ܽƵ Celebrates 40 Years of Theatre on Campus
ܽƵ Theatre program founder William Grandgeorge to guest direct original 1971 production, kick-off Performing Arts Center’s 25th anniversary celebration
BRISTOL, R.I. – ܽƵ Theatre program founder William Grandgeorge will return to campus this September as guest director of the ܽƵ freshman class production “This is the Rill Speaking.” First produced on the ܽƵ campus 1971, the historic reproduction marks the 40th anniversary of the theatre program on campus and the 25th anniversary of the ܽƵ Performing Arts Center.
A favorite of years past, “This is the Rill Speaking” evokes the everyday ups and downs of small-town American life. The poetic, one-act play by Lanford Wilson is the annual freshman show and will be performed entirely by new students as they begin their theatrical careers at ܽƵ. William Grandgeorge, who directed the play’s original run at ܽƵ, was a driving force for theatre on campus, instituting the related London Study Abroad Program, the University’s first study abroad experience.
Performances will run Sept. 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $4 for general admission and $2 for students and senior citizens. The Performing Arts Center is located on ܽƵ’s Bristol campus at One Old Ferry Road. To reserve tickets, call the Theatre Box Office at (401) 254-3666. More information about the production can be found on the ܽƵ Theatre website at: .