Theatre UCF’s production of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler will open on Thursday, March 23 and run through Sunday, April 2. Hedda Gabler is a spellbinding drama of revenge, manipulation, sexual repression, deceit and despair, climaxing in an ending that never fails to shock and surprise.
Kate Ingram, the show’s director says that she along with the cast and crew are working to “take the dust covers off and look at the play with new eyes – without the prejudice of seeing it as a museum piece set in the 1890s.” She also touches on the piece’s relevancy to modern society through themes such as alcoholism, bullying, suicide, guns in the home, unwanted pregnancy, fake judiciary in courts of law and turning our gaze away when what we see doesn’t match what we want to see.
Victoria Gluchoski, who plays the title character, speaks of her experience in what she describes as “the biggest role she’s ever had in a production.” She says, “thankfully, the excitement about the work exceeds the pressure each time I get back to the script.”
Gluchoski credits her acting training at Theatre UCF with equipping her and her fellow actors to be able to deeply connect with one another onstage. She hopes audiences will find Hedda to be a relatable individual, and sympathize with the struggles that can cause such actions in those who appear unstable on the surface.
The show will be performed in the Theatre UCF Black Box. On opening night, audience members are invited to join the cast and production team for a post-show reception.
Tickets are available for $20 to the general public, and $10 to those with a valid UCF I.D. They can be purchased online at www.theatre.cah.ucf.edu, by phone at 407-823-1500 or at the box office on campus.
For more information about Theatre UCF and the UCF School of Performing Arts, visit www.performingarts.cah.ucf.edu.
Production-at-a-glance:
Hedda Gabler
By Henrik Ibsen
A new adaptation by Jon Robin Baitz
From a literal translation by Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey
Directed by Katherine Ingram
March 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, & April 1 at 7:30 PM
March 26 & April 2 at 2:00 PM
A post-show reception will immediately follow the March 23 performance.
In her new marriage, Hedda struggles with an existence she finds devoid of excitement and enchantment. Her only solace is in manipulating the people around her, frequently pitting them against one another. Hedda Gabler is recognized as a classic of realism theatre, and the title character is considered one of the greatest fictional roles in dramatic history.
$20 standard, $10 with UCF I.D.
Black Box, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando
407-823-1500
http://www.theatre.ucf.edu
boxoffice@ucf.edu
The School of Performing Arts at the University of Central Florida comprises the Music and Theatre departments. In addition to year-round performances and teaching on the UCF campus, the School presents performances and outreach in cooperation with our community partners, which include the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orlando Repertory Theatre and the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. For more information about attending performances, visit http://performingarts.cah.ucf.edu.
America’s Partnership University: The University of Central Florida, one of the nation’s largest universities, has grown in size, quality, diversity and reputation in its first 50 years. Today, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at its main campus in Orlando and more than a dozen other locations. UCF is an economic engine attracting and supporting industries vital to the region’s future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. For more information, visit http://today.ucf.edu