By Jeanne Beechwood
Avila University continues its long-standing tradition with dinner theater performances at Goppert Theatre during homecoming weekend.
Directed by Sidonie Garrett, Executive Artistic Director at the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, this year’s performance, Unnecessary Farce, is an uproarious award-winning stage comedy by Paul Slade Smith. The play blends traditional farce with a modern twist. Set in a motel, the plot revolves around an embezzling mayor, his accountant and two undercover cops. Mistaken identities, lost money and a hired hitman lead to hilarious chaos and confusion. This production promises to provide side-splitting laughter and entertainment. But wait, there’s dinner too!
Catered by Great Western dining, the evening starts at 6 pm with drinks, followed by a four-course meal with a live pianist, Dr. Li-Hsin Chen, a music professor at Avila. The menu is a fabulous steak or butternut squash along with wine, potatoes, green beans, salad and a delightful dessert.
Freshman through senior students are involved both on and offstage with Unnecessary Farce.
Matt Schwader Harbor, Associate Professor of Theatre at Avila, says “We are really proud of starting this semester off with something goofy and silly in coordination with homecoming weekend at Avila. The tradition of the arts actually predates sports at Avila University.”
Those attending this event can also become members of Arts at Avila, a program that includes. tickets to shows, receptions on opening nights, arts exhibits and student support.
Unnecessary Farce dinner theatre tickets are only $40. Tickets to the performance without the dinner option are only $10.
Unnecessary Farce runs September 27 – 29, with the dinner available only on September 27 and 28. Avila’s Goppert Theatre is located at 119th & Wornall Road. Please reach out to the box office at 816-501-3699 for show only tickets or to Ruby Black at 816-501-3631 for dinner theatre tickets. Reservations are essential. For more info, go to Avila’s website at avila.edu and click on Theater.
Discover more from Martin City Telegraph
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.