showings at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9.

A synopsis of Trifles and Sometimes I Sing: Farmer John Wright has been murdered and his quiet and forlorn wife, Minnie Wright, has been arrested. Loosely based on true events, Susan Glaspell’s 1916 Trifles depicts the process by which two women discover evidence—previously undetected by male investigators—that could link Minnie to the crime. In Grammy-nominated Milbre Burch’s 2012 Sometimes I Sing, an addendum to Trifles, Burch performs her original monodrama, told in Minnie’s voice, about her life with John Wright and her experience of domestic violence. This production of both plays celebrates the centennial anniversary of Trifles.

The second production of the season, Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, directed by Richard Kalinoski, opens on Thursday, Nov. 17. The production has showings at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20.

A synopsis of All My Sons: During World War II, Joe Keller and Steve Deever’s machine shop made defective airplane parts causing young pilots to die. Deever went to prison and Keller became wealthy while his son, Larry, went missing in action. It’s now August 1946 in Keller’s backyard and Larry’s brother, Chris, wants to marry Ann Deever, Larry’s childhood sweetheart, but her brother, George, will have none of it. This American classic portrays a mother’s hope, a father’s guilt and a terrible secret is revealed.

The third production of the season, Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor, directed by Merlaine Angwall, opens on Thursday, March 2. The production has showings at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 5.

A synopsis of Laughter on the 23rd Floor: It’s the Golden Age of Television: amid the 1950s racism, sexism and McCarthyism, Americans laughed out loud every week watching Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, which “Laughter” transforms into the fictional “Max Prince Show.” Lucas—Neil Simon’s alter ego—is the new guy in the writers’ room, hoping to become a permanent part of the team. But the network bosses intend to cut the budget by firing one of the writers. So, the harried writing staff frantically scrambles to top each other with gags while competing for the attention of star madman Max Prince.

The fourth production of the season, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, directed by Jane Purse-Wiedenhoeft, opens on Thursday, April 27. The production has showings at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 30.

A synopsis of And Then There Were None: Off the coast of Devon, England, eight guilty guests, who have never met are lured to a desolate island and marooned there. A mysterious voice accuses each person of having been responsible for a murder. In this classic Agatha Christie murder mystery, statuettes of soldiers fall from the mantel of a house and break one by one as those in the house succumb to a diabolical murderer filled with a thirst for revenge. One guest drops dead—poisoned! One down and nine to go!

The 2016–2017 season will also include Winter Fringe Feb. 2–4, which in past seasons has included An Evening of One Acts, concert readings and an intimate musical revue. Stay tuned to see what’s in store for 2017.

Ticket prices are $14 for general, $11 for senior citizen or alumni and $5 for UWO students with ID. Now through Oct. 3 the price of adult tickets is only $8 per ticket. Tickets may be purchased online or at the box office, which will be open the week of the productions Monday-Friday, noon-4 p.m. and evenings of performances 6 until 7:30 p.m. On Sundays the box office will open one hour before show time.

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