UCF’s School of Performing Arts proudly presents the opening production of Theatre UCF’s 2024-2025 season: The Clean House, described by Director and UCF alumna Tara Kromer (MFA, Theatre for Young Audiences) as “a world where our memories and fantasies can be seen by others, where vast oceans overlap with uptight living rooms, and where the perfect escape from the pain of a terminal illness is found in the form of laughter.”
Written by Sarah Ruhl, a 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist, The Clean House is a charming and poignant exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of reality. This comedic drama blends fantasy and reality on stage, intertwining them in a way that captivates the audience. The production will debut on September 19th and run through September 29th at the UCF Main Stage Theatre.
The play follows Matilde, a quirky Brazilian live-in maid who would rather craft the perfect joke than clean her employer’s house. Through humor and heartache, Ruhl’s play explores themes of love, loss, and the inherent messiness of life. With its poetic and bittersweet portrayal of human relationships, The Clean House has resonated deeply with audiences.
Kromer hopes viewers leave with a desire to discuss their interpretations of the performance. “The Clean House—as Ruhl’s plays so artfully do—provides substantial room for interpretation by both the artists presenting the work and the audience receiving it,” Kromer said. “I hope people leave eager to discuss their impressions of our interpretation and perhaps become more willing to take time and care with one another. This is a play about human connection, presence, and the power of laughter to help us through the most difficult times in our lives.”
Playwright Sarah Ruhl masterfully weaves together humor, heart, and the search for meaning through the eyes of an eccentric housekeeper and the family she serves. Known for its inventive dialogue and poignant exploration of human connection, The Clean House invites audiences to reflect on the chaos and beauty of life, where cleanliness and disorder intertwine.
For more info about this production and how to purchase tickets, visit here.
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Where: UCF Black Box Theatre
When: Sept. 19–29, 2024
Tickets: $25/GA, $10/UCF Student